New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-24

sion Now, sir, It does appear 70 me, that IN acts
OF public as well as private charity, we should be
Gin NJ bome or at all events, If We begin abroad,
VIC at least should include those of our family and
household. j can see no good reason why we
,hould deny TO the house less and homeless OF our
own country, the children and descendants Of those
who Ought and bled for American Liberty aud
Freedom say, l can see no good reason why
we should deny TO them the benefits and privileges
which it is proposed we shall give 10 those who
have been fighting for Liberty IN foreign land
There il no one, sir who can possibly entertain a
6yelier admiration, deeper, truer sympathy for
the glorious Kossuth and his companions in arms,
than myself; and yet, while share In this uniyer-
al feeling OF admiration and sympathy for them,
cannot but remember that the very soil which II is
now proposed We shall give to them has, up 10
ri. time been denied to the children and descend
ants Of those who fought and bed for IT, and whose
Iee Hood has enriched it, And while should be
.o.t happy 10 know that the noble KOssuth and his
eompsnions ia AIMS had found home and resting
mace upon the soil OF our country. at the same
nme want 10 see the like benefits and privileges
extended b oar Ow oonntrymen
h.vs said Mr. Chairman, that do not claim 10
y. 4. LEARNER upon this subject; and yet | can
,,nlv saw that il 10 one In which have long felt
deem interest Some years since, while was
~ss;dent of the CITY Of New-York, and attached to
aro ~ The military companies Of that city, | was
S.nsJ ont with that company by the Governor TO
aon he riots and disturbances in that portion OF
~ state which has since been known as the anti
rent district; and from that time 70 the present,
have studied and reflected upon the evils which
must always result to any community rom an ex'
tended system OF land monopoly ans 81,
.tjords me much pleasure 10 know that this subject
:. hecnn,pe 70 receive the attention OF some OF the
h.;obfest intenects Of our country. IL Is but
.ba9t time since the distinguished Senator from
nss.scbpsetts offered in that body resolution
upon this subject embracing one Of the man Tea
,nres Of the bill which have offered IN TINS House,
snd the Senator from Illinois has a bill upon this
subject before that body, and there are some i've
a. .ix different propositions before this House, all
lookin1 10 some measure OF reform upon the sub
Get nj our public lands and | say it Is gratifying
70 me TO fad myself in such good company on
what consider such good subject. And know
Mr.. Chairman, that in advocating measure OF
this Kind that shall be compelled 70 encounter
nreudices and opinions upon the part OF some of
the members Of this House, that are strong and
noverful in their minds from the fact that by the
long indulgence OF those views and opinions, they
have become with them a settled conviction that
such measure is unnecessary and uncaled for;
and believing that the present system OF dlsPoslng
of our public lands is all that is required, they will
be opposed to any alteration whatever; and unless
we Who are in favor Of and disposed to advocate
this measure, can, by such arguments as we may
advance or sdduce, secure its passage, we must be
content for the present. with the consciousness Of
having done our duty to the best Of our ability and
await the future action Of the people Of this cOun
Try, who will, at no distant period demand from
their Representatives the reform which we feel is
at this time mperatively called for; and that the
longer it is delayed the greater will be the evil
which the present system is entailing upon our
country. And also know, Mr.. Chairman, that in
advocating measure OF this kind 70 the extent
which shall advocate it, am laying myself LIABLE
as others have before me, to the charge of being an
aersrian, leyeler, and host OF other fanced char
acters from those who look upon all measures OF
this hind as an innovation upon all the established
rules OF trade and commerce. and an infringement
upon the rights and privileges Of our free and re-
publican institutions. Well, Sir. if all the danger
am TO meet with for my advocacy of this meas.
ure 10 to come from these charges or epithets
why, say, let it come; and l will trust to the ia
ture to sustain me in the position which feel it
my duty now to assume upon this subject. Aud
it is a truth which may be said OF all reforms,
that they are unnecessary, unless they can cure
an evil and produce good. And hold that the
bill which / have offered Will not only do both,
but il will prevent many future evils to coun-
try and be productive Of more lasting benefits and
advantages to us az people, than can result from
the action Of this House upon almost any other
subject which can be brought before it. The OBJ
iect which propose TO attain by this measure is,
10 prevent future specuations In these lands, and
secure homes thereon TO actual settlers and cultva-
tors. And, Sir if may judge from the remarks
OF my honorable friends from Mary and Ohio,
this morning. they may denOmnate 1t plan TO
give away all the public lands and l am not pre-
pared or willing to admit this, in the sense in which
thew use il: for hold that il IS impossible to give
Thai 10 any one who already has interest in it,
or to whom it belongs And i would ask those
eentlemen 10 whom do the public lands belong
Why, to the people-to the citizens OF this coun-
try. 1t il true, they are held by Government but
only in trust for the use aud benefit of the people.
And what Go we propose BY this measure Why,
To give, under certain restrictions to any OF our
citizens. deed for portion of this land in which
thew are Joint owners. Now, Sir. the evil we pro-
nose TO obviate by this measure is, to prevent
these lands or the most valuable portion OF them,
from becoming, in a short time, the property of a
comparatively few. ard those the rich and wealthy,
to the injury OF the poorer or iaborng class, who
form by far the largest portion OF our population.
And the good we propose to accomplish by 1t is,
10 secure good and comfortable homes for the poor
and friendless OF our country and l sm sorry to
say thas, az a general thing, the poor are friend
less.
Now, i, cannot be denied Sir, that for the last
ten or fifteen years there has been carried on in
our country a system OF speculation in our pub
lie lands, which, if allowed to continue aAd in
crease, must eventually place the mort valuable Of
those lands in the hands OF spectators, or men of
wealth and some Of the holders thereof are for.
eigners, too subjects Of Queen Victoria IL is not
long since that was informed by gentleman Of
Philadelphia of the fact, that the son Of British
Peer had recently employed an agent here To pur-
chase tbirtyhve thousacd acres Of these lands in
some one Of our w estern States for an investment
And it will not be long, under this state of things
when poor man. Who may wish TO escape from
our crowded and popuous cities, which are fast
becoming Warehouses, and take his wife and
children where they can breathe the free aud pure
air of heaven, will, If he be enabled to purchase
at all any Of the land in which be now has Az inter.
est be obliged to pay just what price the selfish
interest or graspiDg avsrics Of the owners thereof
may see fit to demand And what, would ask.
is 10 be the result OF these things if allowed to con.
tiuue1 Cannot any one possessed of the least dis.
cerpment perceive that it must eventually termi.
nate in pecies Of industrial feudalsm, or sy stem
of Landed monopoly, which has ever been, and
viii ever continue to be, the OF any country
that tolerstes or encourages il. Aud l am but