New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-14
Destitute Children.

That many of our citizens are deeply interested
for the welfare Of the INDECENT young, In our midst,
is fact no less trte than true The ordinary mode
adopted by Poor MASTERS" or other fanctions-
ries, of binding the Children out until they become
of age, is not looked upon with equal satisfaction
by ALL Nor can we wonder at this since we
have ample proof thatthe proper guardians excuse
themselves at once from further care, by the
stereotyped reply" o ar Poor Tax is already pro-
disious:v or by the self complaisant one-"Our
paupers are better cared for than those OF any
State in Chrstendom.'
This conclusion may be true; still the question
returns. What is our duty toward those whom
providence has made the legitimate offspring Of
the State
Before answering this question, it is our duty
AZ Americans, to inquire into some of the causes
which have thrown them as psupers In our midst.
Go in imagination to the battlefield Of Mexico and
INQUIRE, among the bleached bones there 80 album
dainty strewn, in whose cause and for whose glory
did those brave hearts FIGHT and PAIL, leaving
their wives, fc.d0rs, and their children, orphans
Various are the ways that lead 70 destitution, OF
which the child has no agency. And should We
not remember too, in the language ofhOy writ, that
"the earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof
But we are told that Europe, nay all the world
are pouring their INDECENT children upon us. For
arguments sake let rs admit IL. But were not
our own fathers strangers and pilgrims and has
not our prosperity ever been in keeping with our
immigration, and should we not as descendants Of
those Who sought home in this western world.
be willing 10 extend the same high privilege TO
downtrodden and degraded Europe We have
land 10 abundance, and, as citizens OF the United
States the right and title Of said lands vested
in ourselves. To what shall We put this Nigh
ty, and almost boundless tract OF countryI To
what better use could WI put it, than the one which
] now propose, TO wit: that each State shall have
assigned to it in suitable aud heath1l location,
west Of the Mississippi, FIVE hundred acres, for
every two hundred children Provided, OF course,
that each State accepting the offer, shall within
Designated time, erect suitable buildings and re-
move their orphan children thereto. Provided too
that each respective State organize manual la
Dor School or Schools in which the children shall
be taught Agricultural and Mechanical pursuits
No children to be removed from the Nurseries
within the respective States until they are old
enough to enter upon manual labor. And in con.
nection with such pursuits, common School educs-
tion shall beproperly attended to. In a community
Of this kind judicious teachers might be Of great
benefit in suggesting to the individual child that
pursuit in life for which it is best adapted And
It shall be further provided, that, to each couple
marrying, farm OF one hundred and twenty acreE
be given. Farming utensils and household furni-
ture suitable for new country shall also be pro-
vided with liberal time allowed 70 pay for the
same. Does any one fear that this would over
burden the State, then let as examine it on the
score Of economy How much, let as ask, can
child from 10 TO 81 years Of age) produce IN .
years, If properly instructed beyond what he will
consume We answer, at least four times rs much.
This judiciousy sold would support the nurseries
in the respective States and In few years all OF
the adult poor.
Again, ought not each child to be worth at least
as much to the United States, as a negro is TO his
master The answer it, Yes. This would greatly
augment our national wealth, and, surely our
national strength.
gradation In our cities, have, many OF them re-
ceived their first blossoms Of vice in Poor Houses.
Thus degraded, and thus united by education and
association 10 take fair stand in society," they be-
come the dupes of the designing, and ultimately
tax upon the State.
The writer of this, has no desire TO reflect upon
the present disposition of the pauper children his
object Is to better them, by training them 10 habits
of industry and morality.
As nation, we received the highest qualification,
aew years since in sending bread 70 the thousands
starving in Ireland We had still enough and 70
spare. Shall we not provide for our owe boase-
hold-shall we not instruct them and enable them
to provide for themselves Shall we not in this
way elevate the female children, and save them
from iDfamy?
Our Western domain is not only rich bat bound
less and why should IL lie ide, while at the same
time we are supporting our thousands In dleness,
In our county and city Poor Houses Our poor
orpbap children's fathers fought and gained our
surplus territory, and TO them their descendants II
belongs as a right II