The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-07-08
For the Voice Of Freedom.
PiHsford, June 1SM, 1917.


Mr.. ED1roR: In respect to your remarks on the
resolutions Of the pittsford National Reform Club
wish to say word by way Of explanation, have
the honor to be member of that Club, and there
fore feel some socitude that its views should not be
misunderstood. You say, " Az yet we can see no
propriety in giving to settlers on public lands that,
which of right, belongs to others" l believe that
the members of that Club, and 80 far as know all
National Rcformers, who are SO Understandings,
neither ask nor desire for themselves, or tor any one
else that which belongs to others. They believe IN
the language of q tract, called "the homeSteadi'
that man has a right to land that no Al-wisc pow
cr ever designed that man alone, of all animated eN-
istence, should be dependent on his fellows i2i the
means of supplying his natural wants; nor That one
portion Of the race should be forced by another la
Dor for the subsistence Of both and thatit through
Ignorance and fraud that this wrong has been pcrpc-
trated." The United States Government claim Ju-
rsdiction over something like thousand million OF
acres Of as yet, except by few hunters ana INDIAN
tribes, unoccupied and unimproved lands. The
question u.s. whether they have right to set price
upon that land National Rcformcrs say they have
the landess, who shall first improve thcm that GOV
ernment has right and that it is their duty to limit
the quantity of land any settler shall occupyand
make all necdful laws for the protection angovern-
ment of settlements until admitted into the Union as
states. But they believe it is violation OF natural
right, to set price upon public land, n0smuch as
it cannot be done without interruptng that equality
w
cd by the Creator should ever exist And inasmuch
as land was created for man, free as air, water, or
sunlight they do not sec how any man, or any COM
bnation of men, ever have acquired, OF ever canac-
quirc a right to set price upon it. They believe
that setting price upon unappropriated landry in
ycstipg the right Of The landlc and money.c5s to
life. liberty, and the pursuit Of happiness, in Tie
hands of others, is committing wrong, as manifest,
as unjust and as destructive to the well-bchg OF the
mass Of community, as any ever pcrpohated by
man.
individual wrongs, or wrongs committed by indi-
viluals, are limited in their effects The evils and
the misery they produce are comparatively OF short
duration. But the evils of land-seing, by depriv-
inc the DOOR in all countries, of fair compensation
for thor labor, and by reducing them in some de-
gree to the necessity of aborng for bare subsst-
cnce and in times Of scarcity to actual starvation
as in the case Of Ireland, are ever operative, produc-
ing all the grades of misery, from the ghtest to tile
most extreme suffering, But, says the oRjector, the
lands which this government claims the right to set
price upon it oithor had to purchase with money,
or conquer by force OF arms thence their right to
sell it. Well let us examine this objection in the
LIGHT OF common law, and common practice.
If person steals my property and sells it to an
other it does not invalidate my right to that proper
IT,. have a right to take my property wherever
can find it. But, says the objcctor, government was
ot GREAT expense of blood and treasure in wrestling
these lands from the hands of those who had stolen
them. Well, suppose the robJer attacks me III the
highway, and takes my purse, what Is the course
which the government pusues in such case =
Complaint is made to the proper authorities ana
the robbcr is caught and the money found, inc ROD
her is tried convicted, and punished at tine puohc
ovnansc and the money is restored to the one WIG
was robbed. Now, who are the ones robbed III thl
case of the public lands? Clearly the pooriandeSS
who have need of thcm and who are wiling ana &c
siro,,s to cultivate them. And it is equally clea1
that the government might with equal ploprietydc
nond of me pay, before restoring my money 70
catching trying, convictng and Furnishing the rob
Der as to demand pay of me, before restoring IN,
norton of the cath for conqucring or purchasing
from Great Britain or the Indians What was gov
crnmcnt instituted for if not for mutual protection
Your observation seems to imply, that National Re
former. make no distinction in their demands, be
tween lands that have been purchased and PAID 10
by individuals, and those which are inappropriate
But by turning to the resolutions published in you
paper last winter, you will find it stated that it
not our design to disturb vested rights
Yours for equal rights,
RrMAuEs. We are quite unable to sec tilat u"
writer Of the foregoing IN fully made out his case