Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-12-12

In Convention, EOvsaber 25lh, 1880, on the Home


political slaughter house, if we believe some of the
prophets Of this Convention suppose that the subject
upon which Mr.. Fowlers martyrs" TO suffer DEATH
At least it would seem 10 me as see many of the
ablest debaers Of this Convention stunning though
its touch contagious. For my part shall not dodge
the responsibility. |, SIR, for one feel disposed
..ro beard the Lion in his den,
And to express freely and learessy nv opinions in
gard to the homestead principle, and what think will
be IFS effects upon the country, should pass IN the
form proposed
In Investigating the principles Of any particular law
is sometimes both interesting and instructive 10 trace
II back its original In different ages and
countries chameleon like, it will be found to change its
apparent hue to meet, far practicable, the
tastes, passions, aud prsludices OF lis votaries.
-Four hundred and eigty-sx years before th9 Chris
tan era Spurious Cassus, ambitious demagogue Of
Rome was raised 10 the consular dignity Historians
inform that his whole soul directed to the
plshment Of his ambitious designs, and that e
feetually favor with the multitude he caused to he
passed law limiting the number OF acres OF land TO be
acquired by any citizen ard dividing the conquered
land equally among the Romans and the Latins. The
Romans, dspeased with being cqualzed with the Lat
ans, and perceiving the dangerous ascendency which
Cassus daily acquiring the public mind,
sed him Of reasonable designs in aspiring to the
egnty-tried, condemned, and threw him from the Tar
pean rock Soon after mis- death his law repealed.
About a century after this period a wealthy pebeian
of me name Of c. Lucus StoO, married an influential
ambitious patrcian lady, whose whole thoughts consist
ed in dcvisng schemes by which her husband might be
elevated above his pebeian kindred. He was elected
Tribune but still she satisfied, and stimulated
him still further the breeze of popular favor.
Accordingly he promulgated the famous Licinan law"
which prohibited any citizen from acquiring holding
over 500 ugera Of land 600 acres) and exceeding
100 bulocks, and 500 goats sheep This law at
first hailed by the poorer classes with accamaton Of joy
as the wealth Of the few thus TO be divided amongst
the many But strange tell Stolo the first man
who was victimlzed by this law tie was ound attempt
ing to conceal the ownership Of 1000 jugena OF land Sc
verelv fined. and half of il taken from him.
For more than hundred and fifty years succeeding
no agrarian movement import was made and prob
ably would have been again. in Rom,, had not the
celebrated Cornea the mother Of the Cracchi, induced
her son Tberius Cracchus to advocate the reestabsh
meat Of the ''LicinaR Law" He aroused the people
to a state Of phrenzed excitement and fell victim in
the storm he had himself created. Eighteen years af
forwards his brother CauS followed in his footsteps, and
by his energy and elOquence created great excite
that the Roman Republic shaken to its centre.
The scenes that followed must be wildly impressed upon
the minds Of all who acquainted with Roman his
tory-he poor against the rich the father against the
SON. the son against the brother and the father. Rome
on the brink of ruin threatened with intestine destue
ton hung upon the breath of that elo-
Quent heartess agrarian demOgOgue. Reason, howev-
err length prevailed Caius paid Tor his ambition with
his life. The blood OF over two thousand OF his follow
ers was poured upon the altar of his ambition, and
Rome was once more restored tranquility and peace.
And now sir, without tracing this historical chain any
further (Which my time Will not permit to do,)
think can see, through the dim distant twilight of the
past the Licinian Law casting its gloomy shadow
oil it has reached the present age The arguments Of
Cassus Of Stoo and the Gracch resoundng through
England America and France Give us homes and an
equal division Of property cry the araans of England
Down with the rich and equal division of the steal
ings scream the Wild, inurlated 'sans culotte" oil
France Permit Us to use other mems property our
own under the sanction Of law, the gracious Ian
Guage Of the followers Of those great Romans with
Yes sir hide will disguise II as you may, the
Homestead and the Lienan law have been in the
same loom and both Of the same teXture-the web
other en's property, the wool the preudlces OF the
poor against the rich. The LEHMAN law took the prop
erty Of one class and divided amongst another. The
amendments proposed would have the same practical ei
feet they would permit class under the euise of
contract obtain the property % another, and then
keep that property under the sanction 81 the law
In several Of the debates which have been made IN this
Convention, gentlemen TO have lost sight of
the distinction between the truth OF abstract principles
and the DrOUrsty OF carrying such principles into prac
tice. For instance, it urged few days ago with
great warmth, that all maRkiRd free and equal
proposition in the abstract that reasonable will
deny But the inference that drawn from that prop
oson that negroes and mulattoes should therefore be
entitled to all the privileges and immunties of the whites
under our peculiar condition, is not quite clear OF
demonstration: and the same gentlemen by their votes.
have indirectly declared when they, with every dele
gate in this Convention save one, (Mr. Mayo voted to
prohibit the coored from the exercise OF the cleo
tive franchises right nalenable and natural in tho
abstract, he right to enjoy liberty or e. Again;
under that abstract principle, woman IS entitled 10 all
The political rights OF man, the right to vote and the
right TO hold Office yet none but lew QuiXotc knight
Grants have ever dreamed of casting the mantle of pO
ltcal power her shoulders An abstraction OF
similar character has been cOnended for under the
tons under debate. Ii is this that God gave the
earth for his inheritance, and therefore every
entilled enjoy il. Now that abstraction is
and man does enjoy IT. but the argument that they az
tempt to deduee from that fact that all should be
entitled homesteadS my mind anything but
God gave no man right to any particular spot but
an undivided interest in the whole. The location Of
his right the soil the offspring of contract, which
found % he necessary for the and quetude Of
society. Ii all permitted 70 claim the same spot
feuds and discOrd would never No man could
that the roof that gave him shelf to-day would
under his control tomorrow, as stronger hand might
wrest il from him.
The first question that legislator should ask himself
should be- what be the moral effect OF the law pro-
posed 10 be enactedl Willis impress upon the charac
Ter Of the people be good bad! Will it elevate
will it DEGRADED VIII it purify corrupt care
how much that law may benefit particular class, or
even the State large in a pecunary point Of view
will leave an impression on the public mind unfavorablc
the principles Of integrity and honesty it would be
mis- duty pause and only pause, but resign be-
fore he should lend his influence to the passage Of such
law.
Let Us then, ask what viii he the moral eoct Of the
amendments the section under discussion If adoptedl
The solvent needs their protection. The only
class that be benefited by such provisions would be
those who should become involved in debt beyond their
means Of payment Now, SIR would II be conducive 10
public morals place that class compar atvely above
by giving them homesteads-homeseadsp urchas-
ed with the funds Of other mea would it be in
accordance with the principles OF ethics, to tell them
plainly, :" You must pay your honest debtsP To test
the morality Of this law let examine little further
There are two men, bound together BIZ the ties Of friend
ship has five hundred dollars in cash and the other
has nothing The who is penuyless relying on the
ties Of friendship applies for tie loan Of the five hun
bred dollars obtains it, and Immediately invests it in
homestead. The friend who loaned the money in few
days applies for payment Judge Of his establishment