The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-08

cy aud benign FORM without disturbing any ex-
isnng estates, interfering with any vested interests.
| and without disturbing any established laws
| toms.
There is arbitrary measurement of the portion OF
land which possessor advantage cultivate
yet there are practically dimensions within which lands
are held Tor that purpose; and when these ex-
ceeded, the surplus is held for purposes of COM
merce or speculation Commerce in the public lands,
although by no means immoral, nevertheless ought
TO be regarded with jealousy. II diverts capital from
active or productive industry. and proongs the Pc
nod before the land purchased be made fruitful
Mortgages. Judgments, and accidents of nsol vency and
OF death, render the title uncertain and confused and
thus exclude the lands from market. Every has
seen ~ new countries extensive tracts o land upon which
the specuator had laid his hand and thus rendered them
useless TO himself useless the community and useless
or nearly So to the State The want OF some security
against inconvenences preiudical 10 the States may
now be supplied without producing any embarrassment
individuals or TO the government. HH#.# @ H...
Secondly. The same policy seems to commend the
principle OF insisting on permanent occupation and cult
yalion as conditions OF grant of any portion OF the pub
bs kept open and available 10
those who seek il for cultivation il ought, therefore,
be Kept Tree from absent owners wbo while they would
exclude settlers, would leave entirely unproducve
and who would pay TO the State either nothing al
most TAX that would poorly compensate for stamping
steriy upon the SOIL a.0 .#. .sua.t .r
The same principle that dictated the abandonment Of
the credit system in 1890 to prescribe lim
ation OF the sales 10 actual settlers Nor would the
revenue derived from sales be affected by such measure
1 he price OF the land is fixed and uniform Ii more
lands sold at time, under the present systeu
than would be sold with such limitation, a rest must
follow until the excess of lands sold above the actual
supply OF the market shall be taken off at profit loss
sion OF 1887 aggravated BY wild and reckless specua
lions in the domain, gave instructions this subject
which ought not 10 be neglected. .r ga
The senator from Michigan, [Mr FELcH.l who has
discussed our landed policy with very great ability
dwells upon the difficulty OF prescribing the evidence Of
occupancy and cultivation But this difficulty would
soon be removed if the system should be changed A
title might be withheld until improvements should be
made sufficient TO prevent voluntary forfeiture.
lhrdly. lhe question OF making the grants OF public
lands gratutously is OF more difficulty By gratui.
tous grants mean those which would be practically So
and that the lands thus disposed of should be charged
with the costs OF the grant s.st. . rH.
The demand of one dollar and twenty-five cents per
acre, OF two hundred dollars farm OF one hundred
and sixty acres. although is not unjust, and although
It may be necessary, nevertheless, practical ope-
aton tax upon the privilege OF cultivang the domain.
But the first and fundamental interest OF the republic
the cultivation OF its soil That cultivation is the sole
fountain OF the capital or wealth which supplies every
channel OF industry The it istaxed the less freely
1t will flow II indeed, that this
tax labor seeks the soil within the States and Terri
torres, and that society advances there within rapidy
Paalleei But equally true that the lax prevents the
mmg ration OF very large mass OF persons who des-
ute OF employment in the eastern States while il rejects
even greater mass OF culvaors in Europe. We are
competitors with the European States in agriculture and
manufactures They have the advantage OF cheaper
labor aud greater capital We ought therefore, 10 invite
here the labor necessary to augment productions and
the industry and skill required prepare them for
nal and foreign commerce. Can il be doubtful for
moment that II is policy to bring the facuIers
TO our own shores. and 10 invite the farmer supply his
wants from our own unproductve lands!
Commercial supremacy demands Just such agricnl-
ural basis the fertile and extensive regions the
United States when inhabited. will supply. Political
supremacy follows commercial ascendency 1t was by
reason OF the want OF just such agricultural
basis that Venice, Portugal, and Holland
sively lost commerce and empire, Il was for The
purpose of securing just such basis that France.
England, and SPAN seized eagerly, and held
so tenaciously, the large portions OF this country
which they respectively occupied II was for the purpose
Of supplying the loss Of this basis that England has,
within the las, seventy years. extended her conquests
over a large portion OF India
We possess this basis, and all that need is de-
veop its capabilities fully and rapidly possb BILE
Nor ought we to overlook another great political
Mutual jealouses delayeda long time the establishment
Of the Union OF these States and have since threat
ened it's dissolution Il is apparent that the ultimate
curity for It's connuance is found in the power OF the
States established and hereafter TO be established the
public domain. Those new and vigorous communities
continually mpart new life to the entire Commonwealth
while the absolute importance OF free the
will their loyalty, If the fidelity OF the Allan
tic States shall fail.
rations that induced Andrew jackson long ago de-
clare his opinion that the time not distant when the
public domain ought to to be regarded of
revenue Such considerations may have had some infu
with the late distinguished senator from South Car
olina a. G. Cahounl TO propose release OF the public
domain to the States, their paying small per centnm
OF revenue TO the United States and at liberty TO
suppose that OF reasoning not entirely unlike
this brought that eminent statesman who is Secre
OF State 10 propose mere year
appropriation OF the public domain 10 actual settlers
Nevertheless, the praclcabiiy OF such apology and its
harmony with other national interests yet by
means generally admitted The first objection which 1t
encounters is the economical that II would be unwse
to AWAY the public lands But the proveriy gwen
would remain with the gper after the glh, and would be
enhanced IN usefulness himself by the gift All that
should gpe aiody by suusnderng the public domain
would be the revenue that might be derived from sales
The honorable from Michigan paiheticalIy asks
what fountain shall be opened to supply the dei-
cheney, If this be closed And has 1t To this,
sir, that the federal government charged with only the
burdens of national defence, OF commerce. and OF arba
ment between The States while absolutely relieved from
all responsibilities OF municipal and domestic admnisa-
OF direct axaon cannot snstan ltseif, IN season
of profound peace without consuming the patrimouy OF
the States Sir, answer the senator's inquiry: The re-
supply the deficiency OF million and quarter
Of dollars will be found in reirenchment OF the expenses
OF administration.
A SENATOR Will this government ever retrencb :
Does the senator from New York expect this government
10 re,rench
Mr.. SEWARD No, sir; not while the revenue
mains full Reduce the million and quarter
five millions and you will find the expenses OF
the accommodate th emseves To the reductions
raise the revenue to a hundred millions, and you will
find the expenses ad just themselves 10 that standard Sir
il you TO have retr.nchment, you must begin
with reducing taxation, And where can you begin
well with the taxation upon the privilege of cultiva
ling the national esiaiel But, sir, shall have such
deficiency OF revenue TO supply Alarms OF an exhausted
treasury continually sounded here, while the
received under system OF imposts. which in many
spects il most unwise annually exceed all estimates OF
adm lnistraton.
6cency OF sixteen millions of dollars, and yet de-
Hcency all occurred rpvenues TOR IN. urpsent