The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-23

vidual having no interest In the soil will not
be likely to pursue course consistent either
with his employers interest or an enlightened
public policy.
The tendency of an excessive land monopoly
is to render the interests of the mass subseryi-
ent to the few, thereby inducing popular igno-
rance--itself a prolific source of misery and
misrule.
We have said the same causes which have
produced the system of iandlordiSm in Europe,
are, to certain extent in existence here and
will, if not removed, ultimately produce the
same effects. The number of landholders in
Britain is, comparatively, very few. The great
mass of the people are landless, homeless, mere
tenants at will, and are dependent on the land
lords for employment and the means of sub
sistence. The consequence is, they are obliged
to labor for what they can get; and if they are
not satisfied with that, they are told to help
themselves; indeed, it has been made the duty
of the magistrates to get together and fix the
wages of the laborer, making it a penal offence
for the employer to give, or the laborer to re-
ceive, more than certain fixed sum, which, in
many cases has been as low as four shillings
and from that to six shillings per week, though
at the present time they are in general, better
paid.
What should we think, in this country, should
the magistrates have the power to fix the wages
of the laborers And yet that it has been Gus
tomary to do 80 in England, is matter of his
tory. And what are the causes which have
contributed TO such state CT things! Evil.
IDENTIFY the sy stem of land monopoly is the most
prominent one. But cannot dwell on these
points. In view of the rapidly increasing pop
ulation Of these United States and the great
sccessions to our population from abroad, it
becomes matter of the greatest Importance,
that those principles upon which, alone, the
maximum products of the soil can be attained,
should be adopted. The time must ultimately
arrive-ard that time ia not SO far distant as
many teem to suppose-when every foot of
arabic soil must be brought into requisition to
support earth's teeming millions. The present
system of agriculture will coon become wholly
inadequate to meet the demand. The aver
age products per acre must not only be two,
three four, as they are capable of being, but
must be increased to at least ten, if not twenty
fold
Finally, it would be a great source of revenue
to the Government as it would tend to the rapid
settlement of the public lands, thereby greatly
increasing the agricultural products Of the ma
ton, and which, under an equitable system of
direct taxation would sopersede the necessity
of tariffs and restrictions On commerce, and
would amply suffice to meet all the necessary
expenditures of the Government. The pecuni-
airy interests, therefore, of this nation, the die
tstes of sound national policy, as well as of jus
tice and equity, demand the incorporation of
this measure into our bill of rights, as one of
the great and fundamental principles of the
Democratic creed.
RssolUed, therefore, That the donation Of the
public lands, in limited quantities. to actual
settlers, is sound national policy.
The discussion of this subject incidentally
involves, to some extent, the discussion of other
Kindred subjects-as revenue and its sources,
the tariff and sales of the public lands-which
must defer to a future occasion.
JC. w.
WhitJord, Msch., Jan. 10, 1854.