Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1850-02-22

The aggregate amountraid for public lands in
this state, since the lands first came into market
is STOP 247 90. 1t strikes Us if people would
take this fact and ponder on it, they would come
10 the conclusion that Land Reform would not
have been bad principle heretofore, aud will not
he for the future This enormous sum paii has
been list SO much drawn from the resources of
the people Of The state, and at a TIM when they
most needed il aud were least able to ynv II.
Gould il have been retained to aid in improving
the land instead OF being sent ont OF the country
10 ray for il, the beneficial effects can readily be
conceived. And the benefits would by no means
have been confined 10 the state, but would have
been equally experienced by the General Govern
ment. This seven millions, 50 far as the govern
ment is concerned, has been sunk, and Is torcv-
er gone. Now whether the revenues Of govern
mcnt be raised directly or indirectly, any one can
see that to have left those seven millions in the
hands Of the people here, would have been a pro-
( itable investment of the money; il would have
yielded an interest which would always have been
increasing in amount from year 10 year; because
If the tax were direct, it would have been -
much at once invested in taxable property, or if
indirect, it would lave enabled people at once.
instead Of being compelled to subject themselves
to priyaiions. to have commenced the cousump-
ton Of duiiable products. And as here, so all
over the country. The public lands have been
sold and The money has been squandefci IS the
government funds generally arc Officers and
soldiers, foreign ministers, md the ten thousand
other dl" and useless supcrnumcraries Of &C.
vcrnment have had il aAd spent it. Without say
ing word about tho right, does il need argument
10 show how much better il would be TO ave
lcil this money in the hands Of the laborers cf tn
coun,ry-=-Ihe producers of the wealth, where, in
stead OF il being squandcrcd il would be made to
yield perpetual and profitable interest Ii tn e
fact is not known it Is time it were, that the Clio
~ The stability, the prosperity, in short. every
thing worth having, with reference 10 nation,
depends on the prosperity Of labor ana til, labp-
r2rs Of that nation. Any policy then which tends
TO lIlt up the aborcr and give to labor increased
profits. must be beneficial II the nation indeed
/ II Z, TX
policy must b. OF that character. Think. for
one moment, of the effect on Wisconsin, had
these seven millions been retained among hor
settlers. The hardships they have undergone,
the Suffolings and privatons endured, would have
been in great measure avoided. and it is not TN.
reasonable 10 suppose that as productive and
prosperous as the state now is it is nothing COM
pared with what it would have been bad not this
tax upon the resources, industry. ami energy Of
the people, been exactcd at the very start Just
as we are prosperous and rch so o we coutr-
0uio % the support OF the general government
and we hope the time is not distant when our lc-
gIslators, even should they fail to see the riyht
OF the people to the land, will be able TO sec that
there cannot possibly be better investment Of
funds than to leave the price OF the public lands
in the pockets of those who will cultivate and
make the land productive