The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-07
LAND REFORM TN THE SENATE.

On the first page Of the Era we give pretty
full report Of the irregular debate on Land Re-
form, which took place in the Senate last week.
Several propositions had been introduced en-
bracing the principle of Freedom of the Public
Lands 10 aetual settlers, among them, resolution
by Daniel Webster. His proposition does not
conflict with the bill proposed by Mr.. Douglas,
but it has been introduced separately, presume,
80 that its author may deliver his views at large
on the subject, without being bound by the de-
tails of any particular measure.
Hitherto, the conservatism of the Northern
and Southern Atlantis. States has stool ;- ~.
way Of the proposed reform; but when such
man as Mr.. Webster gives way, the advocates of
the Freedom of the Public Lands may well con.
graduate themselves on the success of their eff.
forts. With Webster and Seward, representing
the Northern States, Douglas, Walker, and ASS,
the Western and Northwestern, Foote and Hous-
ton the Southwestern, the great object aimed at
must soon be accomplished
As to the comparative merits of the several
schemes proposed, we may have something to say
hereafter.
In ancient Rome, the reforms proposed by the
Gracch were resisted by the large Shareholders
and landowners because their tendency was to
limit the field of slave labor by rescung the
public domain from their grasping avarice, and
to build up powerful class of small land owners
and working men, whose interests and votes
might control the Republic. Similar reasons will
provoke like hostility to Land Reform in this
country The debate to which we have referred.
shows from what quarter opposition to the Free
dom of the Public Lands may be expected Mr.
Dawson of Georgia was full of apprehension at
these new-fangled schemes. He saw little hope
for the Republic. There was no party that had
the power or disposition to save it from its mani
fold perils. Public men were bidding for office
by these projects of spoation and he seemed to
think that the root of all the mischief was POM
lar svf,age This is favorite theory with the
Slaveholding Caste. They dislike popular insti-
tutions. Mr. Butler of South Carolina said the
other day, that the ballot.Jor was Pandora's box.
We suppose he gives voice to the settled convic-
tions of the Slaveholding Caste in his own State.
for we are all aware that by various constitu-
tional contrivances in that State, popular power
is greatly restricted and all but Shareholders are
rendered virtually ineligible to a seat in the
Legislature or TO the office of Governor.
The large save-owners naturally regard Land
Reform and the Anti-Slavery cause as affiliated en-
terprises. Without referring now to the doctrines
of Homestead Exemption and Land Limitation,
few remarks upon the tendencies of securing
the Freedom of the Public Lands, will show that
they have grounds for their opinion. Slave labor
requires extensive tracts Of land for its profitable
employment and soon exhausting the soil in one
section, constantly demands new and ilmitabe
fields in other sections. The occupation of the
public lands by small cultivators, restricting its
range, would tend to diminish its profits, and
finally make it worthless Hence it is to the in
terest of this large class Of Shareholders so far
that is involved in the system of Slavery, that
the public domain be secured against extensive
occupation by small farmers
Again for political reasons they are opposed
to this disposition of the Public Lands Let every
actual settler be entitled to 60 acres of these
lands, without cost on the simple condition Of
permanent settlement and cultivation, and several
results would follow, unfsvorable to the ascend
ency of the Slave Power. The tide of foreign
immigration, already regarded by it with jeal
GUS eye, would be greatly quickened. The emf
grants, as they arrive, would continue to seel
homes beyond the reach of the influence Of Sla
very. The crowds Of landless men, now cheap
ening labor and increasing the public burdens il
our Eastern States would emigrnte IN the w eaf