The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-03-22

usage. and hallowed by gray age. Itis =
claim that had its origin with The kindred
idea that royal blood flows only in the veins
Of an exclusive few, whose souls are more
ethereal, because born amid the glitter of
courts. and cradled amid the pomp of lords
and courtiers; and. therefore. they are to be
installed IS rulers and lawgivers of the race
Most of the evils that affec, society have had
their origin in violence and wrong enacted in
to law by the experience of the pas. aud re-
tained by the prejudices Of the present.
! 10 it not time tbs. you swept from your sta
tute book lis still lingering relics of feudal-
isms blotted out the principles engrafted up
on it by the minded policy of other
times, and adapted the sgslaton of the coun-
try to the spirit OF the age. and to the true
ideas of mans rights and relations to his gov
ernment?
+ For if man has a right on earth. he has a
right to land enough to rear habitation on.
1t he has right to live. he has righ. to the
free use of Hhatever nature has provided for
his susten nance-air to breathe. water to drink,
and land enough to cultivate for his subsist-
cree; for these are the necessary aud indis
pensable means for the enjoyment OF his inal-
ienable rights OF life. liberty, and the pur-
suit Of happiness. And it is for Govern
ment that claims to dispense equal and exact
Justice to all classes Of men. and that has laid
down correct principles in its great chart Of
human rights, to violate those principles. and
the solemn declarations in its legislative en-
actments?
The struggle between capital and labor is
an unequal one at best. L. is a struggle be-
tween the bones and sinews of men and dol
lars and cents. And in that struggle, is it
for the Government to stretch forth its arm to
aid the strong against the weak? Shall it
continue. by its Legislation. to elevate and en-
rich idleness on the wall and woe of indus
try?
For if the rule be correct as applied to
Governments as we'll as individuals, that
whatever a person permits another to do,
having the right and means to prevent it, he
does himself, then indeed is the Government
responsible for all the evils that may result,
from speculation and land monopoly in your
public domain. For it is not denied that
Congress has the power to make any regula-
tons for the disposal of these lands, not inlu-
rious to the general welfare. Now, when a
new tract is surveyed. and you open your
land office and expose it to sale, the man with
the most money is the largest purchaser -
The most desirable and available locations
are seized upon by the capitalists of the coun-
try, who seek that kind Of investment -
Your settler who chances not to have a pre-
emption right, or to be there at the time of
sale, when he comes to seek home for him
self and family, must pay the Spectator
three or four hundred per cent. on his invest
ment, or encoun er the trials and hardships
of still more remote border life Aud thus,
under the operation Of laws that you cali
equal and Just. you take from the settler three
or four dollars per acre. and put it into the
pocket Of the speculator-thus. by the ope-
ration of your law. absracting much of
his hard earnings for the benefit of capital;
Tor not an hours labor has been applied to
the land since it was sold by the Govern
men,. nor is it more valuable To the settler
Has not the laborer n yht to complain of
Legislation that compels him to endure great
er nard>hips. Or contribute a portion of his
earnings for the benefit Of the capitalist
But not upon the capitalist or the specuator
is it proper that blame should .all Man
must seek livelihood, and do business un.
der the laws Of the country; and whatever
rights he may acquire under the laws. though
they may be wrong, vet the well being Of
society requires that they be respected and
faithfully observed. II a person engages in
business legalized and regulated BY the
laws. aud uses no fraud or deception in its
pursuit. and evils result to the community.
let them apply the remedy to the proper
source; that is. to the law-making power
The laws and the law makers are response
BILE for whatever evils necessarily grow out
of their enactment
! In order to secure to labor its earnings, so
far as is possible, by legislative action, and to
strengthen the elements OF national great
ness and power. why should not the legsla-
ton OF the country be so changed as to pre-
vent for the future the evils of land monopoly
by setting apart the vast and unoccupicd ter
ritories Of the Union. and conse rating them
forever in free homes for free men?
Mr.. Maynard. May be allowed to ask
my friend from Pennsylvania, question
Mr.. Grow. Certainly.
Mr.. Maynard, 1t is this: Whether he is
in favor or otherwise, of allowing the old sol
dier or his assignee. to locate his land war
rant on the public domain?
Mr.. Grow. always answer questions that
are pertinent to the point under discussion,
not otherwise. l am not arguing any ques-
ton about land warrants, but about the prop
er disposition to be made o! the public lands
do not see the applicability OF the gentle,
mans question; and must therefore pass is
by, as do not wish to be diverted from nv
argument.
Mr.. Maynard. The gentleman is mista-
ken about the object of my question.
} Mr.. Grow. l would provide in our land
) policy for securing homesteads to actual set
tiers. and whatever bounties the Government
would grant to the old soldiers would have
r in money, not land warrants, which are boz
in most cases by the Speculation. as an ea.ie,
: and cheaper mode OF acquiring the public
, lands So they only facilitate land monopo
: ly. The men who 20 forth a. the call of ,heil
( country to uphold its standard and vindica,s
t its honor. are deserving. it is true. of a NOR.
, substantial reward than tears TO the dead anf
/. thanks to the living, but there are soldiers o
e peace as we'll as of war; and though no wav
D ing plume beckons them on to glory or t.
D death. their dying scene is Oft crimson one
8 They fall leading the van OF civilization alons
1 unsrodden paths. and are buried in the dus
: Of its advancing columns. No mon umen