The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-22


gems from Indian hostes OF carry out our treaty spu
laiions with Mexico
There is not greater error in the administration OF
affairs than that OF aecusomng the people 10 look to the
government for direct pecuniary aid II is alike desTuc
tive OF industry ind vidual enterprise and public virtue
When people are habtnated TO look TO The government
for lagesses and bountes they lose all independence
and integrity IN their action IN support and control oil
their government. That asprant becomes the most meri
orops and worthy Of favor IN Their eyes. who VIII
his performances. Before man IN sound health, and
capable OF industry, will accept bounty or gift from the
government which he has in nowise earned, he must TO
extent. have lost his sefrespec He is longer
the independent and hardy yeoman that has made this
country what II now is.
That the system OF government largesses is debaslng
and ruinous in its political tendency, all history atests
II was the bane OF the ancient republics. IL the
greatest source OF political corruption al Rome Nothing
added such bitterness TO Their conflicts Tor administration
gave such fearful power 10 the INSCRIPTIONS political
aspan as the practice OF distributing land and corn to the
more needy citizens II destroyed habits OF industry IN
the great body of the people, and converted them the
ready tools OF ambitious and designing men, who al.
ways began their by proposing new division OF
land, and generally OF both corn and land The raPacous
proconsu, al the head of his army pundered provinces,
that he might feast and entertain the ndoent and lcen-
ous voters OF Rome who preferred TO receive their bread
from patrcanor wealthy than as
the reward OF honestlo To such extent did this sys-
TEN proceed, that could hope Tor great public
honors who had moi the means to reach them through the
distribution OF vast to the people Cesar triumphed
far by the distribution of the vast treasure of which
he pundeed Gau than by the fame OF his great military
achievements This evil had its origin In the distribution
OF land and corn by the government; which was greatly
increased when extended to the provinces, and at
length came to be initiated by all wealthy Candidates for
public favor a people that will receive lagesses from
government Will not long preserve It's freedom; . :.
Ia not the United States SO situated 10 be liable to
great dangers from the of similar policy
Every wave that breaks upon shore bears upon its
bosom portion of the population OF the OLD World
landlcss, and seeking home IN this county In the
course OF five years they generally added 70 me mass
of our voters They will desire grauitous donations OF
lnnhQ wall a fhof nj
seeking homes in the States and Territories In time
this population will constitute large party, demanding
frequent divisions OF the public lands i natural that
what is easily acquired is dsspated, and hose who
have received this bounty soon as they may lie
gay transfer it will be again found without lands. and
camorous for further division. desire no distinction
between the native and adopted citizen in relation TO
this subject Ii you donate 10 the give o the other
But this bill will stimulate to emigration thousands in
Europe who cannot reach the land in the West after
they arrive in Atlantic cities. They are coming
fast enough at bestque rapidly as we tan provide
for them and educate them TO our system OF government
Eight thousand lately landed in New York IN single
week have it stated that there 900 in
France OF population OF IS, 900 900, in abolute want
or obtaining difficult and precarous SUBSISTENCE which
is constantly liable to terminate in actual restitution
The proportion nearly large in other European coun-
tries They have hope for the future for themselves
and children. but in emigration The property holders
in those countries, for their own safety are contributing
largely 10 send them to this continent They Will come
fast enough without any artificial STIMULATES from the
legislation OF Congress.
In conneXion with this subject may safe, as q re-
markabe fact, that most Of the candidates or the pres
dency, Old Fogy and Young, have avoweG themselves
IN favor o. some measure OF ms sort i = ,oeiahy
by some propositions OF this character The presidency
will soon be put up in market overt by means OF Tree
farm bills if this measure is once adopted BY Congress
Such an asraran policy will have further injurious
tendency TO prevent permanent improvements and high
state Of agriculture for the who looks forward 10
an alienation oil his homestead in few years will not
expend any more labor upon his farm than may be re-
qulsite 10 temporary and indispensable structures and i'm
provements. His eyes will always be turned to the
great forests and plains beyond the present population
II is OF the objections this bill that these
donations OF the public lands will stimulate to higher
degree the already too migratory spirit OF our people
II must be obvious that the appetite which the donation
OF farm 10 every man who will 60 upon the public do
main would engender could not be arrested by partition
OF lands. The men in the cities would soon come 10
say, You have given away TO settlers The public lands
common property, TO the purchase OF which we con-
ibuted with taxes and military services; now do US
justice we cannot go TO the West TO cultivate The land
have been bred mechanical pursuits, and know no
other ayccaon. Therefore, give food and rament OF
equal value with the land which YOU have already dstrib
uied TO the more favored rural population And how could
you resist the force OF the argument when yon have
begun this endless system OF largessess No; the
Just policy to the citizen Is TO sell hun at moderate
price the land which he may desireto incucale self
reliance and industry, instead OF dependence upon the
bountes of government. Except to the first settlers in
remote Territories, who have been the pioneers, the gov
ernmet ought not TO go beyond liberal pre-emption
system, which will enable the INDECENT cullvato to re-
alize from the soil sufficient TO purchase his land.
III tns idea OF giving away the lands 10 actual seers
shall prevail in the legislation OF the country il
will be found TO have result the very reverse OF that
which many of its advocates anticipate and intend Ii
will not build up class OF independent yeomen. They
who get land for nothing will sell II cheaply The donee
after few years. will retire still further, and his lands
will for fe be transferred 10 capitalists 10 be held at
enormous price, and thus for long time Withdrawn
from settlement Such has been the result in those
countries formerly possessed by Spain. where large
grants were made for little or no consideration Such
has been the result wherever large bodies OF land have
been thrown IN market al prices low 10 stimulate
the cupidy OF the capitalists and the Speculation. The
only practicable method OF securing land to the cuyaor
al reasonable price is to hold H. in the countries so
near its intrinsic value as 10 check II not prevent specu
laon Its sale and price then regulated by the de-
mand created by the actual agricultural wants oil the
try Texas gave away her lands in quantities OF from
hundred and sixty TO four thousand two hsndrei and
twenty eight actual settlers In the process OF
time the condition oil actual settlement was released and
the consequence that large bodies OF land al small
price, passed into few hands, and often with
held from settlement 10 the great delrment OF the growth
and substantial wealth OF the country II the public do
main is held al its present price, il will not be purchased
up for speculation by capitalists. but will open
the actual settler AT aale moderate TO be always
within his reach This is the great interest OF the settler
on have achieved great and permanent national bless
ing can for long series OF years maintain this sys
TEN oil vacant public domain by which any citizen pur
chase eighty Of cultivated land for 100 forty
for $50, which the smallest quantity offered by law The
great achievement is to continue that state OF things and
not let the land pass into the hands of few, il
will do il you give il away, reduce the price to any
considerable extent for you cannot IN this age lock
up real property from commerce, prohibit aliena-
ton beyond very short PERIOD by those to whom you
donate it. do not think that any system be de-
ysed well calculated the present TO keep the pub
a ~ r. -