New-York daily tribune., 1846-01-23
mr.. public Lnnds-NationaI Reform.

Every davis reflection incues us more and more
m The opinion that the plan OF holding and settling
,bc Public Lands of our Union proposed by the hte
hand " ho have taken the name oil National Re
formers s the best that can be carried, and prooa
bJy in substance the best that can be devised lis
elements are simple: Stop selling the Public
Lands; allow any man who owns no land to take
anv unoccu pied lot, mot more than enough for
good Farm-say loo acres improve and use II as
long as he pleases and leave it to his descendants
bat with no power TO dispose of his right in it except
to a landless man. The fec remaining in the whole
People and not in the occupant the land cannot OF
course be IAortgaged nor taken for debt and thus
wife and children need not be deprived OF shelter
and home by the idleness, drunkenness or eStrav-
agance OF a husband and father. This system win
such notifications and safeguards as WISDOM ana
experience may suggest. would rapidly cover 'iie
vet unappropriated Public Domain with an inde'
pendent, substantial Yeomanry, enjoying degree
of Equality in Opportunities and Natural AdVanla
pes such as the world has not SEEN at least since the
detection of the Israeltes from the agraran Institutes
of Moses Such Land System would erect an al
most impregnablc barrier against the farther en-
croachments of Slavery Speculation and Monopoly
on the inalienable Rights OF Man to himself first and
% an opportunity TO earn livelihood next alike IN
importance and obvious existence. Secure all, SO
far as possible chance to earn living then II
they ac1H run away from the Soil to shver and
starve In Cities, why there is no help for them but
such us Charity may afford. But shame on the laws
which send an able, willing man to the Aims House
or to any form of beggary when the Soil on which
no would gladly work and produce is barred against
Poverty and accorded by this Government OF Free
men TO those alone who have money 10 pay for it, and
therefore are 10 some extent able TO do without it.
But we have word to say of National Reform
compensation, &c. Young America the organ of
the National Reformers states that one town in this
State 1--WE have mslad the paper, but believe it is
Parrish, Oswego Coz is now ruled by the Land
Reformersr and that the officers chosen by them
never charge but One Dollar day for their ser.
vices, putting all they receive from the County or
otherwise above that into the Town Fund for
the support Of the Poor. We trust the day is not
distant when like spirit will be evihccd in more
than one town, and we do not despair of seeing it
making its way nj length even into Congress itself
Never until the exorbitant wages now paid 10 Mem
bers of Congress are reduced can there be any ra-
lional hope of such Reform in oar National EN-
peudturos as is sorcly needed. While .75 men, Of
whom three fourths cannot honestly earn four dol
lars day elsewhere are paid Eight Dollars for
each day of the session, Sundays included, whether
they work or play, are present or absent. and even
after the session is over if they remain sick al w ash
ington, can subordinate abuses be corrected by the |
votes of these men. An Hon. Member gets into a
Railroad Car at Syracuse, rides down TO Albany {
and comes by steamboat 10 New.York in little
less than day, having had good time for meals,
and good nights rest on the way. For all this he
pays a, the outside $40 and charges the People
siao, making over One Hundred Dollars clear
money besides his expenses and his regular Eight
Dollars per day. Who magines that abuses will
be corrected and leaks in the Treasury stopped by
men who are pocketing the Peoples cash after this
fashion, 1t is not in human nature. Reform must
begin in the emoluments of Congressman before ii
can be expected to be thorough any where.
ID