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

dettes before you come the main guard and do this
The more readily, doubtless, shall have the home
stead bill before at the close OF the session, when
will be too late TO debate il.
cannot yield my the principles involved in
this bill do not think that sound policy true political
economy or the great interests o country are at all
protected or preserved by it. Not questioning for mo-
ment the motives OF those who advocate il, consider
mat lis passage Is well calculated TO demoraze the very
class whose benefit TO be its main object be-
lieve that ii will lend helping hand ideness, profit
gacy and vice. and that il will throw a temptation in the
way OF honest industry, which may turn feet aside
from the path OF usefulness aud order that it
may obtain gift that will be worthless when s pro-
cured. III am right iD these opinions, is the duty of
us all TO defeat the measure before us IL am wrong in
nay conclusions have the satisfaction OF knowing that
nothing that can say can pervert the judgment OF the
" older and better" Legislators around me.
propose to state very briefly the reasons for my con-
vctons and my first objection TO it is, that whilst it
seems TO be founded upon the agraran principle that
each man shall share equally in the public lands, and
that this government but the trustee for its citizens yet
does not carry out the very idea that is its basis II is
those who have no land al all the time of such ap-
plicalion, and who will that they have not dis
posed OF any land to obtain The benefits OF this act! Why
these provisions Why exclude the honest lsborer who,
by the sweat of his brow had purchased his farm and
erected his homestead! Why, in the division of the
spoil amongst the que thrust aside the sue
cessiul er Of the groud-,he experienced culvators
Why give The common property only TO him who, by
his dleness ad never obtained his tract OF land or by
his extravaganza, or folly, or nexperence had wasted
H.! Is this 10 encourage agriculture and other branches
OF industry, which the title OF this act declares to be It's
object 10 waste the counyS treasures
those who had hitherto been idle 10 acquire property
or too unskliul 10 make il useful II seems to me
tla the proper course any such distribution must take
place, (Which exceedingly deprecate) would beto give
equally 10 all. fhe indgeRt may have become
without his own crime or folly; but what have these
donelhe successful, the industrious, the honest-that
atty thrift. and reward only the man who has had
neither the industry skill in this favored land to shell
Ter his "landless head" from the storm No successful
can be given to these questions unless are adj
vanciDg to the opinion that all property in land Is Io
berry, and that he who has already obtained portion,
though may be by honest industry shall have
opinion which trust one here entertains and
here will advance
But it will be said. he that has already estate in
land needs no more; wish to supply him who has
none wish the soil to be cultivated; we wish agri-
culture TO be improved; we want to give start TO the
poor man; and TO throw around hun the comfort: OF
beautiful garden spot and 10 change by the magic power
of the spade the hoe, and the plough, the noxous weed
into the iie- sustaining plant. We want TO make the
desert blossom like the and TO make the untrodden
path OF the pralne the highway for vast multudes OF
lreemen All this sounds we'll; but If is said that this
act is going TO accomplish all any OF these things, am
afraid that like most such romantic and poetic sentiments.
there is beauty Of dclion than there will be truth
il fuhment Let US take them up in their order, and
hold them up to the candle OF reason.
You begin, l have already said, by excluding the
man, whatever his ability, whatever his industry. what
ever his honesty and experience, who owns single
acre OF Iand-a single will exclude him. No mat
how poor he may be- if he has either the misfortune
or grippe to own rood OF land, his unhallowed foot
tent matters not; his children may be sarving-t 10 Of
no consequence be may, by his experiences and know
edge OF agriculture be the very person for the cutva
ion of this rich so-all this cannot be listened to- He
may be native born, whose fathers blood helped TO
purchase the freedom OF country; he may be nat
urazed Citizen who has proved his devotion free
institutions by daring valor indomiable energy; still
the answer that will meet his ear will be- You have al
ready land you can have lie offers to sell his
parental homestead even which, TO advance his chill
dens interests. he may be willing to abandon this act
still declares he shall not participate IN Its benehs,
while II gives no other reason for the exclusion than the
single and unmeanlng one that he has land already
Now. il The true motive OF this bill were to cultivate
the soil, and to promote agriculture would think
that these objects would be obtained by allowing this
class of who had shown their energy and success,
to participate in the benefits and 10 extend the circle OF
their enthusiastically some limit might be made 10
to thrust aside the mere nominal holder of = few
feet of soil But let proceed This act is intended,
say OF its advocates. for the aid OF the poor
to give him start, and to throw around him the com
forts OF a home But how does this appear This
includes only those who have no land There are hun
dreds OF thousands in this republic who while they own
no SOIL have their gold and silver and Jewels their bank
stock their notes OF hand, and other personal estate.
They wealthy and prosperous; they may neverthe
less and take their quarter section How 10 this
act, then. only meant for the poor man II will be said,
that no man OF wealth will come but that ia
He may if he will--the law does not exclude hm--but
the law does exclude the poor man who has no personal
property, but little soil OF his own-t matters not how
little Poverty is not the test-ownershp OF land H.
But, if this objection were out OF the way would
not change my views ! DO no, Ike thIs eait that 10
that seeks array class OF our country against the
othehat suggests to the poor man that he alone the
owner of the soil do not like the under current that
steals under the apparent tide OF sympathy Let me not
be Understood, am not one Of those who look
upon penury crime In many cases IT 10 the decree
OF Providence " the poor ye have with you always
was as well The assertion OF truth as the announce
ment OF prophecy. So it has ever been, and will il
ever be- and he but traitor to the best interests OF hu
nanly and his country who does not do what he
ably can to alleviate the su6erings OF those less fou
nate than himself and poverty and suffering appeals
that this republic OF has always answered to-w-
ness its hospitals It's asyuns, it's charitable institutions
witness Greece and 10 Ireland witness its
outseched receive every one upon whose neck
i the iron heel had pressed
But there are lawful ways OF showing sympathy, and
there are unlawful onesand this system - an instance
OF The latter Besides, sir you encourage poverty BY this
have been the result Of vice soth you sotecs il,
YOU perpeuae it, by making the property you thus be-
stow not liable for any debt which may be ncaned for
6ve wears and whilst you leave the fruits OF the ground
su legal process, you take away the nducement
10 oduce than is barely sufficient for suslenaacs
You encourage reckessness and ideneas you ssrso-
type the Incidence and want OF foresight which yos
found in imperfect state. Mr. President know
that poverty is crme--not always--bu know that
ideness is, and has been and know that poverty
which s the result OF ldeness, ia something worse than
eat s the language OF inspiration. In ths free
try, where honest effort and brawny always meet
encouragement and reward. there few healthy heads
Of families who cannot the support OF thepseives
ard children and il they not healthy. believe
SIR the great Interests OF agriculture will not be promoted
by giving them in charge to the puny srenGih OF the DIS
eased frame. Human nature il sufficiently prone 70 m