Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-09-27

and homes to the homeless moro con.
sistcnt and able supporter than WILLIAM
MEpnL, the present Democratic candi.
date for Governor Of Ohio.
"But," says the GAZETTE, "whcn did
the (Democlatic) party commit itself to
the doctrine ofland for the landless?"-
We answer that since first the question
was mooted, the Democratic party has
stood upon that platform, and has been
eminently progressive, First, they took
ground against the Wing party, in favor
of pre.empiion-of giving q settler on
the public lands right 10 hold them fol
certain length Of time, and then to pur.
chase them. Next, the Democracy took
ground against the scheme Of distributing
the proceeds of the public lands among
the several states, because its tendency
was to perpetuate The plumber system, by
which the general government made the
public lands matter Of speculation of
their own citizens.
Next, the Democracy took the ground
that the public lands should be sold in
limited quantities TO actual settlers at a
price covering cos, of sale and survey.
The Democratic State Convention which
nominated Col. Medill for Lieutenant
Governor, passed resolution on this
subject, which was re.ailrmed at the
Convention which nominated him for
Governor. That resolution is as fol.
lows:
"4th. Resolved, That an enlightened
political economy demands more lib.
eral system Of dsposing of the public
lands; and that the prosperity OF the
country, as well as individuals would
be eminently promoted by the passage of
laao placing The national domain, in
limited quantities, aoithiM the reach Of
actual settlers, at a price to corer the
cost of surveying anil other necessary
expenses"
Gov. Mcdill. in advance of his party,
though but a step,] in radical reform.
took still stronger and more liberal
ground in favor Of giving to every man
and every woman, the head off family,
homestead of one hundred and sixty
acres of land, on condition ofoccupying
and cultivating the same for period Of
five years. On this subject he has been
frank and free in the avowal of his sen.
timcnts, and on this subject Mr.. Barrcre
has voted his Wing sentiments, and
hence the parties join issue-the Demo.
Gratis for land for the landless-the wings
against it.
The resolution OF the Convention
which nominated Gen. PIERCE, which,
besides going against the distribution
scheme, says "the proceeds ofthe public
lands ought to be sacredly applied to
the national objects specified in the
Constitution )" which we take to be
"paying the debts and providing for the
general welfare of the United States .
The debts Of the United States, thanks to
the Democratic Tariff, are ready to be
paid-more money is on hand than is
needed. The general welfare of the U.
nted Sta tes would in no manner be bet.
ter provided for, than in making every
farmer in the land the tiller Of his own
soil-the owner o. the land h.: cullvates,
would be a sample Of the general wei.
fare Of the United States," which we and
every other Democrat in the Republic,
would like too see, and it would so
strengthen our Union III the affection of
our people, that he who would even lisp
syllable in favor OF its dismcmberment,
youll be laughed to very scorn, and trea.
leu as an lulOl, or else lltteu LOT an Insane
Asylum.
The Journal says the State Democrat
has the impudence to claim the "policy
fLand Seiorm as the policy of the Dem.
ocratic party!" We do so claim-thc
facts justify us in thus assuming the fact,
when we see the former and the present
standard bearers of the whig party tho
bitter and unrelenting opponents of the
measure-so shown to be by their votes
in Congress, given under the solemnity
of their official oaths.
Prom the Big Sandy News,
Temperance No. l.
Mr. EDIToR.-Rv Won, nerm;ee;op