New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-09-29
National Reform.

None who have not taken decided interest IN
the subject can realize the rapldiiy with "nich tne
;dea Of a Reform in the laws governing the acqui
.iton and .position Of Land is spreading and md
ing favor in this country. Hardly two years nave
passed since it first attracted any share OF pubic
regard, yet at this moment we think not iess tbah
fty periodicals. earnestly advocate IT, Of VINO"
several have been established expressly tnefe'o'
There are now thrice as many journals ano Pe'''"S
openly favorable ~ Land Reform as there "efo0"o
wear age Among the most able advocates Oh 'ui'
Hsf,r,o we rank The Hey0id 81 Ir1th, monthly
of high character in Cincinnati, TO which DR.. J. H.
Bnebanar has recently contributed two Land ne
farm e..svs OF great clearness and cogency Young
dmey7ca in this City appeals more especially I"
the working classes and, though It's views On some
topics are opposed 10 ours, II Is lmpossioe uoe "
ace that they are urged with the force OF conVctoh
sod that ITS arguments are calculated 10 exert
powerful influence on the opinions OF the Ioiing
Millions The Homestead Journal at salem ONO
70 of similar character though less vigorous Inc
Albany Freehoidey, at first adverse is now dec'u
eaiy favorable so far at least the principle ap-
plies to the Public Lands OF the Union. a consio
cradle section OF the Liberty Party, with oernt
Smith at it's head, has inscribed Land reform Old
It's banners Two or three Temperance journals
with which we exchange explaining aud com
rnending the principle Within a few days past
the National Refoymer, a small weekly issued ny
sn association OF labOrers ia Rochester ana me
Day Darn, small but energetic magazine pup
lished at Auburn by 4. \. Cakns, have been start
ed. In Wisconsin at the late Election oOth the
Loco Foeo aud Liberty candidates Tor Congress
svoued themselves Land Kelormers and though
defeated il was BY no means mat account On
the contrary we believe NJ. NJ. Strong received
several hundred more votes than he could have oo
tanned if it had not been industrlousy circulated
that he was for and Reform and that Mr. I"eedy
was adverse 10 it. For the latter assertion thefe
was DO W arrant whatever.-If we were TO estimate
that one new Journal or magazine per month is IS
tabished expressly 10 advocate Land reform
while at least ten 10 twelve old ones per month
newly take ground in its favor we believe we
should DO considerably below the truth mus toe
cloud at first no bigger than mans hand Is rap
idly expanding aud will yet cover the whole horizon
IL il impossible in the nature of things that II
should be otherwise, in country where msJof'y
of those who do the work have votes yet not homes
save on suherance and hire from other men. Prob
ably majority of our voters laborers for wages
or tenants of other mems land. This land, as our
population is augmented by immigration and 9th
erwise is steadily approaching IN market value
The petty farm that the wages OF years labor
would have bought fifty years ago Will now com
mand the earnings OF ten years labor, though nara
ly more productive than in ls00-possibly less So
The lsborer in a city finds himself constrained TO
work one day in each week not actually ior the
rent OF his tenement but for the rent oil the ground
whereon IL stands The landless toiler is practical
ly told, on presenting himself Tor an opportunity 10
al his share of the worlds work and receive It's
ane recompense. "You must do, beside two days
work each week for the improvements on the land
Won cultivate and the use of implements to work II
with two more for the use of the naked earth itseh
as IL came from Its Makers hand leaving nun ou'
onethird of the aggregate product oil MS toiI pu'
suppose | deem this exsctlon unjust what tneh
stsrve ~ is the aconic reply Of Society and Law
From this verdict some OF the sentenced appeal,
and their appeal is the impulse to National Ne
form
One of the great ends OF Government is plainly
the securing To each man, so far as practcaoie the
fruits OF his own labor aud thus diminishing the IN
ceptiyes n and facilities Tor Fraud, Extorior, Idle
ness and Prodgality. That social state IN which
one man earns and another enjoys, against the VII
And through the necessity OF the producer, verse'
on Anarchy and Robbery. Law canno, remove al
imperiectons efiace all inequalities. but 1t shoul'
constantly seek and tend so to do and II there b
one thing which more than all others tends to ere
ate and MAINTAIN unnatural and penicious Unequal
tiles among men, diverting the earnings OF the toll
ins and needy into the Golfers OF the idle and luAu
rious. !, is the impuniiy given by Law to the me
nopoly Of vast tracts Of anoccupied Land at nom
insl price to be leased or sold thereafter at an IN
mense advance TO those who shall improve them
This policy is part and parcel Of Political systeI
we have thrown OF and should have been ~
away Herewith. twas great oversight to let
co on sassoe strength and working evil for seve
~ wears after our Declaration OF independents,
hat. now that attention has been fairly drawn TO
,.e.nnct continue The centennial celebration
oar Independence will doubtless find few traces
II REMAINING
Nearly all efforts for Reform are met win Il
cry (ao, always UNJUST that Vested Rights are
sailed or endangered bet happily IN TINS case u
objection is inappheAble The Soil OF the Repu
lac 10 still. to great extent the property OF u
whole People. who can DO with IL as they sh
Judge most conducive to their own and their Oh
drens permanent wei being without valid obje
ton from any quarter, And the proposition tn
no man henceiorth shall be permitted to scqui
more than limited area Of the remaining Pah
Lands and this only for actual use, no, speculate
il 50 simple 50 etcscious, 30 obviously Just tina,
needs no, many words to commend j, to the .
eep,sncs OF those who feel the evil and desirs
remedy There is room tor honest difference as
details. hut the statement OF the principle Is its
fc,ent eemme end alton
What changes may be necessary and e>pedie
in our Laws aHoetlns the future aggregation
inheritance or otherwise o, Land now private I
pert, may not be 50 easily determined; that 81
change 10 imperative and inevitable We can
doubt Tue practical question TO be now com
cred Is this-Wil n the enlightened and ls~-aoidl
the cautious and capable. give the whole saele'
thorough and reasonable consideration, and III
IN devising and commencing q course which 81
-. all