The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-13
A WORD FOR "sQUATTERs."

Governor Brown, of Mississippi, in the course
of beautiful speech delivered in the House,
April 2Sth, in support Of the Homestead Bill,
related an incident of squatter life, which told
with great effect:
"lf," said he, "we contrast the relative 10
sltion OF the two great sections as to the public
domain. we shall see how little there is in the
idea that this bill gives an undue advantage to
the North
There is comparatively little soil in the
Southern States belonging to or under the con-
troll of the United States, and that little is of
inferior quality. There are vast tracts in the
Western States and Territories, and much of it
is of very superior quality 1t follows, therefore.
that under the present system of disposing of
the public lands, emigration to the Southern
States must fall off rapidly nj first and presently
cease altogether, whilst the stream to the West
will increase in volume, and continue for n
great while. The refuse lands in Mississippi
Alabama Louisiana, Florida Missouri, and
Arkansas, will never be occupied at 81 .25 per
acre and out of these States we have little
or no Government lands in the slave States.
The good lands in Illinois Iowa, Wisconsin.
Minnesota, and the Western Territories. will
very soon be occupied ut s % an acre or even
at higher figure.
al am for changing the policy so as to give
us occupants for our refuse lands and If in
dong this we send tenants to vour virgin soil
few years earlier than they would otherwise
go do not still perceive but that we shall be
more gamers than losers by the operation.
submit to my Southern friends whether
1t is not better to divide the emigration with
the North, for few years at least Is it not
better to take an addition to our population of
million in five years and give the North two
millions IN the same time, than to stop emigra-
ton to the South entirely, and let the North
have her two millions at the end of ten wears ?
! take this to be true, that without a change
OF policy we shall never get our poor lands set
tied and it IN just as true, that the virgin soil
OF the West will be occupied in few years.
whether we change our policy or not want
"A change 1t will people our lands, and if it
has the effect of giving to the North rs MANY
emgrants in fire years as she would otherwise
get IN Ten, let it be 80. 1t is only n question of
time with them. Emigrants will 90 to them.
after while, under any policy With us it is
different. Our lands have all been picked and
culled and the refuse tracts may be peopled
under thus bill, but never ut cost of s Is per
acre. ! throw out these observations, to show
my Southern friends that this is not n losing
business to us.
admit the obligation of Representative
to guard the interest of his own constituents
and in this view | am for reform I ADM,
my sectional neutrality-suspicious. if YOU
please-and yet in this view am for reform
Regarded in any and in every light, | am 70,
that policy which will populate our vacant
lands, and give homes to the homeless and
houses to the houseless
" The people who will be chiefly benefited by
this bill are among the most meritorions and
yet the least cared for of all oar popuation.
The lande>s, the homeless the honseless who
are they and what are they, in the old States
Hardy sons of toll, sighted by the world for
the crime OF being poor, and elevated to the
dignity OF trecmen only ON election days. In
the new States. under the operations of this
blll' they VIII become treehodcrs, and house.
holders, and will be at all times, and in every
season, equal to the proudest nabobs in Christ
endom
a" know something Mr. Chairman. of SQUAT
ter life IL was my fortune to have been raised in
anew ana unsettled country know something
OF the tolls and hardships, and priyations, en-.
countered by the squatters. shall not dctain
you with narration OF all that have seen.
and heard and felt One incident | NAV re-.
late, 1t will tell you why my heart is with
these people When was boy--a very little
boy-an honest but poor man, settled (sanatted
~ a better word IN the county where yet re-
side Removing from South Carolina, he pitch.
ed his tent amid the unbroken forests in In,
dead of winter lie had two sons able to work
He was IN strange land, without money, and
without friends But with an iron will. sucl
as none but squatters have, he attacked tn,
forest IL reeeded before him. and in tire,
short months the sun, which had been shut ou
ior many centuries was permitted 10 shine o.,
a spot OF earth which the squatter had plant
cd corn. Day by day he might have beer
seen following his plough, while his two som
piled the hoe. Toll brought him bread ans