The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-09

| be godsend, rs we'll ~ n national blessing. They
are all virtually ia the condition Of minors aud
you become their guardians. They know not how
To take Of themselves. aud you with paier nal
care provide for th-.n Is il not in every point of
view preferable to place them in self Supporting
condition, than be compelled to enlarge your pri,
sons, hospitals, aIinshouses and houses OF refuge?
Public opinion dcssPises thsadage, prevention ID
better than cure" From these ci.sses chiefly
originate the whole tribe of hircngs, iabareis,
rowdies, and loaiers, which are increasing much
faster than the ratio Of population hut to make
this bounty effective. il should be perpetual The
| land donated should be inaiienabie in the family,
and on It's extinction revert TO the Government.
| Ihat American who has passed the age of forty,
| nay thirty, without obtaining foothold upon the
soil in city farm lot, Cor other property equiv
alent, has already begun TO lose hs self respect
and frcance, and regards himself as a drudge
doomed TO no higher posIon in society than day
laborer, city porter, tenant farmer. Hope is
dying out OF HIM the future is one Of living from
hand to mouth, cinbittercd by the contrast OF sue
ccssfui enterprise and thrift OF those who started in
the race with him shall be told that some OF
greatest men started from this ciass Of society.
Granted. But one swallow does not make a
tner; and these some, compared to the moss, are like
"anges' visits" Set il down n fact that three
fourths of the boys and girls Of this class will not
rise above the position OF their fathers and mothers
The very failure Of their fathers to rise in the world
will prevent their rising Sympathy in misfortune
exerts stronger influence upon the ignorant and
INDECENT, than the example OF the prosperous. Now
grant TO each of these destitute, perhaps mproyi-
dent, depressed, unfortunate grumblers. freehold
on the public domain, under proper regulations,
and will you not have elevated the dependant to
consciousness OF freedom, tranformed drones into
industrais, opened new zelda Of enterprise to the
disheartened, removed the humble from over
shadowing influence and infused new hopes and
aspirations in the bosons of the ignorant and de-
spending? Is not the elevation Of every individual
in wealth, and station, and knowledge, and mo
rails, an advantage to the State?
The writer bcgs leave to enter a special plea in
behalf OF his brethren OF the Southern States. To
no section OF the country would this bounty be 30
advantageous, il rightly improved, ns to the South
The field OF profitable labor and successful enter
prise is there much more circumscribed than at
the North, the variety of employ nents being
more limited. Hence the INDECENT confined to
a much narrower mental vision. But noble
race Of fellows-though marble rough hewn-
are the poor men OF the South Their b, arts
and hands arc always open, even beyond their
means. to do you a favor. TO labor as hirelings
they are averse, and would offer them chances
Of making livelihood beyond those of hunting
coons, culuvating patch Of potatoes, and selling
wood by the mule-cart load; and incite them TO
higher personal pride than the honor Of drinking
whisky with their lordly neghbors at their neigh
bors expense. They should have larger view Of
the world than in seeing patch of blue sky, by
gazing upward among the pine trees Take the
sturdy poor men Of the South from their homes,
whence they well be spared; place them upon
the savannahs of Louisiana and Texas, or the prai-
res OF Arkansas and Missouri; give them field
for improvement and inducements for exertion;
her resources, and increase her population far be-
yond the present ratio As situated at present. the
class of poor the South adding neither to in
oiyidual national wealth. Happily for the
success Of this bill, every section Of country
has public lands adapted to the climate and sec
tional interests Of all it's population, borean tro
pical, slave or free.
In conclusion, We think the evidence ia clear and
abundant, that the passage OF this, similar bill,
is only question of time. 1t must pass at the
present early future session of Congress II
has, we confident, in the judgment If every
upright mind, less Objectionable features and more
elements Of wise and liberal policy, than some
other which public opinion Cor other
agencics) have carried through Congress under
the pleas Of justice and benevoence II, then, the
policy which dictates ii is sound one; ii it will re-
lieve society if it will add to the national wealth
and strength; if public opinion favors it, why
let its benefits be enjoyed by those who desire them
without delay! We do not believe that the num-
Der accepting the bounty will be SO large in any
way TO disturb the even current Of society. The
few first pioneers will test the value Of the grant,
and, others gradually follow, the merits de-
mcrits Of the system will be developed, and lis
effects upon society and the national welfare un-
folded.
With great respect,
AN HUMBLE AMERICAN.