Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1851-04-11
LAND LENgITATEON--Ho tn RE
FIXED.

oHiPhiets' WHICH we're puOIlSned IN Cincinnati;
on the 10Th inst The Pamphlets are afforded
at 10 cents single or ut one dollar dozen:
What is the natural and of course. lust limit
to mans right TO the soil What fs boundary
between rightiul ownership and wrongful mo-
Enopoly2
There IS no difficulty in fixing this limit; Ma
tnre herself has fixed it in mans capacity. 1t is
the VIII of God that every human being shall
nave Tree scope-room enough to exercise all his
powers. No one is cramped or constrained in
iany direction Of benfcial EFFORT by the arfange-
mchis OF Providence, as indicated in the free re.
lahons of things This one of the natural rights
OF every one--thc right of free movements and
unconstralned action This right prescribes the
boundary of mans right to all his powers ample
! space for action--the uSutruc. of so much land
( is his property against the world
The authori IS not, by no means, the first to Law
down this natural law of Land Limitation. il
has been demonstration by the highest authority
known IN Political Philosophy. John Locke, in
ms mastery work of Government has clearly
set the boundaries of mans rightful possession
of the soil, in the following language
Whether we consider natural reason, which
tells us that men, being once born, have right
to their preservation, and consequently 10 meat
and drink, and such other things as nature Of
lords for their subsistence or revelation that
gives us an account of those grsnts God made
OF the world TO !fdau, and to Noah and his sons,
it is very clear that God, whoas King David says,
has given the earth to the children of man, gave
! it to mankind in common. God has civ.
en- us all things richly is the voice of reason, con-
tirmed by Inspiration. But how far has he Civ
us to enjoy AS much any man can make use
{of before 1t sPos. As much land as
"a man tlS, plants improves, cuuvates, and can
use the product of, 50 much is his property =
T., - tb,
and rational, and labor was TO be his title to it,
II Nature has well set the measure of prop
! crty, by the extent of mans labor, and the con-
venlcnce of; nor could his enjoyment consume
more than small part; so that il was impossible
for any man, i'll this way, to intrenCh upon the
night OF another or to acquire TO himself a prom
erty TO the prejudice OF his neighborS who would
still have room for as good and as large pos-
session, after the other had taken out his as be-
fore it was appropriated"
Such is the limit prescribed by Reason, by
Nature, by Revelation, and by Justice This
! limit fully meets Mr.. Whewelfs idea of proper
! ty aslad down in'hs Moral Philosophy. in which
he bases the existence of the right of property
on the Gree Agency of man, and the Peace
and, Order Of society," 1t is necessary that man
that all men have a free right to land, to enable
them to execute this free will in the fufilIment
ofthcir mission. 1t is also necessary that every
one should limit his control over the soil, TO the
demand of his capacity for labor, in order that
all others may enjoy tire same space for freedom
and the peace and order of society be preserY.
ed.
To this limit all mankind must come, before
homes and plenty can be secured to all. The
possession Of land beyond this limit, is monopo-
y and wrong. Indeed, one man cannot possess
land beyond this limit, unless he do so by the
authority of law. lie cannot naturally hold
more than his labor requires 10 make it product
i've. All that any one holds above this, is held
! by force of human law, and because his fellow
men are in the labor market offering TO unite
their toll with his, to help him plant and cult.
waite large tract. Land Monopoly and Slave
ry are concomi,ants OF each other on the con-
trary, Land Limitation and Freedom 90 hand in
| hand.
! All natural laws produce good, while all hu-
man laws that contravene the natural Order,
work evil. We acknowledge the sclf-eyident
justice of this limit to an individuals separate
control OF the carth-to wit, as much rs he can
! cultivate and as is convenient for the use Of tho
! iamIIy-W'at are the more especial reasons for
/ this limit They ere.
!. Man has no use toT more in the Order of
Nature, and would not desire more were il not
for false customs, false education, and false de-
slres. What are some Of these false They
emulation. ,. Seiishucss, or the desire to
surpass his fellows in influential and mappi6-
cence 3. The undue consequence that tho
public place on large fortunes, making them the
great object of human enterprise. 4 The I'M
CertalntlcS Of the future as to ourselves and our
tanI1es, which create desire to possess great
wealth, against any contingency or misfortune
that may arise. In truthful system-under
the Order of Nature, these false would give place
to truths. /. Ayarlce only of good which would
be sought Ivy improvement in excellence, and
Wcalth would be regarded as a means, not an
end of life. Q. Selhshness only THAT common
good, on which the private welfare is founded
no one would desire 10 surpass his fellows but
he would desire the highest elevation of all, and
labor to this end, knowing that his own spiritual
progress depends upon his bencvolence. g.
The public would value only truth and goodness,
and despse all accumulation Of wealth at tho
expense Of others. 4. There would be no con-
ngences to fear Orr children are provided for
/ by Nature soon as they come to manhood-for
she says, the land is open for their holmes, and all
they have TO do Is to occupy and labor. They
would be no misfOrtuncs TO fear, for it is the Of
fee and ministry of Fraternity to sustain the un-
fortunate; and and reyerses are sent TO inn
prove our knowledge and call out our brothery
love.
! Q. 4 second reason for this limit Is, that MI
cannot enjoy their equal right TO the earth with
ont it. II one man should own all the State Of
Ohio, more than two millions of people would
be robbed of homes and independence so of all
smaller monopolies--in proportion to their extent
are the rights Of the people sacrificed. The
plea that there is land enough in the Territories.
will not answer. The time is coming when
there will not be land enough in the Territories.
| Moreover, no man should DO forced TO cmlgrate
until Nature herself forces him-and that is
when, with this limit, there is no space for him
10 the country in which he chooses to be.
g. The third reason is found in all that is good
to mankind. All must have homes TO be nde-
dcndent and free from the exaciions Of the and
lord All must be enabled to get the means of
livelihood without repusive toll, in order to
be intelligent and virtuous which cannot be
when deprived Of the natural source Of ali sub
sistencc, and made dependcn, on the will OF
others.
els To1i Philosophy, page %,