Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-06-08
THE PATRIOT ON THE HOMESTEAD
IlIL.L.


sing specimen Of editorial logic which be asks US to
republish. Row We have great respect for the high
character which cur neighbor has acquired as an
adrOi and slnful reasoner, and shouldsbe sorry to
do anything to impair HIS well earned reputation.
We are therefore unwilling to give this article any
more extensive circulation than it has already OBJ
tanned through the columns Of the Patriot We &C.
quit the Patriot, however Of any intention to ipjure
Gov. JOHNSON. The readers Of that paper have
doubtless the same confidence il the ability Of their
organ which We entertain, and viii conclude,
that, If any. substantial objection could be urged
against Gov. JoHNsONs Homestead policy, the Pa
ti0t would have presented it. We should not be
surprised if our neighbors article converted all his
admirers into ardent and Jealous supporters Of this
measure. Certainly be could perform better ser
vice for the Bill and its author, than BY publishing
such extracts from Gov. JoHEsON's speech as his
last paper contains, accompanied by similar editO-
rial comments.
The Patriot thinks Gov. JoHEsoE is unfortunate
in recommending his bill on the ground that it win
'attach the people to the SOIL induce them to love
the Government. BE denounces The policy as an
attempt to bride individuals "iuto support Of cur
institutions By public bounty, and in order to pro-
duce an apparent conflict between Gov JOHNSON
and ourselves he quotes The following Paragraph from
cur remarks the repeal Of the fishing bOunties:
sNo it see ms to us that no State or section should
be bribed TO adhere to the confederacy If there is
not patriotism and dsinterestedness enough in New
England to bind them 10 their sister States without
making them pensioners upon the government they
are not worth retaining. If the allegiance they owe
20 the Union has no other tenure than public plun-
der, higher motive than aEarice, then we should
not regret separation. The nsdon is disgrsced by
the association"
By reference 10 the article from which this pas
sage is TAKEN it viii be ssen that we were replying
to a suggestion Of the Louisville Journals that the
withdrawal Of these bounties would weaken the
bonds which bind The people Of New England to the
Union. We stin maintain the position there as
sumed, but admit our inability to perceive any SINH
larity between the policy recommended by Governor
JOHNSON, and that advocated by the Journal Gov.
J. proposes to grant 70 any person who is the head
Of afamily and citizen Of the United States home
stead OF $50 acres Of land out of the public domain
provided he viii occupy and cultivate the same
ffor period Of i've years; and urges as one rea-
son among others for the adoption Of this measure
that we shall thereby increse the number Of land
holders in the country, and that this class Of men
furnishes the best, the most reliable and patriotic
citizens. The fishing bounty, the other hand is
amere gratuity, given to the ship-oWuers Of New
England, who are engaged in catching Goldfish for
the market, and the Journal contends that the re
peal Of this bounty would weaken the bonds of
Union. Governor Johnson wishes to improve and
elevate the character of our population 70 make our
citizens WISE good, and patriotic and thus conri-
butte to the prosperity Of the nation. The Journal
would persuade US to foster and support particu-
lar class Of citizens in particular section of the
Union at the expense Of the whole country forfear
that they viii seeede from the Union, should we
withhold from them this unreasonable gratuity.
The Patriot would have its readers believe that the
principle involved in these two measures is the
same, and that in oOndemning the policy Of hiring
the New England States to adhere to the Union, we
should also condemn Gov. JoHNsoN's scheme Of
building up an agricultural population in our new
terrific ries as a means of improving the condition
and the character Of our citizens We feel confident
that the Patriot will deceive none of its readers By
such reasoning as this. We are only surprised that
1t succeeded in deceiving itself That our Senator's
views this branch Of the subject may be fairly
understood We present the following paragraphs
from his speech:
When you look country as it is, you see that
1t is important that the great mass Of the people
should be interested in the country. By this bill
you provide q man with home, you increase the
revenue, you increase lne consumption OF home
manufactures, and you make him better man; you
give him interest in the country his condit on is
better. There is no man reliable as he who is In
terested in the welfare Of his country; and who are
more interested than those who have homes? When
q man has home, he has deeper, more abiding
interest in the country and he is more reliable in
al things that pertain to the Government. He is
moro reliable when he goes to the ballot-box he is
moro rsliabe in sustaining the stability Of free
institutions
Having this illustrious example before US, we
should be warned by it. Our true policy is to build
up the middle class; 10 sustain the villages to popu-
late he rural districts, and let the power Of this Gov
ernment remain with tho middle class. I want no
miserable city Tabble on the one hand / want no
pampered bl0ated corrupted arstocracy the other
Iwan the middle portion Of society built up and
tanned, and let them have the control Of the Gov
eminent. / @ much opposed to anrarianism
as any Senator on this floor or any individual in the
United States and this bill does not partake in the
slightest degree Of Bgraianism; but the contrary,
1t commences with man at the precise point where
agrariansm ends and it carries him up in an ascen-
ding line, while that carries him down 1t gives
him an interest in his country, interest in public
affairs; and when you involved in war; in insur-
rection, or rebellion, or danger Of any kind they
are the men who are 10 sustain you Ii you should
have occasion to call volunteers into the service Of
the country you will have population Of men having
homes, wives and children TO care for who will defend
their besrthstones when invaded What sacred
thing It's 10 q 10 feel that he has hearhstone
TO defend; home, aud wife and children to care
for and to rest satisfied that they have an abiding
place. Such a is interested individually
IN repeling invasion; he is interested individually
IN having good government
Now, if this policy be denounced as a bride to
induce the indyidual to support our institutions,
what would be said Of public schools, the diffusion
of useful knowledge among the people, and other
similar means Of improving the population of the
country. We believe the Patriot advocates the es-
adjustment Of Free Schools to be supported by a
distribution OF the public lands and We are quite
certain that in sustaining this policy he argued that
education would benefit the whole country by giving
it better, more intelligent and patriotic class of
citizens. Is not this offering bride to the little
boys and girls of the country, neghbor, to attach
them TO the institutions Of their country? Are you
not hiring the people of the State to observe the
laws end respect the government, by giving them
opportunity of obtaining an education free Of
charge? Consistency requires that if you denouuce
Gov. JOHSsoN's plan for improving our population
as a bride, you shoUld include the Common Schools
and free instruction in the same category
With reference to another objection which the