Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-06-06

whe Owns The Earthi

Does ODE msn owa the Earth by ns,as
raj right No---self evidently not; clsc
tho whols earth would be under nsiu.,
ral despotisn. which j. Hbsurl. Those
who own the land src the rulers OF the
Eor,h, for as III sustensnce is derived
from the soil. those who have not lsnh.
either ~ farm or town lot, sre compelled
tO submit 10 the landholdcs for the pri.
viie2e Of living upon the eanh.. The
landle's farmer 10 compelled 10 look 70
another no. only for . place In which
10 sleep, but on which to labor and pro-
doce tho necesssries Of life. The land.
less mechanic must look 10 the landlord
for his home-and ss he supplies the
farmer with his work, and receives food
&C., in exchange. he must assist him in
paying the rent Of his farm because he
cannot supply the mechanic on as good
terms. by paying rert. ss he could with.
out that drain upon his labor.
u. then, one man has no natural righ,
10 the whole Earth, hns no right TO
own a whcle nation OF territory? No,
evidently not else The na,ion would be o
despo,isin. while free lom is the law Of
nature. He who owns o nation TO q
great extent, owns also the people, for
they cannot live without land, and he
owns il all.
II, then. one man has no natural right
10 own o whole nation, has he right to
own whole county? No-evidenlly
not-elsc he would be the dcspot Of the
county; extcrting ss much reu, as might
please him, and sporting upon the hard
toll Of his subjects.
{, II then one man has no right to own
whole county has he the right 20 q
whole township. No, evidently not.
else ho would be king of the township;
drawing immense revenues from his de-
pendant tenants, and stripping them Of
all The attributes OF their manhood.
lf,hen. one man has no nat Irul right
TO own n whole township, has he such
right to acquire thousand ucres?-
No, evidently not, because the tenants
Of the thousand acres, or the servants he
might employ 10 cultivate the tract,
woull be MS mon to all intents and
purposes. subject to his will--depenlant
upon him for place in which and by
which 10 exist.
A man is aespot in proportion 10
his ability to command his fellow nan.
The possession Of more land than one
can cultivate himself, without hired la
borers--makes the landh older dcspol
over some Of his species. But were all
permitted 10 have land-have portion
Of the Earth. which az oil confess, il
Col given to all, and 10 one as we'll as
ano,her--i. would he impossible to sub
jec. one portion Of the people to The
will Of few, who being the strongest
might possess the earth either by force
Of arms or money. No one, therefore
has natural right, un Ter any circum
stances, TO more Of the earth's surfac,
than is sufficient to employ his labor ant
make his family comfortable. This il
right which all bear by nature, and nj
one can 60 beyond this, without depri
wing some one else Of equal right. NJ
one could desi,e moro than this amour
Of land, had not tho land monopol!
long since, thrown portion Of man
kind into dependence upon land des
pots for living.
This then, is clearly The extent Of on
mans right 10 control the earth. To e
beyond this IS wrong in the sigh, Of God
anll ought to be hcl,i so in the morality
Of the world. These facts must be recog
nizel by tho governments Of tho coun
try before the highest degree Of Liber,,
and Equality can be enjoyed. The las
should prescribe some limit TO the mo
nopoly Of land. For the duty Of th
State 10 guarantee natural right to life i
not clearer than that to land on whic
life depends. lie, { II think OF these sug
gestions.
1t is falsely anil foolishIy sail tha
the advocates Of these doctrines 60 70
the equal distribution Of properly. No
so. We 60 for securing 10 each hi
natural righ: to the soil, in order tha
he may apply his labor for the produc
ton Of the means of comfort, and hav
what he produces. in order that no on
else may be enabled 10 plumber him b
unholy exactons from his toll; in orle
that all may have home and be en-
courased TO industry, virtue and man
/ hood. We tlo not advocate the break
ing up Of the present unjust land estate
BY the sudden operation Of taxes, bu
by law Of prospective limitation, b
| which all the farms Of the country, an
+ all The lots Of the city. will be 6nall
owned by those who cultivate the forme
or occupy the latter. How much Of hu
man good is dependant upon the adop
tion Of these views by the S ate? Le
the Democracy seize upon this creates
Of all monopolies as they have upc'
others, and strike a still more effectua
blow in favor Of Liberty, Eqality, an
Fraternity. Humanity should own !h
Earth. l.. A. HiNE.
i CONSERVATIVE Views IN THE Morris