The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-10
From the Journal Of Commerce.


have recently inocua,ed the public mind in quarters
is that which its advocates call land reform. A denon-
straon lately made in this city in lie favor by Tree
soil and Fourier democrats. Although they confined |
themselves TO recommendation OF The freedom OF the
public lands actual occupants yeti as they endorsed
and Identified themselves with Nr Walker, OF Wiscon'
sn il is TO be taken for granted that they approve his
We propose saying few words on this subject for
the purpose OF exposing the defects OF the system rec
commended by the land reiormers as they call them
selves.
The history of the world and the laws OF all nations
NAV be searched in vain for a perfect JUST and
wise 81 OF coonzlng settling the public lands OF
any country than that which has prevailed IN the
United States for nearly three-quarlers OF century
Since the reduction price oil the government lands TO
~ rs per acre, and the establishment Of the cash sales
them, the public lands have been settled quite as rap
idly they probably would have been settled had the
government given Them away TO occupants alter settle
ment and cultivation
The gift of one hundred and sixty of land, upon
condition oil cultivation, is only bounty OF $500 for be-
coming farmer. Now, suppose The government nifty
years ago had offered bounty OF $500 to those who
would adopt the mechanical art OF the blacksmith the
carpenter or the mason does any one suppose that Inc
number OF those who would follow for livelihood those
pursuits would have been materially increased In the
choice of pursuit, whether it be farming or any other
vocation, the nducement 10 embark in ! is the grathca
ton OF taste and inclination, and the ultimate gains ex
pecied in the chosen pursuit throughout llle
Ii tomorrow $500 in cash were offered to all the
landless' oaiers in our eastern cities upon condition
that they should emgrae to and work one hundred and
sixty of land in The western Staies not 10 per cent
of their number would embrace the otter:
Ii has been estimated by well qualified to Judge that
of the ninety thousand who were entitled bounty land
under the first issue 10 the soldiers in the Mexican war;
only 232S made their entries with their own warrants
and OF these it is well known a large number, alter
entry, disposed OF their lands to others
But there is necessity for any new system OF giving
away lands. The .Jresdom Of The public iands' SO
cidmorousy demanded, IN actual operation. II
man wants 100 Of land to cultivate the public do
main is open 10 him. He may 60 and select himself a
farm wherever he pleases from the government lands
| hnn nd with nn nFtcp nHl arr
unsurveyed he can occupy them as soon as the Indian
title is extnguished and years often elapse afterwards
eminent II the lands have been surveyed and Of
tered Tor sale, he may take pe-emphon right 10 100
acres for year. No one can moes, or interfere with
him within that time. Ii he goes on puts up house,
and commences the cultivation of the land and actually
makes setlement-even If on the expiration OF his pre-
empon right he is not ready TO pay the government price
tor his and-no one dares attempt 10 take his land from
him. Instances are common OF settlers thus obtaining
four five years postponement OF payment for their
land. But II often happens that the squaer, alter par
tally improving his land, sells il 10 another new nmi
grant for four five times the government price; and
after such sale, he generally at once purchases OF the
government other land very often he squas again and
repeats the speculation Thus thousands commence the
world on the western frontier, and thus practically there
sperect "freedom of the public lands" To this class
OF landess men the demand OF 81 % per acre
operates as stimulus 10 industry
To illustrate how useful TO frontier settlements is the
necessity of paying for the government lands, is only
necessary TO mention the fact, that il is common thing
in the prairie States 10 meet men who have purchased
their lands of government with the proceeds OF their
bounty received from the counties for tco scaps The
wolves thus destroyed would probably have remained 10
infest the settlement much longer, were not the hardy
hunter npeed to their destruction by the desire 10 pur
chase himself home
| No man who is industrious, and who wants farm,
need pine over his andess condition Every man is en-
titled TO 20 and take farm to suit himself on The public
domain, and take reasonable time TO pay for it 100 and
he will never be the poorer Tor cuuvalng his farm so
diligently 10 be enabled from its products TO obtain
sufficient TO support his family, and save enough 10 pay
| Tor his farm.
The pre- act Of ls4 has almost abolished spec.
ulaton The public lands The specualor is anci-
paied by The landless advenurer in search OF home
He selects the valuable Sites and long before the
Spectator appears every desirable section appropriated
by the sagacious settler.
Mr. Walkers (of Wsconsin) plan of land reform con.
templates radical change IN the land system oil the Uni
led States as well as revolution IN the tenure OF lands
in the States hereafter be formed, the constitu
nonality OF which may well be questioned.
more perfect system OF land tenures than that
established IN the United States existed in any
county The policy OF the feuda system, and that OF
Of a"d II. TO hsm
exchangeabe as any other property Lands are as much
an article OF traffic here as any personal property Mr.
Walker proposes that we should return TO the old doc
ne OF the inalienablity OF real estate The bill which
he introduced al the last session OF Congress limits the
grantee OF the government to the acquisition OF 100
and restraDs him from selling transferring II 10 any
but the lsndess Such lands remain forever
empt from execution, levy, sale for debt the States
10 bind themselves by compact tina, the lands thus do
above stated IL may well be doubted whether there
is anything in the constitution to warrant the
nering OF any condition TO the sale OF the public
lands The constitution says that Congress shall
have power Ito dispose Of, and make all needfu rules
and regulations respecting the territory other property
belong ny to the United States" This language author
ICES Congress, LIST, to dispose of-viz; sel-he lands ;
I'd, TO make needfu rules and regulations respecting
them, phne "beiong,ng" 10 the United States. II
contemplated following these lands with "ruies and regu
atrons" after they disposed Of" The whole sub
ect OF the tSnnres by which land held is left OF right
TO the States which they lie Ii land purchased OF the
UHed States comes to be, by failure OF heirs, without
legal owner, escheais to the State 10 whose territory
belongs il does not revert TO the United States. II
Congress possesses the power 10 follow lands into the
hands oil purcha with set OF conditions, what IL
to prevent Congress anneXing any condition to them
which the humor OF the times might dictate Such
system is evidently in derogston OF Stale rights. What
right has this government TO say TO the State you shall
not tax the land within your borders subject II TO for
TEXTURE, execution any levy TO which other lands with
in the State subected' The power OF the States
the whole surface OF their domain supreme and perfect
after has been disposed Of" by Congress. The
sons when the State the public may take it. and the
manner OF ascertanng ts value and compensation
State rights by his bill, far respects donations OF
land 10 occupants.
II is evident that this bill would establish distinc,
systems OF tenures IN those States 10 which the public
lands situated II the conditions are not performed
which attach to the land il reyerls 10 the State Fail
ures TO perform the conditions would constantly occur.
The States the general government in order enforce
the performance OF these conditions, would have to APP
point special officers supervise the occupancy OF the
that litigation to a extent would be produced by
them and a conflict of State laws with those of Con-