Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-04-25
AICHMOND WING.
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
Mr. Th,mp.en,. speteh 90 ,he nom,.,e.a pnl
.EsDAY MORNING, APRIL rs, 1884.

We present readers this morning with rich
treat in the speech delivered by Senator Thompson
Of Kentucky, last week, against the Homestead bill
We have not met with any thing for long tint
which embodies more truthfulncss, wit, humor ant
sound, practical sense. He pitches into the iniqui
tous AMI pedagogical with great vigor ant
effectiveness. He exposes in clear, convincing and
amusing manner the unworthy motives and objects
Of tho men with whom it originated, and who ar,
using every effort in their power to secure its pas
s,ge. We are rcjoiced to discover as this effort q
the Kentucky Senator amply dscloses, that the
race Of patriots and honest men in the councils o
the country, is not yet entirely extinct Few publ
ut this day have the moral courage whatever
may be their convictions, to take bold and fearless
ground against measure which is known to be pop.
ular with a large portion Of our population. Few
have the nerve to stand up and denounce scheme
which combines in its support a vast and motley
multitude Of every nation, cline and color. Few, in.
deed there are of any party who have the courage
to be always just and honest, uncarng consequent
ces These few, however, whenever opportunity &C.
ours, it gives pleasure to single out and speak
Of as their manlincss and patriotism deserve.
The very fact that measure like that of the Home
stead irquity should be seriously contemplated by
any portion of our people, or by any public man in
most melancholy anticipations for the future. It
shows the lamentable degeneracy into which our
public servants and even the people themselves
rapidly falling. 1t exhibits an insensbity to right
justice and common honesty which it is impossible
to contemplate without realizing the immense differ
ence between the characters of the founders of the
Republic and their descendants Of the present day Ii
illustrates but too plainly that downward tendency
n Dublic nriv lie irh has
preceded and fastened the downfall of all the popu-
lar governments of antiquity. Whether the indica-
tons that everywhere exist of the increasing prof-
gacy and corruption amongst ourselves are prophets
Of our own country fate and its noble institutions
shall not undertake to assert or deny One thing
however all history and experience teach-that like
causes produce like results. And what popular vice,
and arrant, INSCRIPTIONS demagogusrn have effected
in former times and earlier governments, they have
equally the power to effect in a subsequent age.
We consider the Homestead bill the most unjust
and demagogcal project everpresentcd to the consid
Grafton of any people. We look upon it as O
shameless and deliberate attempt to swindle homes,
men for the benefit of rogucs-to rob the industrious
and frugal citizen in order to protect and foster the
idle and profgate. We shall regard it in fact if i
P--~' :-.- - i"'-, r-Li; r---i-~.;e" the par
OF the Government that esteems personal Industry
and economy rs OF worth, and bel ind the times
that individual sefdrpendence and self-reliance
instead of being virtues to be commended and encour
aged, are crimes to be reproblted and lerisated
against The whole policy of the Government will
thus undergo most radical and vicious change And
what the effect of this new policy will he upon all
classes OF our citizens, it will not be dcu to deter
mine 1t may be comprised in a single word-men
will not work, nor be virtuous when there is hi,h
premium-authorizcd by law-uIon idcness and
vice.
But we shall not longer detan the reader from the
able and piquant speech of Mr.. Thompson. II will
be found to be an interesting an conc usive arru-
ment against the injustice and enormities Of the bill
in question.
Mr. Thompson of Ky. said the amendment was inten
ded to extend the grant made by this hill not only TO
Americans and foreigners in the United States hpt
as' 70 al 'oreiSner'who my c'n, hsrs upo1 their fl.
ing declaration OF intention become citizens To
the BILL and especially this he wa. entirev
opposed In the other end Of the Cpito il had Lately
BEEN declared that proposition to give lands the 4up
port tns-e unfortunate people, the ins me- who by viii
n"n OF I'D were unable provide themselves was un
c'nstituonaI bnt the Senator from Ohio finds n sucb
ucuy III the proposition TO give homes and lands 10 AL
he vhg'hohd'. p1upers and criminals which the arm of
public justice or political compel to c,me TO nur
shores and to the idle and lazy o.fas our own
lie had thought OF moving to recommt this bill v,b ,
view oil mixing IL more equal In its bounties If II h.
right and Just q give Ian u the andess and hone, IN
ths homeless why not givs money 10 the monevle.Y II
ANYTHING like justice equality be intended whv ov.r
look the mechanics the profess o1a men, anil ali others
who know nothing Of Agricultural pursuits IYbv shnwsr
Az s ouny upon tho4e who can 'oow agriculture He
had always understood that the public l.nds o,e s,
~ pledge Tor the oivment of the pubic deb,s IF is
were So he would Ike to know how they could he egi
tMon WINE under morgag', and given away 10 perI,,s
VINO were aliens In language aud boUi-to Io,Ger. nj
home He wished to know any good cause 6or ny;e
this bonus 10 all those foreigners who seek An.,con
shores-o all those who leave their country perh,p m
that counrys good who leave because thew are soma
what liberal yet liberal enough TO fight for lhsr
principles and institutions Why offer tbi, bonus IN ,l
the law, idle good for nothing loafers at home who
never had two hundred dollars to bny n farm he
cause they idle and law 10 work for IN WHIT d
effect could be accomplished by selling the pubc lon9a IN
such peope' To get them go there and settle uoon
he anos, you must say to them here il n nice lit,I.
farm Tor you. go and take IT, We know Won are ,oo |
and worthless ever to be able 10 buy one or keo ono
Is given 70 you For that we will cover Il Win
sort OF bankruptcy 10 continue forever Yon rscd AZ,
be afraid 70 take IL neither the sheriff nor the oons,h
shall ever lay his hands H. Its forever IN no at
rnpt to your creditors Laughter And il ia men IN
whom such Inducements have to he held out that arc IN
hl up, occupy aud become communities of new s,,cs
what nice communities they will be the vaughan a,
and criminals from Europe and the lonfo7s Of onr
own country. Laughter and applause This hin
was uhn'i Tor another IL discrimination In
favor Of paupers and iders against the hard working and
,duron- pioneers who have cut down the forests
pad Tor ther lands and settled the w stern States Tic
industrious American pioneers have been made 10 ms for
their lands and II given away to the cririna rops
mullins aud paupcts Of the world who are now yne and
VIII ny to thts country like buzEards to carcass which
they VII, sucs to ull they eat 1t up. Laughter
and spplauscl No President Of any party Under
any Circumstances or vicis4tudcs in any eItromifv
or emergency, from Washington to Pierce. has ever
brought Himself down 10 recommend snv such ,nc,
sure AZ this He objected TO It as financial measure
All Europe was TO DO engaged in a coutcs, such ne tho
world never saw. and the United State, woulJ b,ys J
OF all s resources and means prevent beconnp In
yolVod 10 w. or being in Il to maintain their rgh4 Was
this time TO squander the public lands az bnnnss IN m
ouicass Of crcadonY The action OF the House with re
'pect 70 public lands might appear strange First they
passed this bin giving away all the public nnd and then
pissed another bill graduating the price Of what they had
already given away IL evident that they did not
iretn this bill should become law. II wu a popular
measure 70 b. talked about very vel designed to secure
The reelection OF some whose chances dpn,
tut twas uet7ure calculated to please tho cross rotd4
1r rooms and ~b'ky boys, and It's passage would
d' no harm r the house expected that the good senss
end property OF TIC Senate would check H. daughter
lie sad rom newspapers there propositions pending
~ buy whGle regions Of territory. Wha: forY Was
to pay Tor " and then give il swayV Aoo,ber Var
might follow, and it better 70 keep all this land and
IA