Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-01
WASHINGTON.
Liberty and Union, new and forever, enc and
80 tnsoparSblc.v
8 tuesday, APRIL 81, 1852.
THE PUBLIC LANDs.-No. iii.

great country, and promote its advancement in
wealth, arts commerce, and refinement, than our
Public Lands System in all its parts. II is as near
as possible to perfection. The colonies Of ancient
Greece, Rome, Carthage, DC. produced no such per
manent or happy results nor have those Of Modern
Europe been SO successful. The Spaniards, the
Portuguese, the Dutch, and other nations, have
made extensive plantations upon new soil; but the
effect has been in every instance, impair the ygor
of the parent stock without raising the scion to
strength or beauty The reason of the failure, we
think, is obvious. band of civilized and armed
invaders made inroads upon race Of savages, whom
they reduced to slavery. The consequence was that
the conquerors were themselves at last conquered by
acquired habits Of sloth inactivity and sensuality
and sunk into state Of mental and physical weak
ness. The English East India Company more ju-
didously has repressed agricultural colonization in
that country, the Directors having observed that
g the energy of the European character becomes
oblnerated in the course Of few generations. "
Their establishment, therefore, may be considered
altogether military and commercial; yet it may be
doubted whether it has ever added any thing to the
wealth or prosperity Of Great Britain
| Or colonies" are, as the word denotes, COM
posed Of individual farmers or oultivators, who, en-
couraged by the offer Of good lands at low prices,
and the secure protection Of firm and free Govern
ment go out to fell the forest and till the ground
taking with them the necessary mechanic handicrafs
and manufacturers. As they increase in number
and wealth, internal trade and finally commerce
with all the arts grow up to make them prosperous
and happy. Our Public Lands system " is admi
rably adapted to effect this benign progress. The
law granting prescriptions invites hardy and en-.
terprsing husbandmen to seek for and select ground
suitable to the kind of agricultural labor to which
they have been accustomed These pioneers, whether
from the North, the Middle States, or the South,
| can find the climate and the soil that suit them
Emigrants, too, from any part Of the old world can
here obtain at the cheapest rates, situations congo
NAL to their temperaments, and ground fruitful be-
yond their hopes. To extend proportionably the
benefits of education the one thirtysixth part Of the
public lands has been set apart for the support Of
| schools and large donations have been made BY
Congress from time to time for colleges, seminaries
seats OF government and county seats. Liberal aid
has also been giSn, occasions required, to works
of internal improvement, to facilitate intercourse,
trade, and commerce.; and, indeed, to promote, in
every way, (" the general welfare"
We regard as one excellence Of our system how
ever that no attempt has been made by legislation,
to stimulate new settlements to factitous growth
No temptations, in the form of gratuitous grants Of
land, have been heretofore presented to inluce men
to quit pursuits in which they have been trained and
Infatuated, and engage in nav and unskilled expe-
riments in agriculture. 1t is an error in policy,
too, we think, TO encourage, BY such bounhes,
foreigners to come in great numbers to country
in brief period to become citizens; to occupy
" homesteads out of our public domain, AMI with
them the right of suffrage, before they understand
our Institutions appreciate their PRIVILEGES
So far, our country has been extended by tie oc-
casional migration, as circumstances invited, Of per-
sons from the old States, who took with then the
identity Of language, sentiment and social h,bits
that make us one People. The emigrants from other
nations, who have come among us, have gradually
blended into the common mass and at last assniilat
ed themselves to our national character. Whether
this process will continue is doubtful There are in
dcations that make us fear lest interests and feel
ings, brought from other chimes, may acquire sucl
an influence in our public councils as to induce u
unwisely sto quit our own to stand on foreig
ground" and to engage in
/ "new broils,
/ "To be commenced in strands afar remote"
The Homestead bill, " in our opinion, tends to
wards this disastrous consummation. May it not b
the /" entering wedge" to other me&ures that ma
revolutionize our social policy No one can forese
in what hands the governmental power will be in
few years. Fourteen hundred millions Of acres
land array voters enough to control our nationa
affairs. 1t is in vain to interpose any restriction
universal distribution, after the precedent is ono
made. An influx Of neg citizens, under our cas-
naturalization laws, soon break down every bar
rier to general scramble Our lands will be gone
and with them, it may be feared, that glorious fabr
Of social freedom which fathers have CONSTRUCTED
for us with so much wisdom, prudence, and care.
4 Let US, however, not anticipate evil, but look a
the measure itself. What views of policy and ez
pediency does it present? The object is stated to
to encourage agriculture commerce, manufactures
and all other branches of industry the mode is
"by granting to every man, who is the head Of
" family and citizen Of the United States, home
" stead of one hundred and sixty acres of land GU
" Of the public domain" &c.
We have already said (and the statute-book vii
xLot non boo froolxy