Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-02-09
FOR THE SOUTHPORT TELEGnxPa.
FREE SOIL PLATFORM.
no. b.

On the first three resolutions, which relate TO
slavery, have very little to say. My veneration
Tor state rights has always prevented u,e from touch
ing that subject, as consider it belongs exclusively
to the states in which slavery exists
hold state rights TO be as sacred as individual
rights, and have always looked on any thing that
would disturb the ULion as the worst kind of treas
son. II slavery is a good thing, the present slave
states have ii 10 themselves, and nobody wants TO
take IT from them. On this ground they have no
right TO complain. But their complaint is that
they have an equal right in the new territory, ard
that they cannot move there. 1t is true that they
have an equal right in the new territory but that
they cannot move there is not true. They can go
If they please but this will not satisfy them They
want 10 take the laws Of the states they leave with
them. The rights of the new states forbid this As
we'll might Connecticut claim 10 carry her old blue
Jaws to California, as South Carolina to carry her
black laws there AS we'll might Massachusetts,
claim the right 10 carry her property laws, her
Sunday laws, and her laws 10 compel men to pay
priests, whom the people of the new states beliey>
ed TO be nu .ance any other state TO carry into
the new territories laws that the people there do
not want. The new states have rights as well as
the old, and they must be maintained.
"IV. That the public lands should be granted 10
landIess actual settlers in Limited quantities al the
cost OF survey and transfer; and Jha; limit should
be fixed TO the amount Of land that any individual
may hereafter acquire and own at any one time"
This is what concerns us of the north Land
monopoly is the parent of white slavery. Here in
Wisconsin we feel but little yet, the effects of land
lordry. The abundance OF vacant land around us,
saves us from that But even here we sometimes
see land rented for about onc-hrd the crop. This
would leave the renter the slave of the owner for
two days in the week. In Massachusetts it would
perhaps, be four days in the week in Ireland about
five and three quarter days; that is, the landlord
would get the proceeds OF that proportion of their
time and this nothing more nor less than slavery.
1t is no difference whether you buy the man and
control his labor, or buy something else that W i'll
give you the control of it. The monopoly of the
soil gives this control and is contrary to all man.
ner OF justice. The only true. just and natural IT,
lie to land is occupancy. All other titles originated
in usurpayion
When Henry the Second conquered Ireland,
what right had he to give the land to his knights
and other satellites? When Columbus discovered
tins Continent, what right had he TO claim it for
the crown of Spain or what right had the crown
Of Spain to parcel it out TO others? 1t was all
usurpation.
There are many people who feel great horror at
tn" change OF system, be it ever so bad have
known several persons who believed the United
States Bank TO be great evil, and yet would have
agreed TO continue it rather tn an risk the pressure
that they feared would ensue from winding it IN.
| But Gen. Jackson, whose actions were governed by
supporting what was right and opposing what was
wrong, put it down and Henry Clay whose actions
were governed by eJpediemcy, wiped out the old ac
counts by the bankrupt law and with the excep.
ton of the immortality that grew out of the opera.
ton of the bank, we almost over the dficul>
ty; AMI the great monster is dead and obsolete.
To free the soil, tina. is TO break up the monopo
ly, in Europe, would be difficult matter. and coud
hardly be accomplished without bloodshed. 1t
would be like freeing the slaves in the south. and
|
perhaps be attended with more difficulty. inasmucb
as that monopoly gives there more stringent con.
troll over labor than southern slavery gives 10 the
master; but it can be done without iniuring any.
and be benefit to all
The report Of tie Secretary of the Treasury
shows officially that we have about 1.442,217S37
acres of public land. Taking the population at
20,000,000, would allow to every man, woman and
child fraction over seventy-two acres EACH This
TO family of five persons would be 500 acres
This is what is owned by each individual and each
family of five persons, in the public lands but our
unjust system will not allow them to touch il. II
must be reserved as an Investment for capital for
the spectators of our own, and other countries, TO
sell TO us again at three four prices or perhaps
some expect to hold on until it is all monopolized.
and then make us rent slaves This will not take
great while if the gold mines hold out as they are
expected. One million has already arrived at New
York to be inve sted 10 real estate and there are
four millions more at San Francisco, ready TO shin for
the same purpose. The Free Democracy wish 10
make new arrangement IN this matter. They
wish to stop the monopoly, and allow every man
piece of the land that belongs to himself and fam>
y TO live on: Is it right that they should get 1t?
All you who ale in favor of the affirmative of that
question: will signify it by voting in future with the
Free Democracy A Farmer OF GRANT.