New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-18
FREE HOMES.


AhUndred delusiye and mischeyous projects hatched
in the fertile brain of Speculation. now challenge the
attention of Congress and formidably backed by
combinations of private or local interest which
threaten TO push them through in defiance OF every
consideration Of Honesty and Public Good. From the
great Nebraska Inquity down through every grade OF
obbery to acts for the relief of this or that patriot
WHO wants to relieve the Treasury OF cash enough TO
render bin comfortable for life there Is no point At
which the Nations strong box is not assalled AMI the
virtue of legislators sapped. Only two measures
which promise any wide and permanent good 10 the
People are agitated and they have scarcely chance
amorg tie hundreds of selfish projects which overe
and threaten to smother them Those two are the
Pacific Railroad and the Homestead bill
We have scarcely hope of the triumph of the for
uer At this Session Whatever chance it had has been
blasted by the reckless nerpOston of the Nebraska
frebrand But the Homestead bill is at length fairly
before the House in Committee, ard if its friends are
but firm and faithful vote upon it may he secured
And if it 6e voted ii will pass or we are grieyously
in error There is 70 majority OF the House which
would like TO meet ITS constituents on the issue which
4 vote against the Homestead bill would raise
Or side issue, the power of ts enemies may be
more disastrousy put forth. There are so many men
ia Congress who expect 10 be made rich by the pro
iected Railroads which this same Congress is expected
to endov and vtaze by large grants of Public Lands
that we fear the bill will never be pressed TO third
reading II profers a chance to live by honest Ia
Dor 10 millions otherwise needy and dependent but
none of those millions are in Congress while no
one who IL there can hope to make even 500 by its
passage 1t Is so just to everybody that it has no
chance to be generous TO anybody We fear therefore
that II Is doomed to receive the cO-by.
And vet all that Congress is asked to do beside Is
not so important as this single measure Even the
Pacific Railroad. important and necessary as it is,
invoking a vast commercial and social revolution is
Of secondary consequence Railroads very conye-
nent and useful but place whereon TO stand is of
prime necessity Make the Public Lands free in quar-
ter.scctons 70 Actual Settlers aud deny them to all
otters. and earth's landless millions will no longer be
orphans and mendicants they can work for the
wealthy. relieved from the degrading terror of being
turned adrif TO starye. When employment fails or
wages are inadequate. they may pack up and strike
westward 10 enter upon the possession and culture OF
iy oH lands on the banks of the Wisconsin, the Des
Nones or the Platte which have been patiently await
ing their advent since creation Strikes 20 stand still
will be too garingy absurd when TO every citizen is
trofered the alternative Of working for others or for
himself as 10 him shall seem most advantageous The
mechanic or aborer who works for another will then do
so ONLY because be can thus liberal and
satisfactory reeompense than he could by working for
himself
Ofcourse we know that there are tens OF thousands
who Will be indolent, incorporate, extrayagan and
needy, in spite of any number of Homestead acts
We never forget that thousands would be destitute
and squalid even though lands were subdued and
houses built for them on their several quarter-sec
tons Of Free Soil But We insist that, though many
would never avail themselves of the advantages prof
fered BY Free Homes, very many would eagerly GRASP
them: and the withdrawal OF these from our cites oil
villages ard the farms shops or factories which no"
employ them as hireEngs would largely expand the
opportunities now enjoyed by those who are josteC
and crowded Ia the reckless race of competitive in
/ dussy Each new cabin on the prairies, each farm
hewu out Of the wilderness implies additional demand
for Wares and Fabrics and more food for City Ar
tisans Every industrial interest would be benefited
/ BY the passage Of the Homestead bill
We lave little faith 10 the favorable disposition o
tie Senate but we shall be grstded By the passage
this bill through the House only st present, simply
clearer augury Of what the future La. in store for
We trust the friends Of the measure 10 the House vii
insist Oh test vote being taken before suffering It Il
be overridden by any other bill.