The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-03-09

cure the blessings and cnjoyments Of
home. And yet with all the hailowed as
sOciatiOns connected With the sound of the
word hOme-with oil the suffering, trials
and privations that have been endured by
the people Of California to secure the
blessing and comfort-the ease. peace and
pleasure that surround the cheerful hearth
stone Of home how many Of our wayfar-
ing, labor.worn pilgrims in the Journey of
life, in search of the rest and comforts of
home, can truly sing with the inspired
poet
"NO foot Of land do possess,
No cottage in this wilderness,
poor way-faring man."
That very large portion of the popu-
lation Of California, are mere way.farcrs,
that they are homeless, houseless and poor,
no careful or honest observer can for n
moment doubt. That we cannot advance
in permanent improvements, wealth and
population under our present condition is
equally true and certain. No people,
whether ancient or modern, have made
any striking progress in the elegant or
even comfortable arts Of life, until they
have become contcntcd and settled pco-
pie. Until then, there will be no elegant
and costly mansions, no widespread and
vcrdant lawns, no ample and convenient
institutions of learning, no temples Of re-
ligion lifting their lofty spires to the skies;
all these are too much neglected or post
poned, in the restless, never ending pur-
suit Of gold enough to enable them to
settle in some better governed land, where
they may end their days in the quiet
comforts of home. Indeed, the whole as
pect of our country is that of dissatisfied
and responding people, ready to seize the
first opportunity to sell out and be off to
some new and moro favored land.
The "squatter" will not improve the
land which he will possibly have to give
up. He cannot be expected to make per.
mancnt or valuable Improvements under
such circumstances or to introduce the
muniinehts of an advanced civilization.
His title being precarious, his occupancy
must be so. lie will not care to adorn
and cmbellish his house, for some day he
may have to leave it.
No country will advance under such
circumstances. The yeomen who i'm
prove the face Of every country, and de-
velOp its resources by art, are the free
holders who are assured in their title to
its SOIL Take the security Of the title
from the homestead, and the arm of la
Dor is palsied the enterprise which seeks
improvement is checked and rcpressed.
You will find the hardy pioneer in his
shanty from year to year. The comfort
able house will not rise, because he has
no title to his home. To constitute n
prosperous and contcnted people, it is
universally conceded that jurisdiction
over the earth's surface, within certain
prescribed limits, is absolutely essential.
Hence no people living upon public land, !,
any more than people Ofa foreign country,
or rowing in ship on the high seas, can be
considered a permanent society, or be ex-
pected to improve the country.
A mere assemblage Of cmigrants is not
a self'sufiicient society, is not sovereign
State, though bound together by the most
tender relations, and endearing ties of
interest, affection, and friendship, until
they have obtained supreme jurisdiction
over the soil to give that feeling which
forms the very bones and life blood Of po-
litical sovereignty, as it does the vigor
and manly independence Of the individual
when he is enabled to look down with
conscious pride and power upon q spot of
earth and say-"This is my own, my
proper home, and oil the authorities in
the wide world cannot rightfu!ly turn me
out"
A country permanently settled with
ten thousand Industrious, enterprising
farmers, with their teachers, merchants,
lawyers, physicians, bIacksmiths and
ministers Of the gospel-with their pious
matrons and beautiful maidens, chaste as
the dew-drops that trcmble in the MORN
ing beams on the borders of the forest
towcrs-all settled down in one compact
community to conquer and cultivate the
soil, present the type of q State in its
freshest, purest form, in its early manhood,
and the purple glow and promise Of its
golden prime; whereas, if yau had mill
ion without fixed residence. or common
institutions, torn by civil diSsensions-
from such elements, you cannot hope to
build State. There is nothing Ameri-
can to receive or assume the jurisdiction
Of society. There can be no govern
ment with such people, but despotism
in some shape or other. What lesson
to the Legislators and statesmen of ouI
land. What an appeal to them, loud as
the thunders Of . revolution, to make
haste. by all means in their power, tC
identify every freeman and citizen o.
America, with the broad and fertile acres
Of our public domain.
"WlGe constitutes State!
Not high raised battlements aud laboreC
ground, .,
Thick wall or moated gate;
Not cities proud, with spires and turret
crowned,
Not bays aud broad armed ports,
Where. laughing ct the stOrm, proud navie
rides
Not starred and Spangled courts.
Whore lOw-brOwed baseness watts pesftlM