The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-11

that introduced incidentally by the amendment OF the
senator from Wisconsin, Mr.. WALkEK,l and discussed
al length by the senators from Mississippi and Georgia.
Messrs. ADAMS and CHAsLrosl- the best disposition OF
the public lands had hoped, but II seems IRON me
course OF argument OF the senator IRON Georgia Mr
CHARLToKl valnly hoped, that the day had passed by
when necessary to into any formal argument
to establish the generally conceded fact that the nde
pendence, comfort and wealth OF nation depend more
upon its in agriculture than in any other branch
OF human industry 1t is the farmer who feeds the
manufacturer the ARTISAN The ship builder, the beggar,
and the king and yet how litile OF protection much
less and, has he eyer 5ecsyed ron our government
tras most favorably with government, consider
ing the day and generation for which they acted From
the discovery OF the continent OF America they adopt
ed a policy of bountiful munfcence in the bestow
ment OF their domains by gratuitous donations OF land to
those who would settle upon and improve them II was
not on the strength OF their armies or naves not in the
rgor leniiy OF the admlnptraton OF their governors
general, inendents, or military commandments nor IN
their ability to overcome and snbdae the aboriginal IN
habitans of the New World, that the European polen
tates expected TO establish their power this continent
II wiser system which governed the policy OF the
statesmen OF England. Spain, and France, beginning
the part OF Great Britain. with her commission al the
close OF the fifteenth century TO Cabot the dscoverer OF
North America and prosecuted in spirit from that time
until as her provincial polcypursued also in prin
cple by the other TWO great powers since the foundation
OF their respective land systems this continent What
those systems! They certainly not, in many
OF their provisions, such would adopt al this dav
But think that they eminently wise and udicous
ment of the country by every which could induce
emigraon by gTaiutous concessions OF immense bodies
OF the richest lands upon chosen spots anticipation that
these would be future Cities great commercial points,
active and busy population. These grants not
merely restricted small parcels for individual accom-
mediation, but frequently OF immense extent designed for
the reception OF hundreds Of families TO whom il could
be subdivded IN small allodal alloments. II has be-
come fixed principle of the public law conceded and
established by the civilized powers OF the world that the
nj UandA iflhp mn
natural and revealed rights of man, which confers him
the privilege OF reducing the earth into possession and OF
gaining from his Subsistence BY the sweat OF his brow
have said that on the part OF Great Britain this prn-
cipe recognized in the commission to Cabot confer
ring the right OF discovery and possession, nowithstand
ing the occupancy OF the Indians and asserlng the su
perory and priority OF absolute right them OF every
Christian people The British charter in the last quarter
OF the sixteenth century to Sir Humphrey Gilbert affirmed
the same rights and the first permanent English settle
ment under charter at the beginning OF the seven
eenth century from the British king 10 Sir Thomas Gales
and his associates, Of the seacoas lands from the thirty
fourth to The forty fifth degrees OF north latitude. which
shortly aerwad followed by enlarged charter TO
the adventures OF the city of London Tor coonlzng
Virginia, giving them absolute proprietary right Of
several hundred miles OF and from TO
The ule 10 these lands having been subsequently Teves
ed in the crown, a and more enlarged charter was
granted ia the year 1920 TO The Plymouth company giving
them absolute right in all the lands between the for
tielh and fortyeghth degrees OF north latitude. The
New England States IN great have been settled
under this charter, and in like might be traced
the progress OF British policy, by which other English
colonies, now integral parts OF Union traced
and established--the exercising the granting
power in all where the proprietary interest had not
been conceded.
And so, il we glance at the administration OF the au
thorliies OF France and Spain IN Louisiana
standing that province settled by emigration from
Canada, where the feudal principles aud the aAcient
French nobesse existed yet The settlers there held their
lands both under the French and Spanish regime by alo
dial enues IN our parlsnce by absolute tee simple
right The spirit OF the royal authorities liberal
and Tagnanimous one TO the feeble colonst seeking
home upon distant territory, ard excluded from the
comforts and luxures OF the parent land Hence we
find tina, Louis XIV. in whose reign the province Of
Louisiana was first settled exhibited the u,mos, liberal
iy 10 those engaged cooDlZng the country; and de-
parting the feuda exacions and restraints he fully
recognised, first in his charter TO Croza in l7l2 and at
terwards in his grant 10 the Indian Company OF the West
l7I7, the principles OF allodlum absolute proprea
ny rights IN the grantees.
1t might be both interesting and instructive did the
permit, 10 give the details and out the
practice and progress OF the great European coanzng
powers This continent; bat suffice say that the
history OF the past fully establishes the fact that their
policy conceived and administered in an enlarged and
magnanimous spirit review, however, OF the history
of system Will be more TO the point, and will
furnish, il seems 10 strong argument in favor OF
wba, is sometimes sneeringy called in this body prog
ress II is curious 10 look back al the earliest law pass
ed by Congress for the sale s the lands OF the United
States IL provided Tor their sale in tracts of four thou
sand acres each and did not allow the selling OF small
quantity except in cases OF fractions created by the
giles and sDuosltles OF Inc ms law, elect,
was prohibition 10 the poor from even PURCHASING
freehold and enabled capitalists to become The exclu
pIoprietors and TO sell the land TO the cuvaor at
exorbiiant prices else force the latter be
under the former.
The views and opinions OF many OF our statesmen de-
rived from Great Britain, and which, at that day.
impressed upon them with all the force OF education and
association, make il not surprising that they should have
deemed 1t advantageous 10 create landed astocracy
but their may have arisen from accident, circum
stances OF which we have not now just appreciation.
II s not however, undressing TO take retrospect OF
the first kward attempts at republican legislation, and
observe how gradually we have shaken Oft the habits
OF thought in which we were trained, and how slowly
the shackles OF prejudice have fallen from around
The FIRST progressive movement from the original sys
ten OF selling large tracts, and credit the passage
OF the of the 10th OF May $780, which provided for
sales in sections and half sections This law
ianly one OF most beneficial tendency and it's passage
forms IN the history OF this republic OF perhaps
greater magnitude and interest than any other IN
nails No other act OF the government has ever borne
Immediately upon the settlement the rapid improvement,
and permanent prosperity OF the western States. Pre-
vious to the year 1870. the United States required
dollars per acre--oDe fourth OF which paid al the
OF purchase and the remainder in three equal annual
This mode of selling did not, however,
work WELL and was abandoned in the year last named
then. Congress has from time 10 time modified the sys
tenn and reduced, with conditions and restrictions, the
salable quantity as low as forty acres.
Almost every one within the sound OF my voice knows
how bitterly and vehemeny of the absst and most
patriotic statesmen during nearly the whole OF the last
age OF laws granting the right OF pre.empton 10 the po
neer in the purchase OF his home
Now, what IL the attitude in which our own govern
ment stands to the subject Why, hold govern
Ioent to the people the position OF great monopolsl
and-hoder with absolute proprietary right in four
dr.I of in