New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-05-28
The Poor-The Free Home Bill.
70 tie Editor Of Tie NJ J. TJzssne.

Inc F0Or-IEe ETcc AlOmc Dill
Tsn< Editor Of Tie NJ J. T51srns.
1t is probable that the President making
politicians who infest the national capital this
son, will not deem it worth their attention to
Tiously consider and actually pass Homestead
bill. But whatever they may do, or leave I'M
done, one matter cannot long escape attention,
bat must ere long force itself upon the notice Of
this people-and that is that the laborng poor of
this country already here, and daily arriving from
oil parts Of the world, must be looked after and
provided for.
Bcneyolence and philanthrophy constitute no
small share of the mission of this great people We
have set up as our motto" The greatest good to
the greatest number and are constantly claiming
tsr our Government the procipls Of such complete
equality that the very least to feel its care and the
greatest not to be exempted from Its power. But
under policy which turns out of employment thou.
sands OF industrious honest and needy and looks
20 the workshops Of the old despotsms Of Europe for
thejatrcs we must consume while the poor who fled
from poverty and starvation to shores ere seeking
half the year for something 10 do Now can 1t be said
sbst the very least ecs Of the nations care. But
letting the question Of party policy pass, it would seem
IT, having opened the door and bid all come and even
proclaimed TO the world that this IL the home of the exile
and the resngplsce of the oppressed and let them 10
and said xsioome, 1t is not only humane and nagnani-
but expedient aso TO either give them home or
Get before them the Of making one for them
selves.
Labor must be In a measure independent or poverty,
ignorance and crime will surely increase with the in
crease of the working classes TO prevent such con-
sequence among u.s. the aborer must have fixed habi
tation which lie may call his own, or employment on
which be rely. Either of these this Government
provide for all its abonng poor, by giving of its
vast, unoccupied domains a farm to every one who
needs and viii accept and improve one or by adopting
apolcy which will create demand for labor
In regard to the former it ia objected that the Public
Lands are the property of the Peoplethe old settlers
the children of the heroes Of 7G-and that it Ia great
INJUSTICE to give them away to wandering vagabonds,
10 the ignorant and slavish subjects of foreign despo
sm But wonder who gave all the land between
the Atlantic and the Pacific to the Anglo-Amercan
citizens Of the United stscsa But 1t ia said we hold
{ by right Of occupancy Indeed, thought the AL
mighty gave tie earth--the whole earth-to Adam and
hb posterity and that the jonttenancy Of the whole
race any part parcel Of the earth, ceased and be-
came severalty when Of the took possession
and actually occupied part and improved it, reclaimed
h from a wilderness ard made 1t blossom and smile
with plants and fruits for the sustenance of man. Such
title constructive occupancy creates, exists nowhere
In the wants of Humanity or in the nature OF things
and found only among the dusty and unauthoritave
records Of artificial society Supposing, then the Gov
crnmont, which Is the Peoples trustee should give
away homestead to every actual settler who will take
one would be only reeuacting the great charter Of
prmeval society," declaring in authentic human enact
ent the prior and unrepealed enactment of the SOW
reign OF the world Besides tits not all Of the end OF Gov
enment to protect the physical life, to secure the per.
sonal liberty guard the estates Of the citizen. Its
end IL broader and comprehensive. 1t Is not
alone to make rich citizen, but ~ make also good
and wise citizen. 1t not only to leave the pursuit of
happiness unimpeded but aso to provide the means OF
its most successful pursuit.
But 1t old acknowledged truth, that the wisdom
The virtue, the practical and most suostsnua
happiness Of the country chiefly found among the
agricultural population. The very tendency OF repus'
lcan agriculture Is to make men wse useful patriotic
happy To add, then, few thousand 10 oar best OF
citizens by the kestowment OF National giit, would be
emily nourishng the tree of true Republcsnism, and ex
panding and applying the principle OF social equality
the basis OF our system.
Furthermore, 1t would add TO the zeal wealth OF the
country natl ON lie rich and great when possesses
Intelligent and vir,uous and directs its energies to the
most productive and the most rational pursuits when
.u material resources lying unimproved and unproduc
i've are brought under the dominion OF Mind and iade
conducive to the webeing of rational creatures and to
the progress of truth aud knowledge Now, am unable
20 see how these results will not directly follow the pas
sage Of Homestead law, and the actual settlement OF
unoccupied lands by men who need the means OF lve
hood and will soon make the wilderness bud and bios
som the ut the time putting themselves
Int condition to be benefited by the great schemes
of Christian and Republican education that are charae
tistic Of these times.
Ii Is true there objections 10 the measure,
hut they seem to have their origin more in the selfish
policy Of timd convervalism, ambitious erasping or
greedy land monopoly, than in the nature OF things or
the real necessities Of the times Indeed to destroy the
weight OF the above referred To- there
must be something heavier than the slight diminuon OF
public revenues, os the fall of the price Of land
GRACIOUS
KOSSUTH IN NETWORK.