Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-10


tons are avoided by the plan proposed The work pro-
posed will be truly national and general in its character
and benefits These great national thoroughfares can oe
all points by branch roads running through
every part Of the country As the wilderness becomes
subdued, they be gradually extended westward to
keep pace with the demands Of the and business
wants of the country Even those not directly reached
and benefited by the roads will have their share OF advan
tage in the interest dividends upon the money invested
and in the increased value Of the public lands The whole
fund win still remain in the United States Whatever Of
benefit is effected by adding to the value of the public and
private lands Of the country and stimulating its business
will be clear gain. How much any one may gain
BY the process one lose The power to make the
grant cxnnot Be questioned because the fund will not be
dminishsd thsrsby y win not b. diminished both be-
euse it will remain, N the shape Of stock, or Of money
leaned and alsahsoase thp of shs
y ..sy .rAs1s.l e ~ ro.as Y.
away oil value and a hope Of rssenus nom TIE public
lands the homestead bin and other such
do, twill have directly the contrary tendency II also
avoids the objection Of State holding lands in another
State Territory made to the division Of the lands among
the States.
Indeed Mr.. Speaker, l have read the twenty odd
speeches made during the present session on the subject
OF the public lands in vain to find any serious ground OF
opposition that is substantially obviated by this plan,
any promised good that does not embrace 1t viii
give the Government the revenue" derived from the
present system; it will afford to the States ALL and
much more than they can hope for from partial system
old States that equality of right which they seek in
partial general distribution of the land of its pro-
feeds among the States it will give to the poor man all
le con avail himself Of under the Homestead bill, and
will still have left in store for the country in the shape
positive additions to the value of real estate and of
stimulus to the general business of the country blessings
which it will scatter with equal hand on all.
Mr.. Speaker, wish had time to enlarge upon this
topc 1t is fruitful and suggestive But must pass to
the principal purpose had in obtaining the foor which
to state my ground of opposition to that scheme for
the Disposal Of the public lands called the homestead bill
could not obtain the floor while that measure was d
recty under discussions and will therefore avail myself
OF this opportunity to give my views am unwilling
that my vote upon that BILL recorded it is with the
minority should to the country without my reasons
The BILL after much amendment was finally passed
through e House in great haste and under the opera
ton OF the previous question, which cut off all amend
ment opportunity for members to understand
what they were voting for against II is extremely
loose and crude in its language and provisions, and it is
not easy now to tell precisely what il means. II was
probably intended by it to give to every body rich and
poor, who is the head of family, and who owns no real
estate OF any amount value, hundred and sixty
acres his choice, of the public lands; though proy
sions in the bill seem to take away all limitations, and to
leave the public lands open for entry TO every one In
either shape, it is not bin to assist the poor man.
VIII 80 as far as any man to assist the poor But It has
no limitation looking to that end No is excluded
but the person who happens unfortunately, to real
estate No matter if that real estate is worth only $40
no matter if the is Of heirs who between
them own only share in real estate no matter if the
purchase money is not paid upon it, no attar II In
under mortgage for than its value matter if the
Is nsolvent and his land under execution for FIVE
times its worth matter whether he is rich poor
well sick, bond free, if he owns real estate he is
condemned to give up his Share in the public lands and
them appropriated to Others who may be rich and
independent The who has ten thousand dollars in
money in stocks in cattle, in steamboats, or in any Of
the thousand other chattes Of which wealth generally
consists have his hundred and sixty but
the poor farmer who wishes change his residence the
mechanic who little shop, and their heirs and
assigns excluded The bill does not profess to be
bill TO aid the poor Nothing Of the kind appears in its
title What good thing then, it designed to effect
utterly loss to conceive As the bill orig
nally introduced, with limitation excluding rich men,
some object was apparent; but as IT finally passed
without any such limitation he precise good to be effect
ed by it is hard to be perceived 1t styles itself bill to
encourage agriculture sc. Was such misnomer
The Lord deliver from such encouragement to agri
culture ought TO have been entitled "a bill TO dis
courage agriculture for whatever good may do feel
confident that Of its inevitable effects win be to de-
press and inure the agricultural business were to
attempt to give II title descriptive Of its most probable
effects, would call 1t "a bin to rob farmers Of their
share Of the public domain depress the value Of farms
by taking away all value from the public lands to in
crease competition among farmers by increasing their
number to destroy their home market by holding out
bounty TO such orsake other kinds Of business and
scatter the farmers parsey the territory Of the
country, and render them degraded and dependant"
Mr. Speaker, my principal objection to this bill is that
II will depress the value Of real estate and do injustice
TO its owners BY taking away all price from the public
lands and making them like the air and the light free to
every ONE and priceless 10 the extent at least Of $25
per acre, you sink the value Of all private lands You
make land as land Of value beyond the value Of i'm
provements upon or around it, the peculiar advantages
Of its location.
If such had been the policy from the beginning II
improved lands had always been without price, and the
public lands common TO ALL there would be injustice
in this But part of the lands of the country
are already in the hands Of private owners and have
price to be affected by changes in the system Of admins
tering disposng Of them About one-hird Of the
tire domain has passed into private hands prices paid
therefor the remaining twothrs is the joint property
of all. Now submit that II is just these private
owners after receiving their money for part Of the pub
lie domain give their undivided interest therein with
out their consent to the other members Of the partner
ship without at least refunng the money they have paid
But the injustice and injury does not stop here II you
would sell the public lands and then give away the money,
such would be the extent Of the njury-hey would then
only be deprived of their share Of the common fund But
by the very Of deprivng them of it-by giving
the lands every body without prceyou depress the
value of the lands for which they paid their money To
cap the climax Of injustice, these purchasers and their
heirs and assgnees the only class you exclude from
the benefits Of the bill Is this "equa and exact justice
TO all? think not.
But il is not only unjust to part it viii be injurious
TO ALL 1t viii deprecate the country The act IS sci-
DIAL 1t is wanton act Of sefnjury. II person sets
low price upon his own property, he cannot expect
others to value it highly. II tell the world that the
domain Of the country is cheap and valueess the world
will be apt to take us at word and treat and con-
slider it. Sir, believe North America is still worth some
thing. think our native soil" has values and think
its value has not been destroyed diminished by the fact
that have opened up respectable little improvement
upon it, and founded at cost and sacrifice respect
able government IT, you begin now for the FIRST