Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-01-25

brieny but clearly polnted out the means
by which this may be done; not at once,
it is true. but by gradual process, run.
ming through one generation. withou. in. q.
reference even with the vested rights oi
any living land moncpols.. They pro. /.
pose, ,''''N'' - = |'''D''. =
First,-"A Limitation Of the quantity
Of land chat an individual may hereaE.
ter acquire in this State; cry 10 one hua.
dred and sixty acres. 'f' 'N o."
.iSecondly,.-"The exemption Of the
homestead Of each family, not to exceed
one hundred and sixty acres, from rlie.
nation for any future debt or liability, Of
in any manner, except by the join, con.
sent of husband ana wife, where such
relation may exist.
And Thirdly,--"That hy every con.
stitutional means you will endeayo. to
prevent all further traffic in the public
lands Of this State and OF tho Y. States,
and cause them 10 be laid out in farms
and lots for the free and exclusive uso Of
actual settlers; and that you instruct tho
Senators ana request tho Represents.
,ivcs in Congress. from this State, to al.
vocntc these measures, with respect TO
the land now under control ofthe Gen.
eral Government" iN r
10 none Of these propcs' tons can
your committee fnd a valid objection.
AS it would be difficult, If not impos.
sible, to draw line Of distinction be.
tween the improvements which any land.
holder has put upon the soil, ana the
soil itself, the limitation principle, a.
proposed, does not interfere with any
mans present possessions, but merely
proposes that no one now landlcss shall -
become monopolst, and that no mo.
nopolist shall increase his monopoly.
Under the operation Of this principle,
when large landholdcr should die, his
heirs would each be entitled to home.
stead, and the surplus, above :hcif limit q
ed portions would pass into the posses.
sion OF landle:s persons, to whom the
heirs should be allowed to dispose OF i. f.,
within given time to their bes, advnn.
tase. Thus would the State be fulfill.
ing its parental duty to its children, BY
securing homes to them, instead Of com.
polling them, as now, TO become city
tenants, or to leave their native soil,
and seek homes in the western wilds.
Thus would population be more con.
compact in the country, aud
less unhealthy and otherwise injurious.
ly dense in the city. Thus would cdaca.
ton and internal improvement, be great.
~ promoted, and thus, it seems to your
committee would Republic be cs,ab.
lished, dulable as our native hills.
In one generation, all the cit,zens Of
New York would be freeholders, ormight
be if they chose; fer although there is
not in the State l60 acres for each fami.
y, SO many would prefer lots to farms,
hat there would be homestcads for all,
and to spare. -.
The second proposition, the exemp.
ION OF the homestead from debt or other
liability, and from compulsory aliena- ,,o
ion, is an extension Of the wise and hu..
name principle Of the exemption of the
'ody Of the debtor from imprisonmen:
or debt, and the exemption of certain
rticles of household furniture and tho
ools Of mans trade from execution. .r
such exemptions, it is found by expert.
nee, are beneficial. Credit will then
70 given to character, and not 10 the
mere accident Of wealth, and debts will
'e better paid than they now are. be-. -.
ause the debtor will have moro moaas
fulfilling his engagements, and a more :.
irtuous and moral tone of public senti.
lent will be created under the redeem.
ng influences Of free and well.rewsri.
4 industry. .-,
Respecting the thifi proposition of ~.
lc memorialis,s, but little need be said.
land monopoly be an evil, if tho uso i
the earth be an inalienable right, and
il be the frs, duty Of government, to
cure to every citizen place for
ONE, and room for the sustenance OF :
s family and the development tot oil the
cultiss of his nature consistently with !.
e well being of his fellow citizens; if -,
ese principles be correct. as your cons, 4
ittee have endeavored to showthern to IL.
in former part Of this report, then il y
lows thatthe londless citlzeus Of our
ate and Nation should have secured 70 1t
EN- the rieh. Of ffoc occupancy.of our 4
,blic lands, both State and National. -.
or this purpose, these lands should, i !.
om time 70 time, be surveyed and laid /,
i into limited portions; and 70 aceom,,b !.
odate the economical d,yision &c lahnv