Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-03-22
T,nnds for gne InnaIess.

j..
The House of Representatives has passed the
Homestesd bill Itprovides that one hundred and
sixty acres Of land shall be given, free Of charge,
to every actual settlers perfect title to be- given
after q residence of Eve years.
This is truly a great Democratic meassres--
Should the bill become law, as no doubt it will,
the honest poor man, can have within his reach q
comfortable home for himself and family, with the
means of afFording them support.
The bill strikes death blow at land monopo-
lies and exclusive ownership of landed property.
No capitalists can, as heretofore, buy up soldiers
rights at one half the value, and locate them in
large. quantities, thus depriving men Of humble
means the right Of enjoying that to which he is
entitled. -, u, ,,,.....,,i
The unfairness in land monopoly is apparent
when we consider that real estate is a determined
and fixed property. All the fluctuations in the
world of "cange,' the rise and fall Of stocks the
pressure of the money market, the surplus products
of the farming and manufacturing interests or their
want Of energy in trade, none can diminish or in
crease the specific and determined quantity Of soil.
One thousand acres Of land owned by A., Of course
cannot be owned by B., but A. may possess large
estate Of personal property, while B. is at liberty
to acquire like amount Chattle interest may
be created, real estate is already made, A. may
possess ten thousand dollars in chattle property,
manufactured articles for instance, but B. c. and
D. are at liberty TO acquire such like amount
But should A. possess ten thousand dollors worth
of landed property he holds it to the entire exclu-
sion of B. C. and D., and every one else. The
true principle must be, that no man is entitled tc
own more land than is necessary for reasonable
competence. Every excess over this amount is Z
deprivation Of some one else, who has the un
doubted right to possess it .,...~.,.s.... u.
But aside from the principle Of right, there i
one of policy that should not be overlooked. i
is we'll understood by every one, that when prop
erty is owned in large Quantities either in villages
or in the country, there Improvement, thrift ant
industry are strangers. In some places these ar,
apparent more than others, but it is where the evi
is most prevalent. And, were the village of Ra
venna to-day, owned by six, eight. ten, or twent.
land holders, it would scarcely be worth buying a
a discount. ..s,- .... .. ,..,....,, .,..,.
Imagine village belonging to wealthy pro
prietor; its citizens his tenantry; whose only in
terests are to procure living. What prospect Q
thrift and Improvement does that village present
Or, take the county A wealthy landholder own
the real estate for miles in extent its only inhat
itants are his renters. What nducement is ther
for that property to improve. The landlord can
not do it himself, his disnerested tenants Of cours
would have no interest in doing it, and he will nc
sell it to those who would. How many village
in Ohio are there that feel the effect of this eyil-
real estate ywned by wealthy men. who will ne
thcr improve nor sell it unless they receive an e'
. horbitant price.