The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-07-27

by which vast amount of manual labor
is saved, we cannot expect the demand
for workmen in future 10 be in proper
ton to the increase of business-and
hence we may safely assume that one
half Of the non-landholding population
not engaged in manufactures or work
shops, might be advantageously with
drawn from the densely settled communl-
ties of the Eastern and Middle States and
employed upon agriculture in the West,
if the means Of acquiring real estate were
placed within their reach. This could
be done without disadvantage to the Gov
ernment or injustice TO others. as shall
now proceed to demonstrate.
The business of the Land Department
could very readily be simPlifed SO as TO
dispense with the services of swarm OF
officers now employed in it-and If this
were done, lands for which dollar and
twenty-five cents is now exacted per acre,
might, without causing any material dl-
minuton in the nett revenue derived from
their sale, be sold at twenty-five cents
The inducement which such reduction
in price would hold out to actual settlers,
to whom alone the lands oughtto be sold,
could not fail to fill up the Western States
and Territories within the space of a few
years; and the vast domain which is now
lying waste would soon present densely
settled communities, who, while enjoying
the comforts of home and of indcpen-
dence, would greatly swell the aggregate
wealth and power of the nation. The
soil would be made 10 yield the rich pro-
ductions to which it is SO admirably adap
ted. and the vast amount of mineral
wealth which lies dormant in the Earth
would be brought into use. The tide OF
emigration from the Eastern States and
from Europe would continue to swell
broader and higher, until the whole ex-
tent of territory between the Mississippi
and the Lakes, and between the Gulf of
Mexico and the Rocky Mountains, would
exhibit to the eye continuous chain OF
cultivated fields and comfortable dwell
lings, owned and possessed by an active,
industrious, enterprising people, IN the
fall enjoyment Of everything that is es-
seniial TO mans happiness in this world,
and who, but for the opportunities by
which they were enabled 10 acquire Ian
ded property. might still be denlzens OF
some of the large and crowded cities OF
the East, or, perhaps, be dragging out
miserable existence i'll foreign land, un-
der the yoke of some European or Asia
tic tyrant.
Nor would this policy affect injurious
ly those already engaged in manufactures,
or diminish the domestic demand for ag-
ricultural products. In proportion as SET
dement's, and towns and cities, would
spring up in the West, manufactures
would be erected, public works construc-
ted, and commerce established, whereby
employment would be afforded to artisans
and mechanics, and a home market crea-
ted for much OF the surplus produce OF
the farmer, while the remainder would be
conveyed to foreign ports, without mate
rally affecting either the business or the
markets of any other section of the coun-
try. Its only tendency would be TO pro-
mote individual happiness and TO add TO
our national greatness.
In political point Of view, the speedy
settlement of the Great West is every
way desirable. From the foundation Of
our Government up to the present day, il
has been subject of anxious solicitude
with many of our Statesmen to guard a
OdIUSt tie COtlCCitldh dhtn Va pOHCi ia otiC
man and against all encroachments by the
General Government upon the reserved
rights of the States-and 10 my mind
there is no other source from whence SO
much danger is to be apprehended as
from the almost exclusive and unlimited
control which the National Executive ex-
ercises over the Territories of the United
States. If there can be found anywhere
IN the operations OF the whole machinery
of our Government sucha thing as willing
obedience of the slave to the behests oil
his master, it is in the readiness with
which the appointed officers OF the Ter
ritorial Governments shape their conduc'
to suit the inclinations of the appointing
~ Il