The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-23
For the National Era
LAND REFORM-ITS CONNECTION WITH
AMERICAN AGRICULTURE.


FOR the National Era
LAND REFoRM-ITs CONNECTION WITH
AMERICAN AGRICULTURE.
Next to American Slavery, the subject OF
Land Reform, or the donation of the public
lands, in limited quantities, to actual settlers,
demands the immediate consideration OF the
American People If 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 the present ratio of increase of
population of these United States, it is plain to
see, not many centuries can elapse, before
this whole American continent will become as
densely populated as is any portion of the Old
| World
IL is 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
1t 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 1e50 % 10000
| Whole number of square miles
| of the United States and Ter
/ ritories 100000
| Whole number Of acres 1900, 900 900
| Number to the square mile, in 1850, 10 !;
one century hence, 100; two centuries, $500.
| Number of acres to each in 1850, 90; one cen.
fury hence a; two centuries, Il. Population
one century hence, four hundred n,illions two
| centuries hence six billion four undred mil.
lions.
One of two things is inevitable either the
ratio of increase will diminish, or such q result
will follow. Taking into account the constant
ly increasing influx Of population from abroad
/ together with the abolition of the great caases
Of depopulation, such as war, intemperan ce,
American Slavery, (for we intend to have it
abolished and a 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 iguorance-so sure as the
millennial reign of justice mercy, and truth,
is 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
1t should be remembered, that as a 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 J.; but when, under our progressive system |
of popular education, these laws are better IN |
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 |
little more than tenth of cur 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 a population
and resources exceeding some of the original
members of the Confederacy. We now mum.
Der thirty. one States and six Territories, with
a population of about twenty i've millions.
We have said that the whole number of
square miles of the United States and Terrific
res is about $500 000-1 500, 900 900 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 a 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 the
portion of others
We do not suppose that every individual is
to become a landholder, but we do suppose that
all who wish to become 30, slould have the
privilege; and, to this end, equal privileges
should be extended TO all
We hold that every individual, unless he has
forfeited il, possesses an inherent right to por-
ton of the soil. The dictates of sound nation
al policy, as we'll as of justice and equity,
clearly indicate that these rights should be
exercised.
The same causes which have produced the
system of landlordism in Europe, which has
been productive of such vast amount of mis-
cry, and which has driven so many thousands
to our own shores, are, to a certain extent in
existence here, and WILL if not removed, ulf-
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 a great moneyea ariStocr0cy 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 stren-
uous exertions that the advocates of free labor
and free trade can at all 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
a vast amount Of territory as the only sure
means of aft riding to the slave States mar
ket for their surplus cattle. Prohibit, by timely
legislation this tendency to excessive land mo-
nopoly, and you strike an effectual blow
against Slavery.
True craftsmanship looks to ultimate conse-
quences. We discourse largely and eloauently
upon the evils which afi.ct the laboring classes
in the Old World, while, at the same time we
are fostering the same or similar causes which |
produced them.
The agricultural interests Of this nation de-
mGnd restrictive measures upon this subject |
Destined as America is to become the future
home of almost countless millions of human |
beings, it becomes matter of the greatest i'm
portance that the inherent right to portion |
Of the soil should not become alienated. 1t is |
one of the plaiDest dictates of reason and COM |
mon sense, that those pursuits which contribute |
most essentially to the public welfare should
receive the greatest amount of Government
patronage. That art upon which thousand
T. \