Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-03-15

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strength of country are its population, anC
the best part of the population arc the cult
vators of the soil Independent farmers ar,
everywhere the bases Of society aud true friends
of liberty" "To pnt an end for
ever to all partial and interested legislation OF
this subject, and TO afford to every American
citizen of enterprise the opportunity of secur
ing an Independent freehold, it seems to me
| therefore, best to abandon the idea of raising
future revenue out Of the pablo lands"
This advice, by one of the country's noblest
patriots, though unheeded at the the time, is
among the richest legacies he has bequeathed
to his country. .
Why should the Government hold the public
domain longer as a source of revenue, when
it has already more than paid all costs and ex-
penses incurred in its acquisition and manage
ment Even if the Government had a right,
based in the nature of things thus to hold these
lands, it would be adverse to a sound national
policy to do for the real wealth Of a country
consists not In the sums of money paid into its
treasury, but in its focks, herds, and cultivat-
ed fields. Nor does its real strength consist
in fleets and armies, but in the bones and
Sinews of an Independent yeomanry and the
comfort of its laboring classes. Its real glory
consists not in the splendid palace, lofty spire,
or towering dome but in the intelligence, com
fort, and happiness of the freside of its cit-
Zens.
What constitutes 4 State?
Not highraised battlcmcnt or labored mound,
Thick wall moated gate
Not cities proud with spires and turrets crowned
Not bays and broadarmcd ports
Where, laughing at the storm, rich nayes Iide !;
Not starred and spangled courts,
Where lOwbrowed baseness watts perfume to pride.
No men, highminded men-
Men, who their duty knew,
But know their rights and knowing, dare maintain ;;
Prevent the longaimed blow,
and crush the tyrant while they rend the chain
These constitute a State"
The prosperity of States depends not on
country is greatest and NEST glorious ia which
there is the greatest number Of happy fresides.
And if you would make the ireSide happy.
raise the fallen from their degradation, elevate
the Seryile from Their groyeling pursuits to the
rights and dignity of men, you must first
place within their reach the means for supply
ing their pressing phySica wants, SO that re-
ligfon can exert its inguence Oh the soul and
soothe the weary pilgrim in bis pathway to the
tomb
What jnstice can there be in he legislation
OF country by which the earnings of its la
Dor are distracted for any purpose without re-
turning an equivalent But as a question of
revenue merely, it woaid be to the advantage
of the Government to grant these lands in
homesteadS to actual cultvatorS, if thereby it
was to induce the settlement of the wilderness,
instead Of selling them to the speculator with.
out settlement. The revenue to the Govern
ment from the lands if considered annual, is
the interest on the purchase money which
would be on a quarter section, at one dollar
and twenty Eve cents per acre, the interest on
two hundred dollars, eqGal, at six per cent, to
twelve dollars per year,
But as the revenue of the General Govern
ment with the exception Of the sales of the
lands is derived alGoSt wholly from duties on
imported articles consumed in the country the
amount collected depends upon the quantity
consumed. Ca an average each individual
consumes of imported articles about eleven
dollars worth per year, (see statement of Reg
ister Of the Treasury, appeuded;) and calling
seven the average number of family, then
each family consumes annually seventyfye
dollars worth of imported articles, upon which
a duty Of not less than twenty dollars was
paid.
So the Government weuld be the garner of
eight dollars per year on each qHerter section,
by giving it away to a settler in preference to
selling it without settlement. In addition, as
Il, &
life, or increase mems means to pay for them,
you increase their consumption and in the
same, proportion as you increase the means to
pay for imports, you increase the consumption
Of home products and manufactures SO that
the settlement of the wilderness by a thriving
population is as much the interest of the old
States as of the new The amount now re-
ceiyed by the Government of the settler for
the land, would enable him 10 furnish himself
with the necessary stock and implements to
commence its cultivation
For the purposes Of education, building rail,
roads, opening all the avenues of trade, and of
Subduing the wilderness, the best disposition
to be made of these lands is to grant them in
limited quantities to the settler, and thus Sc
cure him in his earnings, by which he would
have the means to surround himself with com
fort and make his freSide happy ; to erect the
school house, the church, and all the other
ornaments of higher civilization, and rear
bis children educated and respected members
OF society. This policy will not only add to
the revenues of the General Government and
the'taxabie property of the new States, but
will increase the productive industry and COM
merce Of the whole country while strengthen
ing all the elements Of national greatness.
The first step in the decline of empires is
the neglect of their agricultural interest, and
with its decay crumbleS national power 1t
is the great fact stamped on all the ruins that
strew the pathway of civilization. When the
worlds unwritten history shall be correctly de-