Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-10-27
SOUTHPORT, Oct. 18th, ls4S.

SOUTHPORT, Oct. 10th, lS4S.
Dear Sir,-in reply to your request, so
Letting my present views on the presen
Land Reform question, have to say that
entertain the most favorable opinion of thu
doctrines and principles of the Industrial
Congress, recently organized in the United
States, one OF the most important of whose
objects is to parcel out the public lands il
limited quantities, to actual settlers, and ne
others. For the deep impression which
this sentiment has made upon lie minds O
the American People, we are greatly indebr
ed 10 the Land Relormers, who have thrown
so much light and argumenton this subject:
and the tact that this humane principle is
recognized and adopted in the Buffllo Plat.
form, is evidence Of the most conclusive
KIND, that better days are beginning to dawn
Tor the oppressed OF the old and new worlds
The PharSalcal sentiment which has held
with contempt the poor and unIearned, is
beginning to give way to the benevolent in
curry, How came these our brethren in
this suffering condition - An inquiry
which will at once direct the attention 10
that fruitful source of wrong and oppression
which now disgraccs the civilized world.
viz, the monopoly of the Soil. Deeply
impressed with this sentiment, and with the
firm conviction tina. The extension of Slave
ry over the territory Of the United States
was Incompatible with the freedom of the
public lands, and the rights of the free la
borer, the Buffalo Convention
ReSoircd, That accept the issue which the
slave power mas forced upon us, aud to their de,
mand for more slave States and more slave terri.
torres, our calm and final answer is, no mo- slal e
States and no slave Territory Let the soil of our
extensive domain be ever kept free for the hardy
pioneers OF our Own land, and the oppressed and
banlshed of other lands, seeking homes OF com tort
and fields OF enterprise in the new world.
A noble sentiment! Worthy Of the
Buffalo Conventional the Patriots of tae
Revolution!
On this resolution the great battle in the
coming Presidential ection is to be fought
Mr.. Van Buren, and the Free Soil party
contendng Tor ii, while Messrs. Cass and
Taylor are theoretically and practically op-
posed to it.
Mr.. Cass declares that "the Constim-
ton conlers no power upon Congress TO
prevent the introduction of Slavery into the
territories under It's immediate jurisdiction,
and further maintains Slavery abstractly as
does John &. Calhoun. In his Nicholson
letter he says, &" For if the relation of mas
ter and servant slave may be regarded or
annihiated by its legislation, so may the re
laton of husband and wife, or parent and
child, or of any other condition, which our
Institutions, or the habits of Society recoq>
nlze." Thus undertaking to establish sa-
very as holy institution, and above the
laws and constitution of our country.
While these and similar sentiments on
the subject of human slavery have weight
with the people, and in our national coun-
ellis, no land reform can be accomplished
the spirit and existence of Slavery is anita
gonist TO land limi'aticn-Slaverv demands
large plantations, and cannot exist without
them; and we may well regard those who
hesitate TO pledge themselves against the
extension of slavery into territories of the
United States now free, as hostile to any
change in the presentodious system of spe-
culation and large purchases Of the public
lands. Can any true Democrat hesitate
how to vote in this great struggle between
Liberty and Slavery!
In conclusion beg leave TO say l think
it the duty of every citizen who desires the
general welfare of mankind, to urge upon
the immediate consid Grafton of Congress
this great question of Land Reform-therc-
by Fastening the time, which trust is not
far distant, when evsry landless man in the
United States, and in the old World, will
be permitted 10 select each of them farm
from the public lands, without price.
With sentiments of high regard, re-
main your obedient servant,
CHARLES DURKEE.
To Dr. TuuioU and othorS