M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1860-10-11

the mcnetOry affairs of the country
Whenever the country is prosperous,
imports are large and money is plenty,
every speculator will fill his pockets
with cash, go West and buy up the
public lands in vast quantities. We
then get revenue Of ten, twenty or
twenty-five millions Of dollars a year
into the treasury, from the sale of
Public Lands, at the very time we do
not want it, because we have a sur.
plus without it, but the moment hard
times come, the imports fall of, the
banks curtail their issues and money
is scarce, not q dollars worth of land
Is sold, and the treasury becomes
bankrupt for wantoi money. esSound
doctrine.D Hence the land system
brings money to the treasury when
we do not want it. (Laughter.)
therefore would change our whole
land system and never have another
sale OF public lands in the world
wGood.'O would apply the pre-.
emption law, by which each settler
may go and take up his land, build
his home, live upon it and cultivate it,
and then get his title, and l would not
let any man get title who was not
an actual settler upon the land
"That's it," and applauSe)
did dot intend 10 refer to this sub.
ject, and would not have done so, but
for the fact that have'been informed
that the small leaders of the Republi-
cans have beer representing me as not
being in favor Of the Homestead bill.
(Crics of "that's true" "They have,"
&c)
DEsPoT's REASONS.
But these Repub licans tell you thai
slavery is wrong, that it is great
crime, even more ruinous to the
white man than to the negro, and
therefore it must be put down at all
hazards everywhere. My answer tc
that proposition is this, that in every
free country the people must be per
mitted to determine for themselves
what institutions are right and wha
are wrong. The right to decide
whether a law is wise or unwise
whether an institution is just or un
just, is a fundamental principle o
self. government the world over. Th
tyrants and enemies of free govern
lnent always resort to this same argu
ment that you must not allow tn
people to decide for themselves fol
fear they will make bad laws
daughter and applause.) Ask thu
Emperor of Austria why he does no
allow his German subjects to have
voice IN making the laws under which
they live, and he will toll you hC
would be glad to do so but for til,
fact that the people would ruin them
selves by bad laws if he only gavo
them the chance. daughter and ap
plause) Go down into Naples, anC
if you can find him, inquire of tina
t fugitive Bourbon why he did not per
init his people to have a voice in tn,
making Of their laws and he will Civ
you the same answer. Then pas
over into old England, the countr,
that boasts Of its freedom, and inquir
of its aristocracy why they deprived
Ireland other separate parliament anC
deprived her Of the right Of self.gov
ernment at home, and their answe
will be that the Irish would have ru
ined themselves by bad laws if the,
had the chance given them. From
there come to America and inquire O
Mr.. Seward, and Mr.. Lincoln, an,
Father Giddings, and other leaders c
the Republican party, why they d
no: allow the people OF the America
Territories to decide the slavery ques
tion for themselves and they will te
You that they would surely ruin them
selves by adopting slavery. (Ar
:, , plause aud laughter.) 1t is plain tha
whenever you interfere with the gres
> right OF every people to decide fl
: themselves what laws and institution
! are beat adapted to their happines:
, you strike down the fundaments
prin ciple OF selfgovernment.- =
C'True.
! II 2 We have In nnr hnnsnhnl