Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-02-09
DAILY NATIONAL ERA.
FOR ths National Era
LAND REFORM ITs CONNECTION WITH
AMKRICAN AGRICULTURE.

LAND hkfO8W-IT6 CONNECTION WITH
AAKRICAH AGRICULTURE.
Next to American Slavery, the subject O
Land Reform, or the donation Of the public
lands, in limited quantities, 10 actual settlers
demands the Immediate consideration Of tho
American People. II we would prevent the
evils OF an excessive land monopoly, under
which Europe groans we must use the neces
sary and timely precautions. To the adoption
OF such measure, we shall ultimately be
driven. AT tho present ratio Of increase Of
population Of these United States il is plain t.
see not many centuries can elapse, before
this whole American continent will become al
World.
II IL estimated that our population doubles
once In about twenty-five years. From the
last census returns, it will be seen that our
present population somewhat exceeds twenty
three millions, though, at present, shall as-
sumo twenty-five millions as nearer the truth
IL will be sufficiently accurate for my present
purpose, and will not materially affect the con-
illusions, to assume this as the result Of the
census Of 1850, upon which to base the follow
ing calculations:
Total population Of the United
States in 1850 25000,000
Whole number of square miles
OF the United States and Ter
ritories 100000
Whole number Of acres 1900 900 600
Number to the fquare mile, in 1850, 10;
one century hence 100; two centuries, 1850
Number Of acres to each in 1850, 90 one Gen.
fury hence, 4; two centuries, " Population,
one century hence, four hundred millions; two
centuries hence, six billion four hundred mil
lions
One Of two things is inevitable: either the
ratio of increase will diminish, or such a result
will follow. Taking into account the constant
" increasing influx Of population from abroad,
together with the abolition Of the great causes
of depopuhtion such as war, intemperance,
American Slavery, flor we intend to have it
abolished, and thousand other evils which
have for ages existed, and which are the result
of popular ignorance-so sure as the promo
ton Of popular education is calculated to dis
sipate the evils of ignorance--so sure as the
millennial reign Of Justice, mercy, and truth,
il about to be ushered in, will this ratio instead
Of diminishing, continue to increase.
II is frequently asserted that the ratio of in
crease diminishes as the country becomes more
populous; and as proof Of this, we are re-
ferred to some Of the most densely populated
districts Of the Old World--to China, for ex-
ample. But is this the result of necessary
and unavoidable law'of our nature, or is it the
legitimate fruit Of the violation Of those laws !
It should be remembered, that, as general
thing, the inhabitants Of those districts are
sunk in the grossest ignorance and superstition,
and live in the most palpable violation Of the
laws Of their physical and mental organiza-
ton; but when, under our progressive system
of popular education, these laws are better un-
derstood and observed, will the sources of de-
population, to great extent be dried up, and
mortality become less frequent.
The original thirteen States embraced but a
little more than tenth of our present terri
tory, their area being not much larger than
Oregon Territory; and, at the period Of the
American Revolution, they contained but about
one-tenth of our present population. How
marked the change!
Within two years after the acquisition of
California and the discovery Of gold, great
State bounds into the Union, with population
and resources exceeding some Of the original
members of the Confederacy. We now num-
Der thirty one States and six Territories, with
population Of about twenty five millions
We have said that the whole number OF
square miles of the United States and Terrific
rios is about 500 00O--l soc, O00, 900 acres,
which would give our entire population sixty
acres each. The population one century hence,
at the present ratio, according to the above
estimate, will be about four hundred millions,
four acres to each individual. This, at the
present time, would be considered very small
allowance; still, if the above calculations are
correct las think any one may satisfy him
self, who will take the trouble to make the
computation, that they are nearly SOL it is all
a person can hold, without diminishing tho
portion Of others.
We do not suppose that every individual is
to become . landbolder, but we do suppose that
all who wish to become so, should have the
privilege; and, to this end, equal privileges
should be extended to all.
We hold that every individual, unless he has
forfeited it, possesses an inherent right to por-
ton Of the soil The dictates of sound nation
al policy, a. well as Of justice and equity,
clearly indicate that these rights should DO
exercised
The same causes which have produced the
system Of lsndlordsm in Europe, which has
been productive of such a vast amount Of mis-
cry, and which has driven 80 many thousands
to our own shores, are, to q certain extent, in
existence here, and will, if not removed, uifi-
mateiy produce the same effects
The advocates Of land monopoly, in this, as
in every other country, are generally men Of
wealth and capital, and hence possess an al
most unlimited amount OF power and influence.
Many Of them are Government functionaries,
and manage to bend TO their wishes all its i'm
mense power and patronage. They are aim
ing to establish great moneyed aristocracy, by
means Of which they hope to control the suf.
frages Of the people, and thereby the affairs Of
State and hence it is only by the most siren
uous exertions that the advocates Of free labor
and free trade can at oil compete with them.
The subject Of land reform is intimately
connected with the subject of Slavery; indeed,
Slavery can only successfully exist except
through monopoly Of the soil. Hence, the
desperate efforts which are being made by the
slave propagandists to extend the area Of Sla-
very to the Pacific and thus secure TO Slavery
vast amount Of territory, AZ the only sure
means Of affJrding to the slave States a mar
ket for their surplus cattle. Prohibit, by timely
legislation this tendency to excessive land mo-
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