Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-01


large body OF land at prices keep it hand
for years paying taxes and agency fees and money
from the investment It pledges to the young Of
country and to emants from foreign lands asylum
and home, reward Of their frugality and patient
toll. So long forty acres Of good land can be pur-
chased for fifty dollars and eighty acres for one hundred
not disabled by sickness old age Our land system
therefore, holds out reward to industry and rugaty
The hardy virtues Of earning and saving lay foun
dation Of individual and national prosperity or what
use is land to who is indoen to cultivate it,
or too prodga to keep il? Give 1t to him. and he win
place no real value upon it. Move him it, and he will
quit it. Encourage him. and he nevertheless sinks as
though he were afflicted with incurabe disease
The donation of public lands actual settlers did not
originate in the United States The system, years ago
was reduced to practice in Of the Spanish republics
upon this continent and also by the British Government
in Canada. The effect produced has not commended the
continuance Of the practice to the favorable consideration
either of philanthr0psts staemen The project has
the merit Of good motives II originated in the best feel
attractive but whom is carefully examinsd tknk Il
viii be found void Of any considerable Of practi
cal benefit. grsSe.s ,,fss 4aas4 mi t8v~fIel \
The honorable gentleman from Tennessee Mr. JoHNsoN)
proposes to reduce this theory to practice in this country
BY giving to each settler hundred and sixty acres Of
land upon condition Of occupancy and improvement
nve years This project has the sanction of the Commit
tee on Agriculture. Surely the committee does pr
pose TINS as measure for improving the agricutur ~
the od States; for need there twice the popp
we now have to bring the agricultural districts ~ - ~
improvements.
which has been can be offered for this 'ason
preaching plausibity, is that it will provi ae home
the poor S .or
There has been tendency in the General Gov.
for years engross the buzz mess Of sta
ton. If State is SO dereict of duty as % legsa-
provide for its poor is it che proving % 70
government 70 furnish an almoner ap :. " s .h;
.has w. mis- STEP Were shall 1e stop
more loudly for dty in StaH Govern IL 80
itself to put Nth may !. y IN ne power Of poverty
Out, ese ale Tpsss anu snam Ms
.ouid the stes With nothing 70 do Thev
oow;r lain IN LAME, with their boundaries the map,
the; lg where States had been but without vitality,
= name would be reproach. All Of the objections
y rising from want of constitutional power intrinsic
right in the General Government to make other partial
donations are also applicable donations Of this charac
ter If the bill provided for donation of lands to all
who should occupy them fer FIVE years. without regard
to the pecuniary condition Of the occupant yet such
legislation would be partial and unauthorized. The
whole population Of the old States cannot move away
from their homes gift to who take pos
session Of it without sacrifice is gift Suppose
corporation owned land in the State of Iowa. and that
the directors should pass resolution that each stock
holder should have his share Of the land if he would
move on it and occupy it for Eve years Some might be
willing to go; might find it quite impossible to
abandon their present comfortable abodes for home in
the West Would the division Of the lands founded on
the condition of such occupancy be in any respect Just
claim that this would be an equitable par
/ tton ss
Congress hadthe ghtful power to make donations to
actual settlers, and thus hold out bounty every
who will move from the old to the States few, very
few, would move there who would not 60 without such
bounty 1t requires much larger aieant Of means to
for the change Of abode pay the expenses OF
farm there. Whoever has made such 4 bec;nn;ng
will enable him TO move TO distant cc., and have
enough left to commence the cultivation OF farm, viii
n soon accumulate enough to purchase farm. He
will then place higher value upon it than if he we're in
tn nuhli oh He axr,n hr
previous sedscipne have prepared himself to take
OF his earnings. How many Of the extreme poor who
trong our cities and larger towns would take pos
session OF lands in the wilderness? Not in thou
sand Their associations their modes Of living and their
empeyments alike disinclne and unfit them for frontier
life.
The gentleman from Pennsylvania mr. CHAYDLER)
to believe that the benefits of this law the poor
who nhabit larger cities viii be ncalculable He
represents part of the city of Philadelphia and be
acquainted with the condition of the poor in his dis
trlct Allow me to read short article, published in the
National Intehgencer Of this city month two since,
upon this subject:
American gives an
destitute & SSs s
the humber Of these Unfortunate beings about ye ta
sand Many amy q them were found with Their and feet frozen for
most Of their seany clothing 70 buy bread In cellar family
to pay their rent In another place poor miserable and
@ se mother ap 'h% ha s , uns M & sospg shsy nate S
from freezing The clothes had been buy
These the persons who need help. When viii they
move the wild lands Of the West? win the city of
Philadelphia win the State Of Pennsylvania furnish them
the means to go with If the poor are allowed to Ian
gush without food rament in the very seat Of opu
lence the Golfers which shut fast against them at
home win not be unlocked for any such purpose How
them shall they go and how live if sent penniless to that
remote land? IL it is the poor whom you would help
point out, beseech you practicable of
abling them to enjoy the relief you would grant
Mr.. CLARK. Does the gentleman from New York argue
that the giving away Of the public lands win promote the
suffering and desttution Of the poor in the cities
Mr. JENKINS. Certainly. If we give away the public
lands and cut off this of the General
Government higher duty upon imported articles the
inevitable consequence. Do not the poor pay duty
tax upon many Of the necessaries Of ethe food which
they eat, and the clothing which they wearf
Mr.. MOORE, Of Pennsylvanis. The gentleman from
New York refers to the large amount Of suffering which
exists in Philadelphia according to the account which has
Just been read would say to that gentleman that the
suffering in popuous cities arises in great
from the surplus of labor Now if portion Of indus
ious aborers and mechanics to the West does
not leave room for the employment Of those persons who
are suffering? As4 et i
The lands in the vicinity of Philadelphia would admit of
the employment of many aborers advantage so
throughout Pennsylvania in New York. If the poor
cannot get occupation in Philadelphia why do they not
apply the farmers in that vicinity for employment
Besides if the passage Of this bill win materially in
crease emigration the West then of what benefit Is the
law to the poor in the cities A
Mr. CABLE I understand the gentleman to saw that
these poor people pay duties this Government
then would ask the gentleman how he can deny them
any participation in the Government or, other words