Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-10
N. MsArullea On d, ff5mesl1ad siH.

w, 4He1HHtter Oh Or Homestead Bill
The Union of Friday brings us the tpeech of
the Hon. Fayette McMulleh, in support of that
magnificent scheme of agrarianism socialism and
spoliation, which bears the title of the Home
stead Bill. We have read the honorable MEM
ber's remarks carefully, feeling some curiosity to
learn by what arguments Virginia representa-
tive would justify measure which proposes to
rob his own State of her rights in the public
lands, by granting them away to settlers without
the shadow of an equivalent.
MIR. McMullen is said to be man of strong.
plain sense and independent spirit, but we are
sorry tt say his speech on the Homestead bill
is marked by total bsence of these qualities
duller attempt at logic, or a more ridiculous
specimen of shallow demagogueism it has never
been our lot to encounter The latter is the pre-
vailing ingredient of the speakers harangue.-
He rails bitterly against the tlauded and ..swell-
head" aristocracy of Virginia, aud if we under
stand the drift of his argument, he advoca ties the
Homestead bill upon the ground that it will in
duce her labouring white population to emgrate
to the west, and thereby break down the landed
interests of the State. We quote his own lam
guage:
"lf gentlemen will once come outand consider
the bill as Invested of every political bearing-if
they will lay aside the politician for the time be-
ing-there will be no difficulty in relation to it.
l will tell you what that objection is. The old
States are fearful they shall lose some of their
citizens. The old States are afraid they will
have to feed the time of emigration which will
flow towards these lands in the new States and
Territories. Gentlemen are afraid they will be
cut down as members of Congress-. Now, if the
question were put to each member of Congress
who opposed this bill, he would be compelled to
come forward and admit that this was the true
ground Of the opposition to it. l admit it is an
objection with me to the bill, and one which is
not easily overcome. But Notwithstanding |
admit the force of the INSTRUMENTATION
| shall regret to see my neighbors leave Virgin
notwithstanding l shall regret to see the
hardhsted yeomanry of the country, those citi-
zens OF Virginia who have been the tenant and
the laborers for the land aristocrats of Virginia
paying to the swell head arristocracy of Virginia
from one third to one half of their labor in the
shape of remit say although l should re-
greet very much to detract from the laboring pop
ulation of Virginia, yet when the question pre-
sents itself whether the industrious farmers and
mechanics be permitted to better their condition
by emigrating to the West, I cannot but answer
in the affirmative. That is sufficient for me-
If these men will be benefited by their emigra-
ton to the new States, why, say, in the name
of their families, in the of all that is sacred
let them go. will part with them when know
it is for their good though it will be with very
great reluctance. But have seen SO much of
the condition of this class of laboring people in
the State of Virginia that cannot do otherwise
than assist by all the means in nay power any pro-
position which looks to the improvement of the
condition of those people. Why, have had two
or three tenants myself, laughter and know
that the tenants contribute from third to one
halfof their labor in the payment of rent. But,
suppose you take away that portion of the popula-
ton, what is to become of the landed interests of
the State ? Why, unless they own slaves or pur-
chase them, the land must decrease in value, or
they must go to work themselves"
Thus it appears that Mr. McMullen is not only
in favour of giving away the public domain with
out regard to the rights of his own State in that
"common fund.-" but sustains this policy for the
very extraordinary reason that its tendency will
be to drain her of her population and destroy the
value of her lands. The pretext that the labour-
ing white population of Virginia, are suffering
under burthens imposed by landed aristocracy,
is too palpably false and supremacy ridiculous to
entitle it to serious notice. stranger to the
condition of things in State would infer from
the language of this demagogue that the lands of
Virginia were held almost exclusively by few
wealthy nabobs, and that the laboring agricultu-
rists stood in the relation of their tenants No
man knows better than Hon. Mr. McMullen that
this is not true, and yet such is the impression
which his diatribe against landed aristocrats is
calculated to create. 1t is an extraordinary doc
trine to be preached on the floor of Congress by
representative from Virginia that her abouring
classes are oppressed by her wealthy proprietors,
and that inducements should be held out to the
former to go forth from their house of bondage
by granting them free homes in the West This
is the sum and substance of Mr. McMullen's ar
gument in ia YOUR of the Homestead Bill.