The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-05-31

many Tears over the degradation and misery which they
suppose 10 attach 70 our slaves bat ii there Is any
uiuoh more aegI aiding more wrelcbed than that OF
white man who is dependant for his bread upon the will
heai'iess and purse proud capitalist, have
Witnessed H. regard such relation constituting the
worst species OF slavery that can exist and to prevent the
prevalence OF such system OF sefvude and wretched
ness nave reoleed N the opportunities OF adding 70 our
Mexico have had no fears that the extension Of
lernory would endanger the strength OF the durability OF
our Union. AS long as the federaye featuren con
sntnton preserved and adhered to, States may be
safely added until they reach from the Atlantic TO the
Pacihe. The vastly accumulated capital OF the
old STATES strengthened and protected as II is by char
iers OF Incorporation. might prove oppressive TO labor, II
The population was prevented from dfusng itself and
binding outlets in the West.
II is to furnish such outlets, and TO enable the citizens in
the old States who feel that they becoming loo dense
and too much crowded together escape from the threat
ened tyranny OF capital and seek homes in the Far West
that have ever regarded our public domain valuable
AS long as we have public lands which the citizen
enter upon and make his home and has oon long will
the poorest in The land be enabled defy the most
hearess Shylock the earth In my estimation here
the great beauty and The chief excellence OF the home
stead proposlon- Is baSrier against the tyranny of
capital which enables the poor say his hard
population has become dense, where labor has become
cheap and where capital has accumulated in the hands OF
few the man whose wife and children look TO the
ngs of his daily Toll Tor food and clothing is very far
from enjoying the happiness Of him who Is really free
and independent. The fears of seeing starving wife
and children subdue the proud spirit of almost any
even his voting, leaving TO him the name but of the
substance OF freedom Put in the power of such
to say to his employer Sir. you mus, give me full
upon the quarter section rendered TO by my govern
menrand you knock from his limbs the shackles which
now make slave of hm-you emancpate his soul, and
he stands forth new man, redeemed regenerated and
disenthralled." Take the family after they have
selected and improved their homestead and what glor-
GUS contrast does the new situation present when com
pared with that from which the homestead has
deemed them What purse proud capitalist will say to
hun, Vote as say, or your wife and children may cry
for bread When he plunges into the deep western for.
ess, with his wife and his axe that spirit within him
which before had been crushed and subdued becomes
expanded and elastic. He catches the spirit of bold,
bis wife, who heart broke, pale and timd finds her
health renewed her strength restored and her fortude
suited to the life OF hardy pioneer They thrivein-
crease their comforts they independent and happy
If the homestead will make such change as
this IN the condition OF thousands and tens OF thousands
OF families cannot be urged too earnestly upon the
sideraton OF Congress That such will be its operation,
have not the least doubt. 1t stands out amongst the
most prominent of the great national questions OF the
day, and is destined to succeed at no distant period II
IS emphatcaly republican measure One Of its chie
which wealth gives to its possessor his less iou
nate neghbo enables the man TO defy the power
means OF resisting the oppression of the strong But,
above all, this measure will convert thousands upon
thousands from condition Of virtual sevi,ude and degra
dation to the elevation and dignity of freemen--men who
live apon and cultivate their own land and such
have been and ever will be- the most reliable pat
OTIS No matter how poor they may have been when I'm
may have endured, or how degraded they may have
seemed be, if they have spirit enough 10 resolve upon
becoming freehoders and energy enough to take up the
line of march to the Great West everything else will fol-
low. The honor and glory Of the country will always
be safe in the hands of such OF men, They will
to love the country; and when her honor
her interests to be defended they will be found
foremost The homestead bill will furnish just such
another of bold patriots have sprung up already
upon the western frontiers where the hardy pioneers led
the way.
shall content myself with only one other view OF this
measure. have said that the derived from the
public lands averaged from two to three millions annu.
ally Ii the homestead bill is passed, this source OF rev.
may be cut OIL and the question arises Does the
homestead promise sufficient benefits TO justify
Congress in giving up that amount OF revenue, and OF
supplying lis place by new or additional taxes Or does
il follow that the will be diminished to the ex
OF the annual average proceeds OF the land sales
II believed that Congress would have TO supply this
amount OF by additional taxation, should
feel bound say that ought to be done rather than
ject the homestead bill But am well satisfied that, in
fiscal point OF view, the homestead measure IN
very few years. would be found to have greatly
the Those who would take the benefits oil
the homestead bill are such pay little rev.
to the government and for the very obvious reason
that they unable to many OF the comforts OF life.
But make recholders of them elevate them TO the dig
nifty Of land owners, and in a few years shall
them gathering around them all the comforts and
ton that they thrive and enjoy these comforts and lux
uries in that proportion under tariff system the rev.
enue OF the government will be increased 1t seems TO
me to be obvious that as a revenue measure the
homestead bill deserves TO be supported But is TO be
borne in mind that the quantity Of public land is so
much greater than the annual demand for IT, that cannot
be having any very great present value IN
the market But Just in proportion settlers enter upon
the lands and improve them, they appreciated in val
ne The homestead bill would cadse settlers to enter
upon the lands in large numbers and the necessary result
would be that the Incorporated lands would be rem
dcred valuable In every point OF view, therefore,
that can take Of this great measure, IT challenges my
cordial support
have thus hastily thrown together my views on the
measure on which you have desired my opinion, and
cannot close without again expressing my regret that
have not been able do justice 10 the subject But
whilst feel conscious that have not done justice to the
measure am warranted in regreltng this the less since
know that your late able and distinguished representa-
tive in Congress has long had his heart fixed upon THE
measure and that he is much better qualified than am to
present the question in all its bearings II my opinions
on the measure worth anything, take pleasure in
giving Them and sincerely thank you for the kindness
mani tested in making the call which have 30 hastily
and imperfecty answered
! Very respectfully.
! A. 0. p NICHOLSON
To Messrs Samuel Mlligan and others, Greenvie, Ten
! nessee.
Il