Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1855-08-04

iollONos
In Porte, Ind, July 18th.
FRuNes LoNetuY - have spent four weeks
occurring on Land Reform and Education in Tip.
qccanoc, Benton, Warren and Montgomery coun-
ties, lying in the central western section of Indi-
ana. Tho soil of these countries is first rate, and
most OF the population remarkably ontcrprising
aud Intelligent. God has most abundantly blessed
this region, but man has most wrctchcdly cursed
1t. The spoculator seized it with u most reckless
indifference to the right Of all ma nkind to what
was created for all. The settlers generally have
farms OF three hundred to fifteen hundred acres,
on which to subsidize the labor Of from two to
six Of their fellow men, who, under a just, sound
system, would cultivate their own farms. But far
more destructive is the non resident Land Spccula-
tor, who holds his monopolics at torbidding prices
the ycritablc dogs in the manger that cannot
cat tho hay and will not let the OK.
Mr.. Ellsworth, Of Lafayette, CONTROLS a million
of aeres-more or less--and holds it at from five
to fifteen dollars per acro-the most of which he
entered on Land Warrants at 50 cents per acre.
Mr.. Sullivant, late of Columbus, o.. has purchased
seventy-fvc thousand acres in Illinois. MIR. Sur.
CESS, of GAINESVILLE, recently entered two hundred
thousand acres in the same State. Mr.. Strawn Of
jacksonville, Ill, has about one hundred Thousand
acres. Mr.. Grover, of Langsport, has about one
hundred thousand acres il the northern countries
of Indiana, which he holds it from throe to thirty
dollars per acre. Those are but shout hall Of the
extensive monupolists Of whom | have heard since
coming to this region.
NOW, 10 HluStfdIc HOW IL ,WOGhS. IN ftnC UTst
place it is said that the son-in-law Of Mr.. Ellis
worth stands between the Ian d surveyors and the
spectators OF the east. lchas an 7 %angcmcnt with
the surveyors by which they designate on their
maps all the most valuable sections, aud this SON
in.law having good credit with eastern capitalists
though the influence of his father, enters land for
them on commission, saving the expense and trOu-
bic Of 4 trip by this arrangement with the sur
veyors! Is not this a pretty transaction? | give
this from rumor. 1t looks plausible enough, for
aa,4nialnra arn ,nutr thn tlnn no tho lanpt
wherever they can according to law. Let the peo-
pie correct the lawl Again:
A poor man goes west in search of q quarter
section. lie must walk about two hundred miles
from the nearest depot or landing to find u vacant
tract, for the Spectator is in advance of ciyiliza-
ton from fifty to two hunded miles. Having Sc
lected his quarter section, the poor man walks
one hundred miles, to reach the land office.
Having arrived at the Office, he signifies to the
agent his choice, and desires to have his right in
time recognized. But in some Offices the agents
are 6ri6ed by the spectators, and instead of wait
ing upon each man in his turn, they pursue a very
different course to secure the advantage to the
land sharks, whose hunger cannot be satiated by
whole hecatombs of human victims. The agent
calls up his business by counties townships, ranges
and sections, and those who have made selections,
present themselves as their respective townships
are called. A county is named, and perhaps one
says he will enter the whole, while there may
DE twenty poor men who have selected quarter sec
hibhA ~ bAhS NCuhNAJ " wv Luz
it is all given over to the Spectator, even though
these poor men were before him in time! But
worse than this. There is a class of cormorants
hanging about the Offices, who never look for land,
neither do they expect to make an entry. And
yet, these men make money! How? They pry
into the business Of these poor mcn-gct their
Confidencc-fnd out where they have made selec-
tons; and when the township is called in which
their sclectionsilie, one of these worse than thieves
presents himself to enter the whole township; and
tha nnOr Inborprs whO have mn1n selpctinns at
perhaps fifty dollars expense, find themselves head
ed. Their money SO far spent that they can
not look again, and what can they do? Their
hearts almost fail them, when 10 this devil hu-
namely offers to let them enter their quater Sec
tons by paying him TIVE nty, thirty or fifty dollars
for his eondcscension And yet DR.. Crane thinks
Land Reform is a humbug! In the name of hui
mainly, Doctor, think a little before prostituting
your talent to bolster up q system under which
the poor laborcr is so much abused! And yet the
enemy of Land Reform says that any industrious
man can get land at the west with no difficulty !!
Wea plains is a township of most beautiful land,
ten miles west of Layfayette. On the t~hirty-ive
thousand acres there are but twenty landowners.
The remainder of tho population are renders al
four dollars per acre. In one school district there
arc but two permanent settlers owning land, and
no school can be sustained. The wealthy settlers
can afford to send their children away to school,
and they seem to care little for the education of
renters children. Non resident land holders draw
about $780, 900 from these plains annually, while
COP says that the cultivator Of the soil should have
all he produces. Mr.. Ellsworth monopolizcs near
ly all of Benton county, a large portion of War
rem, and considerable of Tipecanoe. lie sold n
farm to 4 man Il year or two since, and now the
purchaser wishes to sell at even less than what he
gave, because he feels himself n social being, and
Mr.. Ellsworth keeps him walled in solitude by
his monopoly. His children need education, and
Mr.. Ellsworth keeps him five miles from the school
house. In himself, as n man, he will not longer
cRdure this social crucifixion, and as a father he
will not see his children growing up in barbarism
And yet Mr.. Ellsworth is called the friend of Edu-
cation! Make the most you can of the opposition
of popes and priests to Education, and you will
find them not half as destructive enemies of thi:
glorious, cause are as the land monopolists! The
spectators pursue a systematic plan of scattering
the settlers as much as possible, SO as to raise tn
value of their unsold lands to the highest notch
On Land Reform principles, the settlers would BIZ
in compact neighborhoods and could start the frs
year with q good school. Is DR.. Crane u popisl
priest, that he persists in opposing Education by
attempting to ridicule Land Reform. Shame
Doctor, shame! especially when the right of every
man to earth, air and water Is Il natural right tC
tie extent Of his natural demands, and no fur
Their.
While in Benton county, DR.. Atkins of West
Point who. was so Kind az to take many roundin his
buggy for ten days, in addition to my other gen
crosities) and myself stopped ever night in one Of
the landlords novels, constructed for renters. In
the afternoon it stormed, and the rain was driven
through the roof and sides of the hut, so as to
drench the beds and floor, and put out the fire in
the stove. Think Of such a scene in cold weather
where six small children are freezing and crying
The room was about fourteen feet square, and
there were ten of US to lodge in three beds. One
side Of our bed was wet through by the tempest
and ! was wrapped in various blankets to be com
Portable. The renter and his wife were inteligon
had been unfortunate, but hope soon to get them
~-selyes 2 home. Behold the beauties of land Mo
enopoly' Oh Doctor, give it up-you never vii
Gle younger.
The poet James G. Percival holds the Office o
State. Geologist of Wisconsin, having been appoint
cd by Governor Barstow about a year ago, sine
which he has resided there. A newspaper CORES