New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-02-14
Land Reform Bills.


We rejoice at the multiplicity no less than the
bearing Of the bills submitted TO Congress contem.
plating a more easy acquisition OF Public Land by
landess people Instead of sneering at the tard.-
ness oi those who have taken hold of Land Reform
at this session, we welcome them 10 the field. and
are thanksl that they have entered il 50 soon There
is yet room and work icr many more and We tr1st
unworthy considerations VI sooner or later will
be permitted to impede their coming. We thank
even those whose bills we could not vote for since
any impulse toward action ON this subject can hard
ly fail to prove benefcent Let US have action NJ
this Session ii possible better concentrate ON aud
mature an imperfect measure than nothing -
Whether good bin can now be passed or not. let
US have the question fairly made that it be fully
considered in the elections To the next Congress
We do not lilvp the bin OF Mr.. YouSG Of III.
which proposes ia effect 10 give every landless
inau 90 acrcs OF land In fee simple spon the condi.
ron vi fourteen years occupancy, so that he or is
heirs may sell il to the holder Of thousands OF acres
Il he deemed fit at any time after the fourteen years
probation shall have expired Senator DoUGLAss IS
worse THAI this in tina, its sdy sntsges not con
fined to bscklsnds. while il requires less than hre
years to perfect n saleable title. so that a single
sQaRt,er might take up and pass over to monopo.
lists ten twelve quartorsectons III the course OF
his adalt lifetime Mr. w II. w Conn re
wives the old project OF graduating the PRICE 10 ought
six four and finally two Yosk shillinss at Intervals
Of Ave years succeeding each reduction-in effect a
bill TO let any man clutch Tex Thousand Acres OF
Public Lands whenever aud 90 often as he shall be
able to pay twenty I've hundred dollars Bot We
have no fear that any such antediluvan blunder as
this can possibly get enacted
Although no project yet presented tulhlls our
idea Of what might and should be done in the way
Land Reform, yet of those now before Congress
We deem that of Mr.. WEBSTER by far the best
Ii does not IN terms preclude Monopoly by Lims
ton, bat il does very much TO discourage and i'm
pede IL With quarter section AMI only one
proifered. not in fee simple but in perpetual sue
cession to each settler and his heirs it would b,
iey 10 buy any but peculiarly. exceedingly vslus
bic tracts in the hope OF sslliug them at profit
The passage of Mr. Websters proposition as It "
would very nearly prove death blow to sPecula
ton; and we are sure he would not object 10 IL,
modification in sucb manner as u allow one holdel
by occupancy to exchange lots with another al any
time, or even to sell GU, his chance 10 an other
wise lsndless man and try ssan--'he purchase
to retain his right thus acquired only 50 leng h,
should continue the owner Or claimant OF no Other
land
-krse Homes for Free Laboreu-a sturiy
ieomsnry asking Ia mans leave b toll and hig
ghng with no for wsges-a population of Pm,
doeers dividing with no draes the prosi0cts q
their industry and never in danger OF legal expDl
sion frem their farms-such are the great ends con
tsmplated by Land Reform Let none grudge the
ton