Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-04-05
THURSDAY, APRL6, 1860.


EThe Union and Amesoan is quite severe
on thoee who oppose the Homestead policy
of Gov. JoHssoS; and inasmuch as the bulk
OF that opposition comes from members of its
own party. we respectfully suggest that it is
unnecessarily barsh. On the late vote taken
in the House of Representatives, there Was
but one Southern member Of all those voting,
who voted for the measure-and he from Mis-
souri,. All the Representatives from Tennes-
see,uithout distinction of party, voted against
f. Whatever may be the history of the ques-
ton in the National or State Legislatures, or
whatever may have been the general opinions
Of this or that man of distinction as 10 its
propriety or expediency. we all know that it
has never received sufficient support to be-
come Law. Every effort, and they have been
of repeated, has failed to carry the measure
was the first to propose it in the House, Mr..
SEWARD was its mover and champion in the
Senate. 1t is true that it has never been a
strict party issue, nor a test of party fealty,
and the Republicans are the fret who have
sought to engraft it as party measure upon
the politics of the country. Their object is
very plain. They can see very easily. how it
will add to their strength. They fully appre-
ciate how Massachusetts, could send out
enough free sellers to the West to tip the
scales Of power on the Republican side, with
out weakening them materially at home
What might have been harmless in 1876, and
for several years thereafter, may now. by this
h, ichI ~
Gus. And this unquestionably was the view
sakPniby thesSouthern Representatives in Con-
gress, who, not feeling bound by any party
committals, and clearly apprehending how
practically detrimental to the South il might
be made, voted ia solid phalaDx against it.
1t Is the avowed motive of the Republicans,
in supporting and urging this measure in Con-
gress and before the people, to increase their
power, and 10 overreach the South In this
view 1t Is proclaimed by them .'emnently
q Republican measure" Yet for stating
these facts the Union and american doubts the
sincerity Of its opponents and pretends to re-
gard the argument as an insult to the Intelli-
geuce of the people of Tennessee. That same
people will judge who is attempting to cast
in-uit upon their intelligence.
We should like to know how the Union and
-AMtTieaH will treat the arguments ofits friend,
the Knoxville Rsgiar, against Gov. JOHN
soSis homestead hobby. That paper says
that there is not arabic land enough belong
ing to the Government to give bomesteads to
one third of the landless citizens of the
country; and for this reason, the measure if
passed into law, would prove an utter
failure. The Register further argues that,
granting there is land enough for all, it would
cost the poor man with family Infinitely
more to get to it and make his settlement,
than the home would be worth, and more
than homestead in many of the old States
would cost. Let as hear the Union and
Americans answer to these suggestions. And
viii it also tell w If the Inevitable tendency
of this measure, If put in practical opera
ton, would not be TO create, in the old
States, land monopolies and landed aristocra-
cies. We desire our contemporary to forget
that ii has become the bobby ofan individual
and answer an independent thinker and
reasoner, If its probable effect would not be
to induce the small land owners with large
families in the old States, to sell out to their
more opulent neighbours; to decrease the num-
Der of land proprietors, and increase the
number of tenants-thus approximating the
British land system!
But we imagine we see the true cause Of
the Union and Americans anxiety upon this
subject. There is now q struggle going on
between the Democratic and Republican
parties. as to which shall carry of the palm
Of championship in its passage. and which
shall wear the honors 81 and reap the spoiis.
There are two biils-one democratic and
the other Republican measure. That which
passed the House belongs to the Republic ans;
and that which is pending in the Senate
looks up 10 democratic parentage and pro-
lection. Which of the two shall pass? is the
question, aud on which ell the dispute arises.
II the Senate bill passes, it will all be right;
but If the House bill is successful it will all
be wrong.
Since it is thus 20 be made football for
party speculation, we hope all the national
men In Congress Of every name and section.
viii throw their weight immovably against
Fit.