Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-04-12
For the Portage Sentinel:
Reform Meeting.

Ravenna, on thursday evening" April oth,
ls4s, in obedience to a call 81 a number Of
electors published in tho papers of the vin-
age.the day previous. g
Ira Gardner WIGS called to the ehair, and
John Harmon appointed Secretary. fa4
The secretary stated the objects Of the |
meeting--to exoress our views and opin.
ions of Mans rights-his right to the soil
his right to home on earth, and to aa am.
pie education ut the public expense. He
stated that the proposition to distribute the
public Lands Of the United States to actual
settlers only in limited quantities and to
stop the sales to spectators: also to OK
enpt the Homestead Of. each family from
forced sale, and to limit the quantity Of
land hereafter to be acquired by each indi-
vidual-that these propositions were enter
tanned and approved by great numbers of
people in the United States who were an.
nually petitioning Congress and the State
legislatures on the subject .-ihat two States.
Texas and Connecticut, had exempted the
family homestead, that Michigan had thrice
had the proposition before her legislature,
and thrice bill for that object had passed
her Senate, that now, at the last accounts
from there, such bill had passed her Sem
ate and was pending in her, house of. Rep
resentatives. (since passed. He con-
cluded by expressing his want Of ability 10
entertain the meeting with Speech, but
that competent speakers were expected in
to address this meeting, (,Z..,. .r........
On motion of John N. Skinner
Resolred, That committee Of Ave per.
sons be appointed to draft resolutions ex-
pressiye Of the sense of the. meeting on the
subjects embraced in the call. .i.,...-.'.,-.s
John N. Skinner, John Harmon, VIM.
Frazer, Daniel Merritt and VIM. Gardner
were appointed said committee. John N.
Skinner declined and. proposed Darius Ly-
man, Jr. as one Of the committee who was
accordingly appointed. 49,. 80 u, -.
After the committee on resolutions retir.
ed the meeting was ably addressed by Hon.
Daniel r. Tilden, and by Rufus. P. Ran
ney, Esq. Of Trumbull county, on land re-.
form and other proposed reforms.
Mr.. Harmon from the Committee re-.
ported the following resolutions whichire
port was accepted and the resolutions, on
motion Of Mr.. Skinner wereadopted by the
meeting without opposition: ij5ss*@1 e.
Resolued, That we deeply commisserate
the condition Of the chattel Slave of the
South as we do also Of the Landless and
houseless poor, the wages Slave of the
north, and of all regions, and we will en-
deavor, by all legitimate and proper means
in our power, to ameliorate the condition Of
both-to make them freetnen indeed
Resolved, That in the opinion Of this
meeting this earth this s'inestimable gift
of God to mani was intended for the free
use and benefit Of mans race, without dis
tinction-and we can discover no treason
to justify Governments in Withholding from
any man his natural right to fair portion
ofthe unoccupied soil-sufficient Tor his
subsistence. And therefore il is proper
that we use all reasonable exertions to'in.
duce Congress to recognize our rights and
grant to all citizens who wish to settle the
unoccupied public lands Of the nation the
free use and occupancy of Alarm to ench
family. .fe-at tea- aiT.;' -
Resolved, As all men..eannot have their
hundreds Of acres each, and no man car
alone cultivate properly his hundreds, there
fore no person should be permitted to mo-
nopolize large tracts Of land. There shoulc
be maximum limit by law to the quantity
Of land to be acquired hereafter by each
individual. ~ 3a-ssfa.sas 52T Zlsa~5l.
Resolved, further, That as every iami
ly, every person, needs a home, a shelter
to defend them from the pelting storm, with
also sufficient soil TO subsist upon; and al
we have the acknowledged right to life, lib
erty and the means Of happiness, our home,
should be our sacred castles, and no powe,
on earth, not even our own county Sher if
has the right, or ought to have the fega
authority to eject our families from theil
blessed homes. All laws authorizing the
eiectment Of the family from their only
homestead should be repealed. e 1.s7s
Resolved, therefore,, That we gire our
hearty assent to the policy Of free soil
Land Limitation and Homestead exemption
and that we will use our best endeavors to
induce the adoption Of these measures as
the policy Of the State and Nation. - ,E7
RESOLVED, further, That on the right ed.
ucation of the youth Of the State depends
much Of their happiness and the general
well being Of society, the progress of the
age, the perpetuity Of our Liberties and our
free instrutions-that the whole people are
thus interested in the thorough education
of all-and therefore, that provision ought
to be Immediately made by law to educate
all the youth of the State at the public ex.
pense. "a" ss-S .''
The secretary suggested to the meeting
the propriety Of petitioning Congress TO
stop the sales Of the public lands to specu.
lators and to grant their free use in limited
quantities to actual settlers, when
On motion of Mr.. Tilden, voted that
committee of three be appointed to prepare
a form of petition to Congress in favor of
the freedom of the public lands to be laid
before an adjourned meeting to be held at
this place. D. r. Tilden, s. D. Harris, ,Jr.
and J. Harmon were appointed said Com
miitee. 80 11 ,zF2is At '@"
On motion of the Secretary voted that
when this meeting adjourns it adjourn to
meet again at this place on Saturday even
ing the 18th instant. ~ oas- s.oI> sss
On motion of Mr.. Skinner, voted that a
standing committee Of correspondence be
appointed 10 correspond with similar conf
mittees and with individuals and associa-
tons to promote the objects of this meeting.