Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-12-01
VOL. VIII-NO. %.


er, upon lew favored ones, while the many
nave been left in the cankered walls of beg
gary, to struggle with poverty and destit1.
uon as they might.
we presume 1t will not be doubted or de-
hied' mat the earth was originally given 10
man oy the Creator. as universal patrimo-
1y-'he common property of the race.
very early, however, the grasping spirit of
seihshness began TO appropriate that to
ie"' winch was originally designed for all:
70 remedy this great and growing evil, the
great Jewish Lawgiver ordained that "tbe
land shall not be sold forever" Had all
civilized nations been governed by the code
OF Moses, it would have prevented deluee
OF tears from flowing down the cheeks Of
penury and destitution.
The Overwhelming evils of the present
social system are seen, felt, and understood.
oy multitude of christian phianillrosisis.
Good men every where deplore the wrongs
which groanlng Labor endures; the ponder
Gus burdens laid upon the shoulders Of pa
tient, long suffering industry, are becoming
too overPowerlng to be longer borne, and
they will be thrown off. Is il not wiser that
they should be quietly and gently removed.
than that they should be cast aside by the
strong arm, snIa!ting under the evils of CEN
turtles OF crime and oppression?
The great question of Reform is begin
ming TO agitatc our whole nation. from one
end of it to the other. The great ocean of
public opinion heaves and swelIs, foams and
sparkles, on every side; the horse roar of
the troubled sea will soon drown every voice
that would hush it into calmress and repose.
The wise will look at these significant signs
Of the times and will shape their course ac-
cordingly. That the present evils which so
grieyously affsict the toiiing many will be
patiently endured, is absurd 10 imagine.
How shall these great social wrongs be re-
medied, is now the question. Il must be
answered.
As one means of mitigating the unhappy
condition Of the houseless, homeless victims
of unjust legislation and unwise policy. it
has been proposed to make the public lands
free TO actual settlers: It was Gen. Jack
sons deliberate opinion as long ago as abe
year 1892, that it was best 10 abandon all
idea of raising a future revenue out of the
public lands. He was immeasurably anx-
ious to put an end to all partial and interest
ed legislation on the subject, and that every
American citizen of enterprise, should be
afforded an opportunity of securing an indie
pendent freehold. See his message to Con-
gress, Dec. 4, 1889. We look upon this
as one of the strongest evidences of far see-
ing sagacity ever exhibited by that remark
able man.
Those who oppose universal suffrage
maintain that every voter should have a
stake in the great interests of the country.
Now here is plan proposed by which kun-
dreds and thousands of landless Iaborers can
be put in possession ofthe very qualification
so londly commended for. These lands be-
long to the people-they have been purcha-
sed and paid for with their blood and toll;
why then should the real owners of these
be debarred by their public agents in Con-
grcss or ont Of it, from occupying, improv-
ing and cuItiyating them. They have been
of but little if any value to the nation at large
under the system of sale which has been
pursued-why then should it be longer con-
tinued! Why should immense tracts of the
common patrimony he monopolized by
horde of heartIess SPECTATORS, the corno-
rants of capital, and the poor by thousands
be deprived of home of their own! The
lands are kept in unproductiye barrenness,
when they might be covered with abundance
aud prosperity.
1t was the remark of the immortal Jeffer-
son, that those who labor in the earth are
the chosen people of God; in their breasts
is the safe depository of the public virtue;
they keep alive that sacred fire which might
otherwise escape from the face Of the earth,
Corruption of morals in the mass Of cultiva-
tors; is phenomenon of which no age nor
nation has furnished an example. They
have none Of that ablect dependence upon
casualties and customers which is so apt to
beget spirit of servility and venality. We
cannot then afford too many encOuragements
10 persons seeking profession, to engage
IN agricultural putsuits--one Of the greatest
encouragements would be to offer every one
who is destitute, a small farm out of the
public domain, free of expense, provided he
will gave satisfactory evidence that he will
occupy it permanently. IT this was doEe,
how soon would the wilderness smile, and
the solitary places be glad; how soon would
the boundless wealth OF the mighty West Re
unfolded; villages would be seen rising by
every stream; the busy hum OF industry
would break the silence Of ages: hearts
bowed with agony and bleeding with grief,
would throb with unutterable Joy. All this
could be accomplished without infringing
upen the rights of solitary individual.
Who viii say that the experiment, should
not be tried?
Gen. TayLor.-AII sorts Of contradictory
stories are told about the old Generals re-
turn from the wars. The Union says that
the Adiutant General received letter from
Gen. Tavlor, asking leave of absence for
six months, as his services at present were
not wanted. Gen. Taylor expresses de-
sire to arrive at New Orleans on the first of
December-meantiTne he viii come TO Mat
moras and wait an answer. The Union
says the leave was granted Gem.
FoUyD DRowxEp.-The body Ut a man,
apparently about 80 or IS years old, 5 feet
Z inches high, dressed in blue frock coat,
black kerseymere pantaloons, with sandy
hair and complexion, was washed ashore
near the South Pier yesterday morning.-
There were no nancys, or mark about hun