The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-09-05
CONGRESSIONAL.
sPEECH OF mR. JOHNSON,


courage agriculture and for other purposes = delivered
IN The House Of Representatives., Thursday, July rs.
1850
Mr. JOHNSON said The bill now reported BY the
committee had been introduced by himself and referred
10 the Committee on Agriculture. The bill after much
consideration and investigation, has been reported back
the House with various amendments making il much
more perfect IN many OF lis sections He would remark
in this that the Committee on Agriculture az
House-no speaking dsparagingy of the other commit
but merely Tor the purpose OF alludng the fact
This bill, or one similar IN substance. had been ntro
duced now some live years ago Al that period OF time
il was looked upon wild and visionary but since the
proposition was first submitted TO the Congress OF the
United States the public mind has, to extent been
directed TO IT, and III the same proportion its impractical.
bilty seems TO have given way; Tor many now who
then stood ot and refused to give the their aid
are among us abiesl and warInest supporters In tsc,
there seems to be quite struggle going among many
1.-THE most prominent men IN the country to who
should take the lead in this important measure
In the other end of the Capitol we find that senator's
possessing the taest nelects, occupying and command
ing large space in the public mind have entered the list
competition In this end of the Capitol there has been
corresponding zeal manifested by the introduction of
many resolutions and bills all for the purpose of carry
ing out the provisions OF the project under consdea
Mr. j. said at the proper time he would offer an amend
ment the caption OF the BILL which he the Clerks
table and had read, as follows:
And to provide homestead of hundred and sixty
oil the public domain Tor who citz
Of the United States, any widow who is mother of
child children, who may become permanent occupants
II and cultvators OF the same
Mr.. j. continued by saying that this amendment made
the title of the bill complete that this the original
christening OF the proposition now under consideration
and had been merely changed by himself to bill
courage agriculture, and Tor other purposes He said
that he had made this explanation for the purpose OF
i letting the House and the country know that this was
nothing less than the naked. clean proposition
provide every man, who is the head OF family, with
| homestead OF one hundred and sixty acres OF land
thereby encouraging agriculture increasing commerce.
and widening the market for the manufactured articles of
the country; but he did not intend to enlarge upon this
branch Of the subject in this connexion but he intended
march directly 10 the consideration of the general pn-
cpies oi the bill And, by way OF prelude, he would in-
troduce authority which he would have the
Clerks table which authority he thought would be Ques-
toned by none and which he intended to make the pedes
tai upon which he intended to erect his superstructure
He then sent to the Clerks table, and had read the fol-
1 lowing aulhorites
Levcus chap u.s. verse 2s The la nd shall not be sold
forever: for the land is nine-lo strangers and
ouiners " th me,
Mr. J. then had read from M vatel on the Law OF Ma
tons:
From Vatte!, on the Lar of Nations book l, chap T.
all the arts tilage agriculture useful and
necessary. II Is the nursing ather OF the State The cu
uvaon Of the earth causes II TO produce infinite in
forms The and solid funds
Hch commerce Tor the people who enjoy happy climate.
This affair, 'hen deserves the utmost OF govern
Tue sovereign ought neglect OF render
ng the land under his obedience well cultivated pos
be He ought not 10 allow either communities private
persons 70 acquire large tracts Of land to leave uncuvaed
These rights OF which deprive proprietor Of
the lee liberty OF disposng his lands, that will al
lo@ him them, and them be cultivated
In the most advantageous manner-;hese rights say,
contrary the welfare of the Sa,e and ought be sup
pressed reduced 10 just bounds. The property intro
daeed among the citizens does no, prevent the nations
having right take ehectual
he Whole country 10 produce the greatest and most adsan
The governments oug carefully 10 avoid everything
abe OF dcoufaging the Eubandman, OF dIvertng him
IRON the abois OF agriculture Those taxes, those
and III proporfoned mpostons, burden Of which
s almost entirely upon the cultvaors, and the vexauons
heJ suiier from the commissioners who levy then take
rom the unhappy peasant the OF cu,iyaiing the
EARTH and depopoate the county Spain is the fer
possesses much land and underakers royal mag
'zne who authorized purchase low prices all the
necessary io the subsistence OF himself and his family,
seauy discourage the husbandman. tina, he
com nan necessary Tor The support OF his household
whence frequently arises the greatest scarcity in country
capable OF feeding its neighbors
Another abuse injurious agriculture is the contempt
e@t npon tue husbandman. The Inhabitants of cities,
cob,der hm that eultivates the earth with dsdainiu
Ye hey humble aud discourage him they dare despss
profession feeds human race-ne natural EN-
Poyment OF man stay-msker places a beneath him
beloved employ ment OF the first consus and dcatof OF
Chna has wisely prevented this abuse Agriculture is
Iefe held IA honor, and to preserve his happy OF
hhshs every year on solemn day the Emperor himself,
followed by has whole court his hands plough
and so~ss small piece OF land Hence China the bes,
cultivated county IN the world. II noursbes
e multitude o. people tnai trst appears the traveller
II % great lof the space they possess.
Inc cultivation OF the soil only be end-
.o government ON account OF the extraordinary adi
80 va, @ now from H. but from rs being an obligation
.lhIosea w nature mankind. The whole earth APP
70, the nourishment OF It's inhabitants, but 1t would
GOING u, were uDcultivated Every
ooAktu oY lhe law OF Nature cultivate the ground
aen 70 ITS share, and IL has right to expect or
a'ahahte from others, q further land
p PDesslon Is incapable OF furnishing u with necesss
Tsu,,s people, like the ancient Geunans and modern
"uo, having vTte countries, disdain TO cultivate
eaIn anu choose rather live by rapne wanting
~ .s, and deserve be exerninsted savages
~, Pein,oious beasts. There others, who avoid
a'I nat would live only by buntng and hocks This
~. De allowed In the hrst OF the world,
.s .s. ealh without cultivation produced than
suncent 10 iced its inhabitants but present.
,Ii we human race greatly multiplied IL would
p ~ all nations resolved live In that Those
49, - tethn ihls idle lite usurp extensive terrific
es' iabof, and have, therefore, plain
hhlont, more iaborous closely conineu,
possess part Thus, though the conquest the civil
.u Enpires OF Peru and Mexico was notorious usurps
with America their wi lin
Just bounds be extremely lawful. The people OF those
VsS countries rather overrsn than inhabi them
President Jackson, in his annual essage TO Congress
1884, with regard to the public lands, makes use OF
'he following language, TO wit:
cannot doubted that the speedy settlement Of those
ands constitutes the interest OF the republic. he
wealth and strength OF country are It's population, and
ne best part the population are the culvstors OF the
o ineependent tanners are everywhere the basis Of so
osy and tue friends OF liberty.
seems to be policy that the public lands
neh c.ase prscticsbe TO be source o Ieve-
and that they be sold TO settlers IN limited parcels Al
pess barely sufficient reimburse the United States the
our Ioss hs present sys'e and the cost a'ng unser
desirable, however, that the right Of soil, and the
v position Of IL be surrendered to the States respect
'Veiy In which lies
Inc adventurous hardy population Of the West, be-
ysem have, IN ia. progress OF our government or
notio - ney occupy paid into tho treasury large pro