Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-02-01

necessarily follow If adopt the system proposed n this bin
The who holds hundred and sixty acres lying in ih
midst Of Government land would find the domain hin
offered gift TO all who would receive il for settlement
The almost boundess region thus offered would put an end
all value Of lands. The settler who might be disposed Il
change his place his business and changes oene
than the settler on the roater) would find bis farm value
less and sale impacticable. And indeed why should any
purchase land of individual at two three, en
twenty dollars acre, when, lying by its sde with the
advantages Of location and with the richness
SOIL he receive land offered BY the Government without
payment
To show that right in this view of the NATTER and
exhibit its extent let look at Of the States. In
Illinois there IA 100000 of NOT settled,
nearly oneha of the whole In isdana abous 600
of acres onesevenh of the whole territory is in fne same
condition These among the densey settled of the
States, and their population is extended the who
surface yet the intermediate unsod land bears the proportion
to that owned by the settlers above indicated In Missouri
OF the whoe yet remains in the Govern
ment. In Wisconsin there 23000 900 ceres,
nearly sx-sevenhs of the entire surface yet be settled
small porton compared with the whoe occupied by set
and yet the last named State is which popua-
tion has been Dcking fer years past in greater
bers, perhaps thsnto any other State in this Union This
reference establishes the sh of my asseron that the
PIE scattered far and wide the territory, and the pro-
Pery owned by ndvduasis in the midst of that owned BY the
United States.
So intimately the value of the homestead of the settler
involved with the sales of the public domain that they sre
separable; and would be to forget duties to the ad
repubcto overlook this consideration in legislation Ee
fore bestowng gatnes favored Glass; should see
It that the rights Of Others are not put in jeopardy.
Warrants for bounty land issued to the soldiers for their
service in the Mexican portion OF the stipulated
pensaon-o the Of some six millions of acres arc
yet Indicated OF what value will be these grants under the
system proposed Since the organization Of hc Government
grants have been made to the several States the
OF some twenty millions of acres for purposes Of education
internal communication, and other objects Of public uly
Of which still INDICATED and much Of the land not
yet settled These must follow the condition Of the public
lands and if the latter the subject of gatous grant,
the former will lose the;Y,value
Of the aforementioned grants the Sates some ten
millions of acres were bestowed for the purpose Of
schools This noble dedication consists of single secton
located in the centre Of each township and thus distributed
through the whole public domain every portion Of it sur
rounded by public land the premises bordering upon and
surrounding every side be had without price, who
will pay his money for this
apprehend, Mr.. Pfesdenf, that the States would
look with great dsrus: upon any kind Of Legislation which
should tend to destroy ormpar the value Of the property de-
voted to this object such thing could be done de-
sroy the value Of the lands belonging to the public schools
and by single dash Of the pen abolish the fund depending
upon them, where would be hopes conneoed with the
spread of knowledge for the future Where our that
no Government earth has performed for education much
ours Where repeated assertion that while the Gov
ernment founded upon the intelligence of the people, and
can be sustained only By that have performed whole
duty IN broad foundation for the intelligence Of future
generations !
=
been made in the unboken forest and long in advance Of
the arrival of the settler Their benefits designed for
the future, and were intended to only with civilized
cey They are regarded earnest of good and fund
too sacred for desecraon Let legislation of impair
this inheritance Let carefully every proposition
which may have that ec and yield nothing which will
produce such result. The various propositions which hare
been presented here, contemplating change in the present
land SYSTEM and the little discussion which has been had upon
them disclose two principal objects sought be secured by
those who urge this, change. .l ..t....es
The first object is give homes to those who do not own
lands, in the words Of the petitioners "to give homes
the landess and to facilitate the settlement of the country
by inducing them become agrcuurists The second is to
preclude the purchase OF lands in large quantities BY specu
tors These embrace the two most important objects be
accomplished BY the proposed change fwish therefore,
say a few words in regard to these two points.
II is supposed that by grant Of land in the which
Is here proposed to the andess in Of 100 saeh
large numbers of people residing Of the States
be induced change their residence become settlers the
West and culdvaOrs OF the soil think the views enter
tanned by gentlemen this point should receive nod
hcaon Great changes in the industrial pursuits of
muniy can be effected eher suddenly by slight
The merchants the mechanics the aboring OF
the ctles the sailors the classes Of individuals
seek success In the empoyments to which they
toned and no inducements such hereoeed will per-
suade them TO change their location and their avocaons and
to attempt the cultivation of the soil distant region
large portion of the community who no.
SO from choice and not from necessity Their interest Is best
subserved by investing their business where it will
De more fotabe to them anal guided by this interest," from
choice they are landess.
Now, let suppose that instead Of offering I6O
an nducement to settle upon and cultivate the public lands
we were change the nature Of the proposition and tender
an equivalent in money This proposition would give $500
in cash to every individual who would emigate the
States, condition that he should buy land for which he
would pay the amoant and become settler The in
ducement thus offered would be little entcing, app,e-
hend that very few woad be found yield to its influence
The great masses Of the people would deem Of little
moment to induce them the expense and hazard of
change to business and climate which they unac-
and fulfil the terms But in its national aspect this is not
question of iafuence few individuals it proposition
to induce by the offer important change the industrial
pursuits of czens-to induce Of men TO remove
from portion Of the country another and devote
themselves to agricultural labor For this purpose there
can be little doubt that the offer would be found almost
tirey Intellectual.
But again, sir, those who know any thing of the settle
ment Of country well how delusve is the idea
that every person fitted for in cuivang farm in
the wilderness Here elsewhere he secures success who
has the MEANS mental physical and moral command IT,
Economy, industry and energy must be his attend
ants He must become Injured to TOLL and the strength
OF muscle and the vigor Of constitution which his labor re-
qures For the want of these, il unfequenty happens
tna pdvlduais settled on their newly purchased land, find
themselves unequal to the task which h have undertaken
Rich as the reward OF success and great the induce
ments Tor settling the productive lands belonging The Gov
ernment these qualifications indispensable those who
the task They who have watched the current Of
emigration must have remarked that the successful settlers Of
new c,uny generally Of the hardy farmers of the
st The State Of New York has sent more men the