Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-07-25
T,rsDsy MORNING. JsAN %, ,SD'
=1.-:.r,.r,S LAND BILL.

An J. .Vt.N WV
-, ,,,...caI B;N, bet lis ultimate triumph
,.,. ~. yi,shlc and beyond any contingency "' res
.u,.+,.,u. Tia, measure is precisely OF tile
,..aa., serve rs an effective instrument i'll the
no,l nj; the Jemarogue. Plausible in its prctcns'"ns
and rrnmisiu: immense benefit TO the masses "
,rpcaIs with signal effect To that active ana nos!
,,n,lic sentiment which controls the policy "i ''cS'>,
eminent. But II short time since, i; was m'Fon"'eu
in Congress amid almost universal eNee'"''"' :.
successfully has it propitiaied popular "'"r, ""' -
Low commands a decisive majority p"'n III III "'
ME and House of Representatives; AMI us P"ss"s''
.,.bo,rh embarrassed lv the suspicion OF Executive
hostility, has been defeated only by the extraord'har!
ex.r,ious Of an energetic and visilant opposition.
In this coniuncture, fcresceing the eventual In
rm,h of the Homestead Bill, and anxious 10 mit'so'e
lis m!schievous operation by some compensat'ng ben
efi, and by supprcssinG its more pcrnicions primer
pics. Senator Hunter proposed the scheme Tor
the final disposition OF the public lands. OF winch Il
synopsis is given in another column. Inc measure
passed the Senate with extraordinary unnnimity-oh-
" eleven votes in the negative and Of these moi one
from the Democratic party.
In all frankuess we confess that there are features
in NJ. Hunters bill which we cannot approve. Bnt'
recent experience has relaxed something OF our eNclu-
.iye and rigid adherence to theory, and has fought us
10 accept a compromise Of principle If necessary TO es-
cape absolute and overwhelming defeat. 1t is equal
" unius: and absurd TO pass sentence on any measure
al public policy in reference only to its own n1strnct
excellence or deficiency. This is cmphuticaiy true
OF Mr.. Hunters substitute for the Homestead BILL
Thai measure neither prctends to theoretical periec-
,iop nor contemplate OIL original and absolute beile-
III. Ii is avowe,ily an e~xpedicl,, by which Il measure
at prea, and unmixed evil is defeated and superseded
bv n measure which asserts II" perniric'is principle,
md which atones for necessary nnpcrtection 10y indus
putablc and essential advantages. II is in this reid
lion tia, we must consider the bill. To contrast II
with some scheme of ideal excellence, and 10 con-
denim il because il falls short of our arbitrary stand
ard. i either to bctray n very inibcral spirit or n very
r.rvor,r.l ;u: -ment. We are not 10 consider whether II
would hc possible, under me most favorable circunl'
stances 10 project Il better plan, but whether in the
present emergency one could be devised so we'll adapt
ed 10 serve lis purpose. 50 certain nj success and 81
little mutilated br unwise and pernicious provisions.
Is Mr.. Hunters substitute less obnoxious than the
original Homestead Bill! This is the issue-thatthc
alternative. We do not propose at present TO exhaust
The argument o II this measure, but simply to recon-
mend i, 10 the favor of the South by indicating some
points Of advantageous comparison with the original
bill.
In the first place, and this is sufficient of itself to
determine the issue, Mr. Hunters substitute
saves the country from that miSehievous
principle of the Homestead bill which as
serts i; +" be the duty Ut government 10 sup
ply til" wants of the lazy aud improvident. II
NAV be that the substitute exacts n tr'tiing c"mpensa'
ton, but even n nominal compensation excludes the
aCrarian idea OF ..land 10 the landlcss."
The benefit OF the Homestead bill was not restrict
ed 10 the citizens of this country, hut being freely eS-
tended 10 the alien, would have impaired all eStraor'
binary stimulus 10 immigration, aud have speedily
subjected The South 10 the Irresistible prepondcrul!c,
OF the North. Mr.. Hunters hill confines i1 benefits
TO such ns may avail themselves of the privileges OF
the present system.
The homestead Bill squandcrcd the public domain,
on unworthy objects, and for miscellaneous purposes
without any possibility OF equivalent advantage
Mr.. Hunters scheme, 10y giving n riSht"i prc-enlp,
ton to the States, by elHaIlia4r6t.a:rTS Of the
homesieaAe public lands, not only appropr'ntes them
10 wise purposes, but iusurcs Il more profitable return
10 the treasury than under the present system.
Fin, the great advantage of Mr.. Hunters bill
that which distinguishes it so f~avorably from every
other kindred measure, and comments it 80 i"rcibiy
20 tnS HUpIbDttlpH W INV '"''s
Withdrawing the question Of the disposition OF the
public lands from the halls Of Congress, md from 'he
contentious al federal politics. As far back as 1885,
when Mr.. Calhoun proposed a plan for the ccssi"n "i
the public lands, very similar To MI. hunt'~ = hiii'
that grcat statesman held this language: 81 desire
that this government shall cease to hold the relation
of landlord. l wish to draw this Great fund tine
public lands, tout ofthc vortex Of the Presidential con-
test. The country has been sufficiently acitatcd, de-
based and corrupted by the influence of that contest.
seek to remove the immense amount OF patronage
connected with the management of this domain. j
seek 10 coun,cract the ccn,ru!:sm, which tx the Sreat
danger Of this governments, ant thereby to preserve
the liberties of the people, These results, so Hnx-
iously anticipated by Mr.. Calhoun in lS6, are all ac-
comp!isled by Mr.. Hunters bin.
Besides its effect ms q measure Of legislation, Mr..
Hunters Bill will render an important service TO the
country in preserving the organization and asccndarl-
cy Of the Democratic purity. Whether the Home
stead Bill had been approved or rejected by the Pre-
sident. n schiSm in the party would hnvc been the
inevitable consequence. But Mr.. Hunter has lappi-
" parried the blow. and 10y presenting n measure
upon which the whole party will unite, III indicated
by the unanimous Democratic vote OF the Senate, has
won a triumph in the very cxtrcmi,; of division and
defeat. Nor is this all. Without any sacrifice of
principle or consistency, he has attached the Dcmoc.
racy OF the Northwest 10 the interests of the South
by the strongest obligations of gratitude. They have
ever been our faithful allies, and deserve much III
reward Of past service. This measure, 80 dear to
their feelings and SO importan; 10 their interests, will
not be the less appreciated from the quarter whence il
comes. They will accept it ia a concession from the
magnnnimitv ofthe South, which never forgcts & favor
nor fails To serve a friend.
As the highest strategic skill il shown in escaping
from the disasters Of defeat aud in converting rcver-
SEES Into victory, SO the most consummate siatcsinan.
ship is Illustrated in measures which,, like this
Bill, display an incNhaushble fertility Of resource und
a resolution never 10 despair OF the republic. Wher
the passage of the Homestead Bill was regarded rs
inevitable, and s~agaci"us men Were overwhelmed i'll
the contemplation of its mischicvous consequences,
Mr.: Hunter dcviScs n substitute which nverts the cu.
lamitv, and forever settles Il difficult and dangerous
p~rot!cn OF public policy.
The House OF Representatives will doubtless pass
the bill withou; difficulty ar delay.
->H.---
STRENGTH OF TIE KNOw-NOTHINGS.
The best ~cxpedient for recruiting the ranks Of any
association, is by exasccratins its power; vet. some
otthe public Journals, while affecting a great drtesta,ion
OF tie secret society of the kno'r- No,a'ncs. speak OF
them in q tone Of respect which Indicates any other
feeling than hostility. Thus, these papers tell us
thut lie Kno~-.N othincs nre already very numerous.
and ,ha, they arc destined 10 contml tho politics OF