Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-03-22

the enjoyment of his inalienable rights
Of "life, liberty. and the pursuit OF
happiness" And is it for a 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 its solemn
declarations in its legislative enact
ments
The struggle between capital and
labor is an unequal one at best. 1t rs
a struggle between the bones and sim
ews of men and dollars and cents.
And in that struggle. is it for the
Government to stretch forth It's arm
to aid the strong against the weak ?
Shall it continue, by its legislation, to
elevate and enrich idleness on the wall
and the wo of industry I?
For if the rule be correct as applied
to Governments as well as individuals,
that whatever pc rson permits anoth-
er 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. Fort is not de-
MED that Congress has the power to
make any regulations for the disposal
of these lands not injurious to the gen.
eral welfare. Now, when 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 country. 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 a
home for himself and his family must
nav the speculator three or four hun
dred per cent on his investment, or
encounter the trials and hardships OF
a still more remote border life. And
thus, under the operation OF laws that
you call equal and just, you take from
the settler three or four dollars per
acre, and put it in the pocket of the
speculator-thus. by the operation ol
your law, abstracting so much OF his
heard earnings for the benefit of cap
ital; for not an hours labor has been
applied to the land since it was sold
by the Government, nor is it more
valuable to the settler. Has not the
laborer a right to complain OF leglsla
ton that compcls him to endure great
er tolls and hardships, or contribute {
portion of his earnings for the bench
of the capitalist ? But not upon thu
capitalist or the speculator is it prop
er that the blame should fall Mar
must seek livelihood and do business
under the laws of the country ant
whatever rights he may acquire unde
the laws, though they may be wrong
: yet the well-being of society require
that they be respected and faithful
+; observed. If person engage in
, business legalized and regulated b.
t the laws, and uses no fraud or dccep
g tion in it's pursuit. and evils result t
t the community, let them apply the rem
= edy to the proper source that is,
!, the law-making power. The laws an
: the lawmakers are responsible tc
n whatever evils necessarily grow out {
G their enactments.
n In order TO secure TO labor it's carr
n ings. so far as is possible. by legisla
= tive action. and to strengthen the eli
e ments of national greatness and powc
> why should not the legislation of Il
II country be so changed rs to prevel
8 for the future the evils of land monol
e oily, by setting apart the vast and III
'e occupied Territories of the Union, al
y consecrating them forever in free hom
% for free men ?
ID Mr.. Maynard-May l be allowed
10 ask my friend from Pennsylvania
ID question ?
is Mr.. Grow---Certainly.
ID Mr.. Maynard-It is this /: whcth
ID he is in favor. or otherwise. of allo'
at ing the old soldier or his assignee
Of locate his land warrant on the publ
re domain
he Mr.. Crow always answer questio
he that are pertinent to the point und
d. discussion. not otherwise. am n
as arguing any question about land-wa
: rants, but about the proper dispo'
ty ton TO be made Of the public lands.
nd | do not see the applicability of I
,r- gentleman's question. and must the
he fore pass it by. as | do not wish to
diverted from my argument.
he Mr.. Maynard-The gentleman
les mistaken about the object of my Gu
ci- ion.
l.