The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-13


labor, nor productiveness TO the soil, nor add to
the Treasury by increased returns in the shape
Of taxation. IL is legislative prohigacy. The
true interest of agriculture is TO widen the field
Of it's operations far practicable and then, by
udcious tisge, TO make il yield the very largest
resources compatible with the population of the
country. The measure now before US will secure
this object by giving independent homesteads to
the greatest number Of cultivators, thus impart.
ing dignity TO labor, and stimulating its activity.
1t may be taken for granted, as a general truth,
that nation will be powerful prosperous, and
happy, in proportion TO the number Of independ.
ent cultvators of its soil All experience de-
monstrates that it is most favorable to agriculture
to have every plantation cultivated by its propri-
etor nor is il less conducive TO the same object,
or less important to the general welfare, that
every citizen who desires il should be the owner
of plantation, and engaged in its cultivation
The disregard of these simple and Just prnci-
Piles in the actual policy of nations, has been one
of the great scourges of the world. We now
have it in our power, without revolution or vio-
lence, to carry them into practice and reap their
| benefcent frnits and nober work cannot en-
gage the thoughts or enlist the sympathies Of the
statesman No governmental policy is so wise as
that which keeps constantly before the mind Of
the citizen the promotion of the public good, by a
scrupulous regard for his private interest. This
principle should be stamped upon all our legis-
lation since it will establish the strongest of all
ties between him and the State. A phlosophic
writer of the last century, in sketching perfect
ly-organized commonwealth, has the following:
"As every man ploughed his own field cultiva-
ton was more active, provisions more abundant,
and individual opuleuce constituted the public
wealth
As the earth was free, and its possession easy
and secure, every man was a proprietor, and the
division Of property, by rendering luxury impos-
| sible preserved the purity Of manners.
Every man finding his own well-being in the
constitution of his country took lively interest
in its preservation if stranger attacked il, bav-
ing his field his house, to defend, he carried into
the combat all the animosiy Of personal quarrel
and, devoted to his own interests, he was devoted
| his country
Here, sir, are principles worthy to guide our
rulers in the disposition of the public lands Give
homes to the landless multitudes in the country,
and YOU snatch them from crime and starvation,
| from the prison and the alms-housa, and place
them in a situation at once the most conducive to
virtue, to The prosperity of the country, and to
! loyalty to its Government and laws. Instead of
paupers and outcasts, they will become independ-
ent citizens and freeholders pledged by their
gratitude to the Government, by self-interest, and
by the affections of our nature, to conseorate
is to be erected and the family circle kept anbro-
ken. They will feel, as never before the value of
free institutions, aud the obligations resting upon
them as citizens. Should foreign foe invade
our shores having their homes and their firesides
| to defend they would rush to the field of deadly
strife CARRYING with them all the animosity of
personal quarrel Independent farmers" said
President Jackson, care everywhere the basis of
society, and true friends of liberty y and army
Of such men however Impractical in the art of
war, would be invincbe Carry ouDhis reform
of multiplying in1epeR lent cultivators, and thus
rendering labor at once honorable and gainful,
and verify believe more will be done than could
be accomplished by any other means to break
down our military establishments, and divert the
vast sums annually expended in maintaining them
to the arts of peace. 1t is emphatically a peace
movement, since it will curb the war spirit by
substituting to the public interest the "raw mate
rial Of which our armies are generally composed
BY giving homes to the poor, the idle, the vicious
il will attach them to the soil, and cause them to
feel as the producers of the country ought to feel,
that upon them rest the burdens of war. The
policy Of increasing the number and independence
of those who till the ground, in whatever light
considered, commends itself to the Government.
England and the countries of Western Europe,
have risen in prosperity just in proportion as free
dom has been communicated TO the occupiers Of
the soil The work of tlage was at first carried
on by slaves then by vileins, then by metayers,
and finally by farmers; the improvement Of those
countries keeping pace with these progressive
changes in the condition of the cultivator. The
same observations would doubtless apply to other
| countries and to different ages Of the world But
need not 90 abroad for illustrations ofthis principle
Look, for example, at slave labor in this country
Compare Virginia with Ohio. In the former the
soil is titled by the slave He feels no interest in
the Government because It allows him the exer-
else of no civil rights. 1t does not even give him
the right to himself He HIS of course inter
est in the soil upon which he tolls His arm il
not nerved nor hislabor lightene1, by the thought
OF home, for to him IL has no value or sacredness
IL is no defence against outrage His own off
spring are the properly of another. He does not
toll for his family, but for a stranger, His wife
and children may be torn from him at any mo-
ment sold like cattle to the trader, and separated
from him forever. Labor brings no new comfort:
to himself or his family. The motive from which
he tolls is the lash. He is robbed of his human
ity by the system which has made him its victim
Can the cultivation Of the soil by such pOpula-
ton add wealth or prosperity to the Common
wealth. The question answers itself. need
not point to Virginia, with her great natural ad
vantages her ample resources in afl the elements
of wealth and power, yet dwinding and dying
|
river Ohio, and how changed the scene Agri-
culture is in the most thriving condition The
whole land teens with abundance The owners
of the soil are in general its cultivators and these
constitute the best potion Of the population. La
Dor, instead Of being looked apon as degrading, is
thus rendered honorable and independent The
ties of interest well the stronger ties of af-
fection animate the tolls of the husbandman, and
strengthen his attachment to the Government; for
the man who loves his home will love his country
His own private emoument and the public good
are linked together in his thoughts, and whilst he
is rearing a virtuous family on his own home
stead, he is contributing wealth and strength to
the State Population is rapidly on the increase
whilst new towns are springing up almost as by
magic. Manufactures and the mechanic arts in
general are in lourishing condition, whilst the
country is dotted over with churches, school,
houses, and smiling habitations. The secret OF
all this is the distribution Of landed property,
and its cultivation by freemen. But even in the
virgin State of Ohio, the curse of land monopoly
or whue slavery is beginning to exhibit its bitter
fruits, as it will everywhere if unchecked by wise
legislation Let Congress, therefore, see to it, IA
the beginning, by an organic law for the public do.
main yet remaining uDsold, that this curse shall
be excluded from it. The enactment of such
law should not be delayed q single hour. Now IL
the golden moment for action The rapidity
with which our public lands have been melting
away for the past few years, under the prodiga
policy Of the Government, renders all-important
the speedy interposition of Congress.
Mr. Speaker, have spoken, incidentally Of
slavery. This, am aware, may be considered q
violation of the final settlement, y the remarkably
sanstive measures, ratified by Congress few
: months since. beg leave to say, however, that
think the adoption of the policy for which an
contending will be much better settlement
of the slavery question than the one 10 which
refer. Donate the land lying within our Terri
tories, in limited plantations, to actual settler.