Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1848-09-06
For the Portage Sentinel.
Free SOil-Land Reform.

Mr.. Eaitor:-The new party supporting
Martin Van Buren, composed as it is Of the
disappointed of all other par
ties, claim to be par pre-eminence the free
soil party, and would persuade others, if
possible, that they only, of all others, will
90 for free SOIL Now, whether by free soil
is meant territory free from the curse of
Slavery, or soil free for the use of man, We
Buren party has the pre-eminence of ths
Democratic party, in any plan fOs the ams-
Iteration of mans race.
The democratic has ever been the party
of progress, and is no doubt ever destined
to be- Witness our late progress toward
free trade, and the separating banks from
the Government. Also our progress to-
ward universal suffrage. But, as all re-
forms in republic must begin with the
people, so discussion, deliberation, must
precede action-adoption. The subject Of
Land reform has but recently been brought
before the public. The democratic papers
have been prompt to lay it before the reo-
pie, and as far as can discover, dem ocrats
have generally been the first to sanction it.
In this county, while the democratic paper
has been prompt to present the project to its
readers the Ohio Star, which now flies the
name Of Van Buren has never scarce re-
ferred to the subject The late editor has.
been ofiered'and by friend and subscriber
of the Star at least one good article on the
subject which he refused to copy; and the
only article, it is believed, on land reform,
that ever found place in that paper preyi-
GUS to Van Buren's late nomination, was
written for it by democrat, that ats read
| ers also, might know somsthing Of SO. i'm
| portant d movement.
Now, since Vans nomination, ard the
measure is found to be popular, it is used
to help the popularity of their nominee, with
out any prospect Of his ultimate success.
But our candidate, Cass, is pledged to aid
the friends of reform and progress. And
he will succeed.
| The democrats Of Portage, as far as aso
writer Of this can ascertain, aud be has had
facilities, and taken pains to obtain their
minds en- that subject, are gele.ally--ul-
| most universallv-ln favor of Land reform,
| in favor cf the Government acknowledging
the right of man to the soil by free grants cf
lAlLu " dStusal SCtb.CiS. lu idfOi Vi GA
enption from forced sale of competent
Homestead for every family, thereby to se-
cure a comfortable home for every individ-
ual of the nation, as the most certain, the
only certain means o. securing to all com
potency of the comforts of life, and an edu-
cation, such as all democrats all people,
ought to have, to promote the happiness Of
all, and the continued freedom and p: o2psr4
ity of our country.
To promote these objects so desirable, the
real free soil measures, it is proposed that the.
subject be brought before the Democratic"
Convention Of this county, to be held on the.
9th instant, and that the democrats there as
sembled pass resolutions expressive of their
views of the right of all men to the soil, and
Of the duty of all governments to confirm
mans just rights.
The Buffalo platform does not recognize
these rights, but barely admits the expe-
dieney of selling the public lands at low
price. Such is not the ground of Land Re-
formers, those who base mans claims on
his rights and necessities. We ask not
for mere favors. We only claim our rights.
And we trust we shall soon obtain them.
LANDLESS.,