Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-06-28

c0mplish the objects of the Government and in this
manner all the States are benefited in just proper.
ton. But to give this common Inheritance away
would deprive the old States Of their Just proper
ton Of this revenue, without holding out any the
least, corresponding advantage. Whist it is our
glory that the States have become so prosperous
aad populous, there IS no good reason why the old
States should offer premiums 70 their own citizens
to emigrate from them to the Vest That land Of
promise presents in itself Sufficient allurements to
our young and enteFprising citizens, without any
adventurous aid. The offer Of free farms would
probably have powerful effect in encouraging
emigration, especially from States ike Illinois, Ten
nessee, and Kentucky to the west Of the Mississippi
and could not fail 70 reduce the price Of property
within their limits. An individual in States thus
situated would not pay its fair value for land when,
BY crossing the Mississippi he could 90 upon the
public lands, and obtain a farm almost without
money and without price
6. This bill viii open one vast field for speculation.
Men win not pay 81 % for lands, when they can
purchase them for one fifth Of that price. Large
numbers Of actual settlers viii be carried out by
capitalists upon agreements to give them half of the
land for the improvement Of the other half This
cannot be avoided. Secret agreements of this kind
viii be numerous. In the enirf of graduated lands,
the experinee of the Land Office justifes this OBJ
/ lection.
Z. We ought ever to maintain the most perfect
equality between native and naturalized citizens.
/ They are equal, and ought always to remain equal
| before the laws. Our laws welcome foreigners to
our Shores and their rights will ever be respected.
/ Whilst these are the sentiments on which l have
acted through life it Is not my opinion. expedienb
to proclaim to all the nations Of the earth that who
ever shall arrive in this country, from a foreign
shore, and declare his intention to become citizen
shall receive farm of one hundred and sixty acres
at cost oftwenty-fve twenty cents an acre, if
he will only reside it and cultivate it. The invi-
tation extends to all and if this bill becomes law
we may have numerous actual settlers from China
and other eastern nations, enjoying its benefits on
the great Pacific Slope The bill makes a distine-
ton IN favor of such persons over native and
naturalized citizens When applied to such ctlZens,
it is confined TO such the heads of families;
but when applicable to persons Of foreign BIRTH re-
Gently arrived our shores, there IS no such re-
! strlctlOn. Such persons need not be the heads OF
families, provided they have fled declaration Of
intention to become citizens. Perhaps this distinc-
ton was inadyertance but it is, nevertheless,
part of the bill.
! 8. The bill creates an unjust distinction between
persons claiming the presumption laws. Whilst 1t
reduces the price Of the land to existing preemptOrs
to siXty-twO and a. half cents per acre, and gives
them credit on this sum for two years from the
present date no matter how long they may have
hitherto enjoyed the land, future pre-emptors viii be
compelled to pay double this price per acre There
is no reason or justice in this discrimination.
9. The effect Of this bill the public revenue
must be apparent TO all. Should it become law
the reduction of the price of land to actual settlers
to twenty-five cents per acre, with credit of five
years. and the reduction Of its price to existing pre-
emptOrs to sixty-twO and q half cents per acre,
with credit of two years, will so diminish the sale
of other public lands to render the expectation Of
future revenue from that source beyond the expenses
ofsurvey and management illusOry. The Secretary
of the Interior estimated the revenue from the pub
lie lands for the next fiscal year at S4000,000, on
the presumption that the present land system would
remain unchanged. Should this bill become a law,
he does not believe that 81 100000 will be derived
from this source.
10. This bill lays the axe at tae root of our present
admirable land system. The public land IS an in
heritance of vast value to US and to our descend
ants. II Is a resource to which we can resort in
the hour of difficulty and danger. 1t has been man
aged heretofore with the greatest wisdom, under
existing laws. In this management, the rights OF
actual settlers have been cOnciated with the inter-
estsOf the Government The price to all has been re-
reduced from 81 per to 81 % fresh lands, and
the claims of actual settlers have been secured by
our pre-. emptiOn laws. Any man c9n now acquire
title in fee-simple to homestead Of eighty acres,
at the minimum price Of 81 % per acre, Tor SlOJ.
Should the present system remain, we shall derive
a revenue from the public lands Of Sl0OO0,0OO per
annum when the bounty land warrants are satisfied,
without oppression to any human being. In time
of war when all other sources of revenue are seri
ously impaired, this will remain intact. 1t may
become the best security for public loans hereafter
in times of difficulty and danger, It has been here
tofore. Why should we impair o. destroy this sys-
TEN at the present moment? What necessity exists
for it?
The people of the United States have advanced
with steady but rapid strides to their present con-
diton of power and prosperity. They have been
guided in their progress by the fixed principle Of
protecting the equal rights Of ALL whether they be
rich or poor. No agrarian sentiment has ever pre-
vailed among them. The honest poor man, by fru-
gality and industry can in any part Of country
acquire a competence for himself and his family,
and in doing this he feels that he eats the bread Of
independence. He desires no charity, either from
the Government or from his neighbOrs This bill
which proposes to give him land at almost nOmi-
nal price out of the property Of the Government
will go far to demoralize the people, and repress
this noble spirit Of independence. 1t may introduce
among us those pernieious social theories which
have proved so disastrous in other countries.
JAMES BUCHANAN