Washington sentinel., 1854-04-25

promise that they should be the owners Of
lands, performed this journey, expelled and ex.
terminated more numerous and powerful ma
ton than themselves, with "cities great and
fenced up to heaven" - Deuteronomy, chapter
3, verse IL
Mr.. President, so long as this people kept
these laws and observed this policy, they con-
stantly progressed in power and greatness, and
bid defiance to all the surrounding barbarous
nations, though many times more numerous
and powerful than they but so soon as they
ceased to observe this policy and these laws,
and allowed their lands to be absorbed by the
few the common soldiers having nothing to
fight for,) they became prey to surrounding
nations, their homes were desolated, and their
people became captives in foreign lands.
call the history of Sparta to the notice OF
senators. For many years the Spartans had
been distracted and overcome by their enemies
In every engagement, and reduced to abiect
weakness, till "Lycurgus, eight hundred and
eighty-four years before Christ, destroyed all
distinctions; and, by making an equal division
OF the land of Ldconia among the members oil
the Commonwealth, he banished luxury and
encouraged the useful arts" Luxury was ban
ished, and the useful arts were encouraged by
the division of the lands. But this was not all
warm, burning glowing and ardent patriotism
and never met or suffered reverse in war till
the battle of Leuctra-a period of five hundred
and twelve years. Here, then, may be seen, in
bold relief, the direct effects and advantages oi
the ownership of lands by the mass of the peo
pie. Nor did this defeat happen till they had
in substance, abandoned the laws of Lycurgus
In my deliberate judgment $l,0O0,000 thus
appropriated is worth more than 500, 00O
expended in fortifcations and standing armies
An instance in the history of Rome may be
referred to-
After all the lands and wealth Of that mighty
empire had been absorbed into the hands of q
few aristocratic patricians, enervated and effem.
mated by excessive luxury, idleness, and de-
bauchery, and the plebeia,s were reduced to
beggary and almost to starvation, and after
the failure Of the Gracchi and others to divide
the lands among the masses, Rome was threat
ened-yes, was actually involved in war, and
her very citadel reduced to imminent danger
and out of her immense population she could
not raise troops to defend herself Then the
patrlcians appealed to the oppressed ple6eians
to rise, take arms and defend their country; but
the plebeians' reply was "ace have no country
Why should zoe shed our blood and give ON
lives for Rome when she gives us only misery
and degradation?"
Here, Mr.. President, is glaring instance OF
national weakness from national injustice, from
the want OF coupling patriotism with an interest
II the lands had been divided among the masses
Rome would never have wanted soldiers or de-
tenders.
Mr. President, the Egyptian and his laws
have disappeared. The Jews forsook the law
that was given them amidst the reverberations
of the thunders of Sinai, and fell. The Spar
tans suffered their lands to be absorbed by the
few, and they were swept from the face Of the
earth. Rome pursued her course of oppression
to the toiling masses, and nothing remains of
her former greatness and grandeur but her de-
cayed and decaying monuments, statues and
temples
Mr. President, like causes will produce like
effects. With what warning voice do these
historic "reminiscences come to us? They are
suggestive of words that would fill large vol
umes but | will not enlarge or detain the
Senate Let us take heed and avoid the rock
on which they split, by an early division Of our
public lands among those who will occupy and
cultivate them; and thus you will avoid the
answer of the plebeians to the patricians Of
Rome, and at all times have an army willing
and efficient in time Of need Give to the coun-
try an army of land owners and cultivators and
we may successfully bid defiance to the world
in arms.
We have vast unoccupied and uncultiyated
tracts Of lands, and they must remain SO for
long years to come, unless we adopt this policy;
and, as the lands are no longer needed as q
source of revenue to the government, let us
make this wise disposition Of them that has
proved so advantageous to other countries.
And now, Mr.. President, if have not and
cannot convince the judgments of senator's that
this is wise, prudent, and statesmanlike policy,
let me appeal to their pity, justice, and hu-
manity and oh that ! had thousand elo.
quent tongues to make, that appeal with! Pass
this bill, and hear the prayers and blessings of
millions of honest hearts ascend to heaven in
your behalf
Is there a senator here, who, if in his declin-
ing years should find one man surrounded by
family Of children who by the operation of
this bill had been raised from poverty, want,
and wretchedness to comfort prosperity, and
happiness, would not feel fully rewarded, and
in his heart thank God that he had been in
strumental in producing so happy result, and
that he had voted for so benign law JUS
tice requires what wisdom dictates. Let it be
done.