Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-04-25
"PROGRESS."

Under, this specous title the world is too often
gulled with vaia, chimerical and even wicked pro-
jects One Of the reforms Of the day proposed by
social advonturers visionary theorists is propo-
s.ion obli,eate all titles to landed property, and
to substitute what-its advocates have never taken
to explain new political party is, in fact,
growing up in the North. called the '.National Re-
form Association" which holds these agrarian te-
nets and whose most prominent leaders are tho ia
NOUS Genet Smith and the Rev. G.. G.. Foote. The
immediate object of this organization seems not to
embrace the percnp,ory abrogaton ofownershp in
land but what is termed the freedom of the public
lands to all settlers, the Limitation of the amount OF
land that may be owned by any individual, and the
securing of permanent and inaliensble homestead
10 families Theses points established, the general
scramble Of society for all the land will subsequent
u follow.
We have CHANGED 70 receive stray number Of
paper called the ''Ioung Amerca," which styles
itself the "oygan Of the National Reform Associa-
ton." The reader could no, fail TO be amused with
the extravagances iuculcated in this sheet were it
not tina, painful reflection is suggested by the fact
that the numbers of wrongheaded people who follow
It's false lights great enough to give support TO
a paper That our readers may know something Of
the character of this party, we copy some Of the s-
sues" aud texts which indicate the prominent fea-
lures Of its creed.-Rich. Times,
Issues FOR lS49.
''Land Limitations, tnalienabls homestead, eno
freedom oftse Public Lands.
"Pyospeciioe .Meas,,res--- Unanimously recon-
for consideration by the Industrial Congress
TO fclow the measures TO secure homes for all.
..Prohibition of Government Debts-Repeal o.
Laws for the collection of debt-Dircct Taxation
Freedom Of Observation-Disclosures Of the Standing
Army and Navy-ths various plans of cooperation
and association for the organization OF Labsr-the
best system of Township Education, the expense to
be paid by tax to be raised in the township, and
not TO go out Of it.
Presidential issue for 1852, unless the question
Lc settled previously Freedom of the Public Lands
ANY adult settler, male or female, not possessed
tf other land, To be allowed to occupy farm
village lot, with power transfer only TO landlsss
person. No family to hold mure than one farm OF
lot"
These "issuss," it will be observed, are the mat
'ers more Immediately in hand. What lies in the
future of the Land Reormers' fancies may be gath,
cred from the following scraps selected from very
ludicrous variety of authorities:
1.-The land shall not be sold for eyer. "-yMoses
"NIy reason teaches me that land cannot be sold
The Great Spirit gave it to his children to live up
on and cultivate, far as is necessary for their sub
sisance and, so long as they occupy andcutvate
it, they have the right TO the soil; bu, fthey volun
tarily leave it, then any other people have righ
20 settle upon it. Nothing can be sold but such
things as be carried away.-Black Hawk.
"No one is able to produce charter from Heav
en- or has any better title TO particular possession
than his neighbor." -Paley
''There is no foundation in nature or in natura
law why set of words upon parchment should con
yey the dominion of land blackstone.
/ set out on this ground, which | suppose TO b
seEevident that the earth belongs in usufruct Z
the living."-JeGerson.