New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-02-01
TEE PVHII( LANDS.


Of Representatives for considering the Home
stead bills and 20 urgent is the pressure on
Congress for action on measures oil Finance,
that we trust the .matcr will be disposed Of
before adjournment. There is 30 question in
yolyed which has not been debated and can
yassed in the House aud out of il, until every
citizen of ordinary intelligence must be ready
to vote upon it without further words. The
benefcencc and sound policy Of letting every one
who will take patch Of Wild, vacant public
land. and convert it into q homestead and pro-
ductNe farm, have been argued, demonstrated,
established. until they have now no open oppO-
ne1t in tie Free States. We doubt whether
there is IA single Member of the House who
was or could have been chosen rs nm ayowed,
emphatic con'omner of the Free Homestead
principle. Tho Republican party ut its last
National Convention engraved Free Homes on
rs platform without dissenting voice; while
no National Convention has ever uttered n
whisper OF dissent. In fact, the stage of dis
question has been passed; tie Gmc Tor roaliza-
ton ia fully come.
We are aware thst an tttempi viii bc made
to remit tie present adoption oi he Free
Lard policy on the assumption Of Financial
necessity. 1t viii DO said toat the Govern
ment is now needy and embarrassed, aud that
il must husband all its resource. for the great
struggle that must determine orr Ianh If II
does not involve our very existence as a ma.
tor. But We insist that tie Free Homestead
policy is the true one, even if Ne have an eye
single TO our Finances. Had this policy been
adopted forty years ago, il would have put
two dollars into the Treasury IN tie shape Of
Duties on Imports for every enc kept out in
the shape Of payments for Public Lands.
Every smoke rising from q lew opening in
the wilderness marks the foundation Of q new
feeder TO Commerce and the Revenue. Had
but One Million more farms been opened iu
the course of those forty years under the Free
Homestead policy-and we deem that All I'M
der-estmate of the probable resul,-the addi-
tiona Revenue from Customs could hardly
average less than Five Millions per annum,
while the proceeds Of Public Land sales have
not averaged, aud do not now nearly reach,
that amount.
Let the world know that we no longer sell
our Public Lands, but allot them freely to all
who will cultivate and improve Them and the
very best kind Of immigration will pour in
upon us in a steady, unceasing current. The
burglar, gambler, and thief, with all the scum
and rifl-raf of cities, will not DO attracted by
such an announcements; while honest, industri-
ous thrifty farmers and mechanics will be. A
few years will see q nood-tlde Of the most de-
sirable immigration setting in upon us with re-
sistess and unfailing current; while the COM
paratiye density of population, the facility OF
organizing school districts, constructing roads,
erecting and sustaining mills, opening stores,
&C., &C., will render pioneer settlement far
more attractive and prosperous than it has
hitherto been. Settler No. I096lI wants TO
make his home next TO settler No. 1896 but
be cannot; because a nonresident SPECTATOR
ard mOnopost Las bought that lot and fixed
an inordmate price upon IT, which he is wait
ing for some one to pay, but which this one
finds wholly above his means. Thus one man
is constrained to open roads, build bridges,
&C., &c, for the benefit of another; aud it il
generally the poor that do this for tie profit
Of the rich, the worker for the idlcr, the pio-
neer for the Spectator. The Homestead bill
viii remedy this, BY taking away or greatly
diminishing the inducement for purchasing up
wild lands on speculation. Nobody undertakes
here to monopolize air, sunshine, or water;
the supply is too liberal; and true policy
with regard TO Public Lands would preyent
the absorption of capital in the always irjur.
GUS and generally Improbable monopoly Of
wild lands to be held until tho jeusity OF set