Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1852-04-21
Speech of Hon. John L. Dawson, of Pa

| he House Nst't SohLi''
the OF the Whole on the state OF the Union, an
taken up tor consideration the bill e TO encouIag
agriculture. commet,e, manufactures, and 81
other branches of industry, by granting TO ever.
ran v ho Is the head OF a family aud q cIilz.I
| OF the United States, homestead OF one hun
d. cd and SHY acres OF land, out of the pubi
!. domain upon condition Of occupancy and cul
u.aiion Of The same Tor The period he.cln speci
fed
/ Mr. DAw ON said
Dir CHAIRMAN: am in favor Of tht
principle OF this bill, and Of lis genera
provisions. | shall consume bu, very
small portion OF The time oil Tie House ii
assigning the reasons why shall give lt
| / my support.
The proposition TO donate the p,blic
lands in limited quantities, and with GER
tam limitations, 10 actual settlers, is one O
grow iny Importance and o. Increasing IN.
lerest 10 large portion OF tie American
people. In the lew remarks that | sha
submit in support Of The general pro-
position, shall avoid and dIscounienanct
any view that may approximate, or even
sive color to a leyeiIng or al agrarlan
>pirt shall avoid any sanction. or any
attempt at demonstration of the probe ni
mat there i. natural, lndeleasb.e rshl
,B er, nj IN every citizen 10 occupy and eh
joy land without price, condition, or grant
The structure Of our GoverDmehl IS re
publIraD, not only in theory, but II Is truly
50 ia al is practical operations. There
is no Government in exist. nee now, noT
none known 10 history. Were the path 10
honor and distinction Is so broad and So
generally lrodd.n as that wh'' has been
uuln'ed GU, under the guidance Of our
Federal Constitution, nor none where the
rewards OF labor have been more CERTAIN
or more generally dltiused.
shall treat The question as one not only
wse aud Iust 10 itself, but as political 10
lis conception and resulIs-as beng In'i-
ua:elv connected with and forming Il part
of our political economy.
Our own bret experience as a nalion Is
Illustrating the historic truth, that Govern
N, nj, commit eSfegricus errors; thht lhes
nrow Wild 10 the eXlravagance OF ,helr e&.
pt ndilure> as the n; I 1Dal revenues increase
lc an extent evncing moi only great pros
perliv, but great national wealth. In The
course Of my remarks. shall take occa
sion 10 draw The attention ol the House
and OF the country 10 the large incressing
receipt into the national treasury under
our revenue system, and 10 The correspond
Ing expenditure that is marked SIS conse-
quencp, leaving the Inference TO bs drawn
~ he her the administration Of the Govern
rrenj would not be m"ie Ius', mose pure
ard more economical, wIthou, any real or
revenue from the sales o! The
public lands.
Ia the vas, possessions Of the Govern
mcn', known as the public domain. there
is comprised an area ol fourteen huhdreo
millions of acres. Its boundary finds now
bG, IA mere scattered beginning on the
norihu esIetn borders of Ohio, which was
bot n Gently the frontier settlement, anc
through the fertile valley OF The
Mississippi to the shores OF the Psc:hc
ocean, and from The lakes On the norlh TO
the Gulf Of MeAico and the wa'ers
Of he Atlantic. Il en- MIRAGE, vo-
rety Of soil and variety Of climate,
-arIched IN mineral wealth. and fruitful IN
a srlculural productions. There would
seem 10 be nothing waning 10 develop l,s
mighty resources, TO elevate II 10 the ca
paclty, the power, and dgnhy OF might!
rmplre. but 10 encourage lis settlement. 10
,ecure lis improveinrnt, 10 stimulate and
the arm thai viii tell the forest,
cultivate The wild prairie, and reclaim The
" ct and waste lands. Ii was sand by an
eminent author that he that would make
Two spears Of grass grow where but one
would have grown, deserved the thanks
Of the community. This remark was
made in the spiri, Of true philosophy, and
practical operation in determining new
policy for the management Of the public
domain, is deserving the favorable con.
sderalIon of the American Congress.
The tile in The General Government 10
The public domain has been acquired by
deeds Of cession, and by purchase through
treaties with the Indians. as we'll as with
France, Spain, and Mexico. The success
Of The revolution Of independence gave the
colonies or independent States claim or
title to The country lying or situate between
the Canadas and Louisiana, which then
belonged TO France. and from the New
England coast to the East bank of the
NJ ssissippi river. To avoid feud tha,
from an angry conflict growing
out of unsettled State boundaries, States
equal in sovereignty and independence,
ccded or conveyed 10 the General Govern.
ment their righ, 10 the public domain. Ii
Virginia was not the first to lead the way
in This grea, sacrifice or contribution 10
the common fund, it is nevertheless true
and she may refer to it with pride. as
forming a bright passage upon the page
of her his,ory-that after the gallant part
she bore in The cause of the Revolution,
from the adoption of III, Declaration Of
independence to the surrender of Corn.
wallis upon her own soil, she conveyed to
the General Government her right to
the most magnificent region Of country
upon which the eye Of man has ever res
ted. 1t stretches from the Ohio 10 the
Mississippi and TO the Lakes, and com.
prises the States of Ohio, Michigan, In
diana IlIinojs and Wisconsin. and now