New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-08-14
Lnud Reform and Labor Reform.

To The Editor Of The Tribune:
DEAR SIR: Perhaps you are aware that lor
considerable period Of my life, up to about two
years ago, my connection with tho press IN Eng
land and here was luch as to ensure prompt and
prominent publicity to everything might happen
to write The fact has left me with taste in this
matter which must acknowledge nobody bound
to crafty, but which, nevertheless, cannot dvest
myself Of. Having, when avery young man, SOL
EMMY devoted myself to the cause of and Reform
in the British Isles-hEvng anticipated, by at least
fourteen years, the very doctrines for which John
Mitchell is now wearing out his noble spirit in OK
behaving served "vounteer' In the ranks OF
the Free Land farmers Of this State long before the
National Reform movement had an existence
having worked along with the enlightened and
true men who founded that movement-having,
with them, preached its doctrines ia the corners Of
almost every square and street in New York City,
often jeered and scofTed, and sometimes far more
roughly treated, by the poor degraded men whom
it was our ission 70 raise and redeem-haying, in
short, devoted all my energies to the cause till tho
cause left me neither meal to eat nor house to
live in-you will feel, think, that ought not to
set down under the imputation that have abau.
doned the cause, when nothing can be further from
the truth than such an imputation.
While endeavoring to attain for my family po
sition which, if we had paternal Government,
could be easily attained by all, intended, from
time to time, TO call public attention to the most
essential, enduring, and, witha, simplest Reform
that ever was presented to the judgment Of ma
ton Believing that The Tribune was read by
more seekers after Truth and Improvement than
any other paper in the country, OF course select
ed it 90 the vehicle OF my thoughts and opinions
Of course selected 1t as the vehicle oil nay thought
and opinions. II was, am aware, not only your
right but your duty 10 exercise your discretion 10
giving or Withholding the use OF your columns Tor
his purpose. You decided on the liberal aide.
You let me have their use, but under circumstances
that rendered It impossible for me to avail myself
Of your liberality.
1t is not necessary for me TO state why | could
not consent to have the publication of my articles
delay ed from ten 10 fifteen days. have said that
it was the right and duty Of the editor OF tie Tn
bune to exercise his discretion in the management
Of his psper-to decide what should and what
should not have precedence. will now add that
it was equally my duty to exercise my judgment
in reference TO the publication OF anything | might
write. After repeated efforts to have that matter
properly arranged. after repeated written and per
sonsl Communications on the subject found |
could not do so-Gnd | relinquished, at once the
hope of doing it, and the task Of writing at all.
was all along aware that this matter ought 10
have been explained before my brother reformers.
have been, and well knew it, open TO the impu-
tation that Yves faIteriDg in the onward path, and
that, as individual pros perity began to dawn upon
me, l might entirely lcse sight OF what was so
long the sole star Of my life. But did not care
for Obtrudng personal explanations either upon the
editor Of the Tribune or the public. l do it now
with reluctance.
AS this u.s. probably the last letter / shall write
for some time, permit me TO re state a few OF the
advantages that would flow from a iudicious en-.
couragemeIt of agriculture by our governments
national. state and municipal.
Suppose that the first would cease all sale of the
public lands and apportion them out TO actual set
tiers in moderate sized farms free of cost.
Suppose the second-the State OF Wisconsin or
Iowa, for examp le-shoud advance to every ne
cessitous settler loan Of the necessary material
for commencing operations-ssy scooter which
1t could exact adequate security on their farms
And suppose the Municipal Government OF all
our cities would appropriate fraction Of what
pauperlm and crime now cost them, TO give the
homeless and unemployed free passage out to
the field OF profitable labor, what would be the re-
suits
First TO the General Government
Would not the national strength be increased by
many an unerring backwoods riAe grasped in the
hand OF patriot who had home az well as
country to defend
Would not the financial resources OF the nation
DC increased beyond calculation by every new head
OF wheat that burst forth in the wilderness
Would not the States Of Wisconsin and Iowa be
equally benefited by the increase OF their saricul
tural population, and all the improvements which
that increase would bring in its train And would
not our over.crowded cities be relieved from the
heavy and rapidly increasing taxation which pau.
perism and crime resulting mainly from ideness)
now entails upon them And then what would be
the effect upon the Workingmen--the millions OF
men and women who low sell the labor Of their
bodies for less remuneration than csn keep those
bodies never talk Of the mind in decen. repair
what would be the efec. upon theml
With free passage provided 70 q free farm Of
excellent land, and with q loan OF the necessary
things to begin operations on that land including
necessary support till il yielded q rsturn-with
that alternative in their choice what would be the
eHect upon the Tailors Of New York City, for ex.
ampel
Now, If the Tailors and the Toilers OF New-York
City cannot see the effect this state Of things
would produce upon their condition, they may as
wen content themselves 20 remain as they are
men VINO cannot exercise tie simplest faculties of
reason and common sense must content them
he"es Win state OF semi slavery till they grow
"seI' rue ffeeo0m Is gem that y1u will
never ma entrusted 10 the hands Of simpletozs.
I'D recent article IN Tie IrlbRae, you take tae
GohchlS.ofy ana aPparehtiy sensible ground tina.
Labor Reform Currency ReiDym, aud, | beBeve.
one or two other Reforms, are necen,rv m con-
bine with Land Reform in order 10 work ont the
results expected by the advocates Of each.
Sir, do no, believe that Nature intenoy the
prosperity Of one mar, or enc family TO depend on
the worthiness Of fifty fifty families or thar
fitness for organization" 10 that csse the worth
and virtues Of the one might fail short Of bearing
their natural fruits II there should be much imper-
lection in the organized fifty men. Here then
would be q spectacle Of worthy, willing, iad0s