New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-27
THE PUBLIC LANDS,

We think our readers have not generally
understood, because the Telegraphic Report
did not clearly show, that ON the Dist inst,
while the disposal of the Presidents Message
was in order the House of Representatives
Resolred, That much of the Presidents Annual
Message relates to the Public Lands be- and the
is hereby referred to the Committee Agriculture.
with instructions to report bill 10 the House gradual
ing and reducing the price OF Public Lands and pro-
hbtng the further sale OF the same 10 all persons other
than those who sha become actual settlers and cult
yutors of the SOIL aud to them only IN limited quantities
This resolve was moved by Hon. A. John
son, Chairman of the Committee on Agricul-
ture, as an amendment to the resolve drawn
by the leader Of the House, (Mr. Houston OF
Ala which would have sent this subject to the
Committee On Public Lands-there, probably,
to sleep the sleep that knows no waking
The graduating and reducing" clause was in
terpolated On motion of Hon. W. F. Hall, of
Mo-, and may impede but can hardly prevent
the introduction Of real Reform Bill
The fundamental principle we wish to see en-
bodied in this bill this-A landiess man shall be
entitled to appropriate, iahabit and eultirate some
portion Of the Public Land, epsn though he be ut.
teriy unable to pay for t.; while man ,cho al.
ready has and persists in retaining as much land
as one man can isoR manage, shall not be GHop-
cd to take any Public Land no matter ho,c much
mach money he may be able and riHing to paytor
IT. For example: A. b. poor cripple and c.
ID. rich broker, migrate TO Western town.
ship, desiring to settle in il on Public Land
There happens to be but mile square of land
unappropriated in that town, and it is morally
certain that A. B., because of has in6rmities,
will never be able to pay for his land at all
Now We hold it to be the dictate alike of JUS
tice and sound policy to gire him at least forty
acres Of that land, rather than sell it all, no
matter at what price, TO c. D. And this is the
principle that We desire to see recognized and
made operative in the new law.
We do not insist that every man settling on
Public Land shall have one precise and rigidIy
measured area thereof; but We do. object to
letting any man take or acquire to an unrea.
sonable extent. We admit the force Of the
suggestion that some lands are far more pro-
ductive than others, and that some kinds of
husbandry-cattle or sheep raising, for in
srance-require more land than others to a
farm. But, as We should hold it great pub
lie calamity if one man or company were to
buy up all our Public Land, no matter though
full price we're paid for it, so We object to
any system which enables any man to buy up
whole Townships and even Counties. The
Public Lands settled and cultivated BY indie
pendent and thrifty freeholders, viii yield
far larger as well as steadier revenue to the
Government than they could do if sold out at
a high price to SPECTATORS and nabobs, to be
cultivated ntime BY slaves, tenants orhirelings.
A mere reduction Of the price of the Public
Lands, without an effective barrier sgaipst