The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-01-02
VOTE YOURSELF A FARM. +"

"VOTE YOURSELF A FARM"
This is a text which has been ably and perse-
veringly preached for some years past, by the
editor of paper in New York city called the
I" Young America" and every phase of argument
has been put forward, for the purpose of showing
the injustice of feU holding the whole tenure
of the soil. 1t has been couha,ted with vigor by
everv press in New York, and all the crimes
which have been committed by the anti renters
have been charged upon the - National Reform.
| ers," who first started the fundamental maxim of
their party, that every human being was entitled
TO so much land, and no more, (say l60 acres, }
which should be ualienable for debt of any kind
whatever We see that many of the wing press.
es in that State, since the success of their Cover
nor by the votes Of the anti renters, have come
out in favor of the plan of an equal division of the
public lands, and as the principle is admitted, we
presume division OF the private lands, too, among
the "lack landers,' will next follow.
We are willing to admit that there is great
deal of injustice in the world and especially on
this subject of the division of land but we do
| not see, as wa have not been convinced how tho
injustice is TO be remedied Suppose every man
were to day to be offered quarter section of
land, on condition that he was to take immedat 70
possession, how many is it supposed would leave
The cities. and their present .oca ities, to take
charge of it2 Not one in one hundred. The
principle which was started by the two Ina fers
would be found to prevail: &c Jem, LET'S qo and
vote ourselves farm No, them's mt nv
sentiments go for voting somebody to work it
for me-" The fact is. the flesh pots of Eqyp,
|
are too tempting. and the labor too severe n
induce lacklanders, in great numbers. to secnre
Independence from the soil There are ton MANY
contingencies to be overcome before the Arcadia
days anticipated by our friends the IS National
Reformers" can ever prevail. 1t is we'll enough
to agitate the question in cities. and in thrifty and
popnlous neghborhoods. but the whole ed,c.,;on
of the people, and The frame work of society is to
be changed, before their hopes and an,icipations
can De realized we give. as matter of Gu rios
ity. the Pledge of the National Reformers. We
do not like the conclusion, for if we ever give to
the law makers the right TO fix the hours of Iabo,
they ertend as well as crtriaH them THE
matter belongs to those who have labor To d;snose
of, and we have idea Of human labor beino
legisIated for, as we would legislate to preven,
" cruelty to animals" Public opinion, and the
rights of independent freemen, should repulate
this matter.
NATIONAL REFORM AssocnTIoN-P,rncr
We whose names are annexed. desirous of 70.
storing to Man his Natural Right TO Land dc
soemnly agree. that we will not vote for any
man for the Presidency or Congress who will M,
pledge himself in writing to use all the influence
of his station. If elected, to prevent all fnrtbe,
tTafflc IN the Public Lands of the States and OF
the United States and 10 cause them To be laid
out In Farms or Lots for the free and exclusive
use Of actual settlers; or for apy man for the
G"veTnorshP or the Legislature who will NOT en-
pledge himself 10 The Freedom of the Public
Lands 10 limitation of the Guantitv of land IN
he obtained by any individual hereafter in ,b;s
state. to the exemption Of the Homestead from
any inuTe debt or mortgage. and To a Limitation
I" ten ot The hours of daily labor on public works
or in establishments chartered by Law
These doctrines appear 10 have advanced in an
eminent degree. The Convention for E,rmi,o q
Constitution for the Territory of Wisconsin, ba 70
Incorporated some and startling features in
| the Constitution. The following we copv f,,,n
the New York Tribune, which parer is now as
warm in the cause Of the National ReErme,s nc
is the editor of the Young america himself
| WIscoNsIN.-The Constitutional Convention
has nearly concluded its labors Among its deci
sions is one extending the Right of Snffraoe ro
all foreign born residents Of the Territory witbour
requiring them TO swear allegiance to The United
States-a most unjust and unwise provision, which
was carried by 81 to 81 votes. A proposition
making The aliens so transformed into voters eip
'ble TO office, as well entitled to elect Others.
was promptly rejected: Ayes IL. Noes 90.
The Convention has done one good deed amono
many bad ones II has established the principle
that The Homestead ofa Family shall not be Tia.
dte 10 sale on erecution .for any debt hereafter
Contracted CThis was proposed in our own
Convention by Mr.. Stow, of Buffalo, one of the
ablest and most conservative lawyers in that
BODY Dot unfortunately voted downs II has also
marriage or fairly acquired bv her oftsyioayd
shall not be liable for The debts ofher husband
| We rather like this also. and hope il will work
well These two important provisions being con-
joined in one article, strong effort was made to