The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-06-13

That piece of political joinery, commonly called
"platform," used to be turned out only by the
master workmen of the shop in which it was man.
ufactured. So much skill was required to fit
smooth and knotty points together, and so much
Judgment demanded when the superfcies was TO be
adjusted, that it would have been deemed the
height Of folly TO entrust the job TO any but first
rate hands. But now whether from carelessness
about the work, or the want of good men TO do il,
we know not, things have changed and few
iOurneymen furnish, at short notice. rough floor
ing, in place of the neater and more shapely ones
to which we were heretofore accustomed.
The Republican Convention in Ohio has Just
constructed platform which is said to be 'em-
'inently satisfactory to the delegates from all
"sections" of that State. The reporter further re-
marks at is well that the views of the extremists
''did not prevail from which we are led to infer
that the opinions endorsed by the majority are of
the most rational and moderate character Per-
haps we are unusually hard to please in such mat
tiers, but must confess that we can see little in
the principles put FORTH which is calculated to per-
petuate ''the proud heritage of American insttu-
"tons' for which the Convention processes to en-
terrain the profoundest reverence.
As one of the objects they are bent upon accom-
plishing, they announce
Tha the people of Ohio demand reorganization of the
Judicial circuits of the United States and that they be
constituted to give to section of the confedera
cy its just and equal voice in the Supreme Court"
1t is time indeed that the term conservatism
should mean something more than a barren gene
rality if any considerable political party can adj
vocate such propositions as are necessarily embo-
al in 4,a II
less than that the decisions of the highest of our
legal tribunals shall be in future but the indexes
of the popular feeling of the passing hour and
more than this, that sectional procvites are to be
reflected from the Judgment seat, whence only the
sworn conscience of the Judge should speak. If
the Court is 10 be but the solemn interpreter of the
law, what matters it from what qnarter its men,
bers came? If it acts unfairly corruptly, let it
be exposed, but not by men who clamor for its re-
construction on a basis so false, and who proceed
motives so impure. Why ''give to every sec
'tion its just and equal voice." unless those sec
tional voices are to re-echo from the bench the
partzan cries of their constituencies. Sectional
voices can only be needed for sectional purposes,
and these it is no part of american Institutions
TO foster. We marvel at the unbushing effrontery
of men, who in one breath accuse the Supreme
Court of having been swayed in a single case by
local partalities or prejudices, and in another
propose TO make obedience to the ever-changing
passions Of sectional majorities its only rule of
action.
The Convention having, upon this and other
points, provided for one class of the popula-
ton, 1t became necessary TO make some acceptable
accommodation pf ind 'ba
following resolution, therefore, among others
equally attractive and benevolent, found a place
in this schedule of the political capital or effects
of the concern:
THAT we are in favor of granting settlers one
we do most unquaifedly course of the pro
slavery Democracy in Congress in opposing and defeating
in the United States Senate the Homestead Bill which
was designed to free homes for poor men, whether
of native or foreign birth"
As ''poor men Of native and foreign birth" have
been no more instrumental than those who are
not comprehended within either of these classes
in acquiring for the country its magnificent do
main, there is no valid reason why they should
be exclusively benefited by its distribution.
From the sales of public lands there is brought
into the treasury large sum- which but for
this resource, would have to be collected by some
indirect taxation, and the richest man among us
is entitled to reap advantage from the national
wealth as well as the most INDECENT Such eeis-
laton is uncalled for in order to insure the randi
development of our territories for to those of our
people who may contemplate emigratng thiher
the inducements are already ample The actual
settler who honestly desires to establish himself upon
ii little farm in the Western wids, can now choose
his own location and the right of pre-emption,
and the small price demanded by the Government
give TO every industrious and prudent man the
assurance that he can one day become if he peases
the absolute owner of the property. Terms so
advantageous are offered 10 poor men, in no
other quarter of the civilized world. Apart from
these considerations there is another feature about
the Homestead Bill which renders it still more
Objectionable. We aliude to the tendency among
politicians that has been, and in connection with
this identical Bill, very perceptible, which is to
give to the phrase ''actual settlers much wider
Interpretation than the words themselves would
warrant a very popular species of legislation
Is that which opens the public purse to needy
voters, and we fear the passage of law is not
impossible, under whose loose provisions numbers
OF persons who never intended to occupy or
work them, could claim title each to his hmm.
dred acres, and then throw it in the market like
the bounty land warrants of a few years back.
All these plausible schemes for the immediate
settlement of our vacant lands have heretofore
come to nought, and under the Homestead Bill as
we have no doubt it would eventually be drafted,
thousands of dollars would pass into the pockets
of the people of the Western States and the vast
mass of the land titles, be transferred to specula
tors. When the Convention therefore in express
ing its approval of 1.-THE course of the Hon. B. F.
WADE in the United States Senate, and of the
Republican members Of Congress, in their able
advocacy OF the interests of the poor man, in
"urging the passage of the Homestead Bill" it
is evident from the great stress laid upon the
'interests OF the poor MANI that his vote was ex-