Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-10-04
For the Portage Sentinel.
, To the National Reformers.

| One who has been among the first to
publicly advocate Land reform, who has
for more than twenty years seen and sim
cerely regretted the evils cf land monopoly;
and for near seven years has publicly advo-
Gated the reforms you seek to Introduce and
to establish, would respectfully address you
On your present political position, and would
offer some advice in regard to your fsture
course. In regard to the ensuing presiden-
tial election l. fnd you divided in Sentiment; ;
scattered, and likely to divide your votes
on atleast.3 candidates, two of whom have
not the most distant prospect of am election
tand as by dividing you appear to be weak
ening your forces, feel that as fiend
to your cause, and to the interests of the
country, would not be doing my duty to
you and to the country unless now caution
you against what would call running af-
ter such phantoms to the neglect of the sub
stantial duties of the Republican citizen
politician.
The old editors and most influential men
of the reformers, those who commenced the
organization of the National reformers as
separate party, and those who have since
fallen into that movement made a mistake,
in my opinion, in the outset, and continue
to persevere in it. In undertaking to break
down the old established parties of this re-
public and to erect another on their ruins,
they have undertaken Herculean task, not
so easy of accomplishment as they had
probably anticipated. The principles of
the Land Retormers are SO obviously just,
so expedlent, and are so well received by
the most sagacious Of the people, particu-
larly the working people, and bid so fair to
be so eminently beneficial in practice, that
the pioneers of the cause, no doubt, in the
warmth of their zeal anticipate its speedy
and general adoption. But they probably
overlooked the facts that we are all more or
less prejudiced, welded to previous opin-
ions; and that there are other principles and
objects to US deemed important, besides the
of Land reform, and which we democrats,
on our part would carry along with this
Land reform; to wit: the abolition Of other
oppressive monopolies, such as bank and
other corporate privileges; the election of
public officers by the people, aud an approx
imation at least to free trade. While on
the other hand, wings labor to uphold banks
ard other privileged corporations, are the
apologists of their oppressions-labor for a
high protective tariff and for the distribu-
States, rather than the distribution of the
land in farms to the people. And every
relaxation of the muscles cf the party, every
desertion of member of one party, give.
the other an advantage which it will not be
slow to secure and to carry out.
These pioneers also, overlooked the fact
no doubt, that the democratic party has
been the only party of progress; the only
party by which we have ever made any
important political progress-that the Wing
is the conservative party conservative OF
old abuses, under the plea of preserving the
institutions Of the country and the rights of
the citizens, from impending ruin. At eve
ry attempt of the party of progress to bring
back the currency Of the country TO Cold
and Silver, or to approximate toward such a
change, the conservative party has raised
the cry cf "Ruin! ruin!" That was the
cry when Jackson vetoed the U. S. Bank !;
and when the people and the peoples serv-
ants opposed its re-charter-the same. when
the deposits of the public monies were re-
moved from bank of doubtful solvency.
The same when Jackson issued the circular
requiring only Gold and Silver to be re-
ceived in payment fpr the public lands-the
same when United States treasury was
established, Independent of banks. Mer-
chants and business men were induced to
believe that such measures would tend to
ruin commerce, the trade and business of
the country. But the party of progress has
still pressed on to the consummation of those
measures, and now, large portion of that
party so conservative, acknowledge beat; and
that the trade and business of the country
is not only not ruined, but that it is as pros
porous, and more stable than ever before.
It is now evident to me, and l think
should be to all who will carefully observe
the history Of the past, that the democratic
party is the one to which we must look for
future reforms. But in republics, where the
people make or alter the laws, we must not
expect changes without deliberative dis
cussion, careful examination. The projects
must be laid before the people, and by them
canvassed before adoption. Ours have been
laid before portion Of the democracy and
adopted; and feel confident of their adop-
ton by the great democratic party, as soon
as they have examined and deliberated upon
them. Wherever democratic editor has
been liberal enough to discuss our PROPOSE
tons in his paper the people have adopted
them. Many democratic editors are open
ing the subject to their readers. The DEM
ocfatic conventions in the democratic coun-
ties and districts in the northwest part of
Ohio, have all, l believe, passed resolutions
in favor of Land Reform; in favor at least
of the exemption Of the family homestead !;
and of the reduction of the price cf the pub
lie lands to what they cost government.
The Democratic conventions in Cuyahoga
County, and in Portage County, Ohio, have
recently done the same. The Cuyahoga
resolution reads as follows
aResolved, That we recognize the right
of every person to home on earth, and be-
l;eve that Justice, sound policy, and enlight-
ened benevolence, equally require that the
home of every family should be exempt from
sale for debt; and that the public lands of
the United States should be free to actual
settlers in limited quantities, and al the &C
tual cost of Government"
The Resolution Of the Portage democracy
is nearly in the same words