New-York daily tribune., 1862-05-09
manence in o Political Government which is
founded upon such bitterly bad faliacy.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.

comprehend the movement for the Freedom of
the Public Lands, whereof its senior editor
stands recorded as q steadfast supporter in
Congress. That movement was never com.
mended by ts friends - adapted to particu.
lar state of the country, but as affirming and
covering the wisest ard most benehcent mode
of disposing of the Public Lands at all times
and under whatever circumstances. 1t was all
right in 1852. says Tie Express; il ia all
wrong in 1862, because the country is deeply
in debt, and must benceiorth pay heavy taxes.
Now we insist that these are reasons not
for postponing but for hastening Land Reform.
If every laboring man is hencetorth to pay. as
Tie Eapress afirms, thirteen cents to the
Government ont Of every dollar earned and
spent by him, then it will be very much harder
for him than hitherto TO scFape together sur
p.us OF $500 wAercwitb % buy quarter-sec-
ton of public land. The Public Lands have
for many years past returned TO tie "o'erh-
mcnt q net income of less than S2,OcO,Uo0
per annum. This sum would not make an
appreciabIo dimnution in the aggregate OF TAX
alton required for the support OF our Govern
meut and the payment og the annual interest
on its Debt. No poor man would obtain the
food aud clothing of his iamlly sens0ly cheaper
because of ibis ncOasderabe addition to the
National revenues. But to throw open all The
Lands Of tho Republic 10 setIienienS
free Of charge, and bid every citizen
help himself to quafter'section' VIII
open new era in the history OF Labor
II will greatly diminish if not entirely arrest
that pernicious monopoly Of the fubhc I-ahds
which compels the actual settler TO pay from
50 10 $50 per acre Tor his unimproyed quar-
ter-section. on penalty OF being driven into tae
pathless wilderness, many weary miles ifcin
mills, stores. churches, schools, doctors, &c.
The 81 % charged per acre By the Govern
ment has cost the actual settler ar average o'
"a ner acre--oitener more than less. But
when every quarter-secSion still belonging 20
the Nation shalt be open 10 appropriation
and settlement without charge, 1t "ill DC an
obviously losing business to buy up thonsands ol
acres 10 hold for rise and very few VIII az
tempt it.
This country (iike most other conntres)
fairly groans with unemployed LABOR. we
doubt that the National loss from this source
has for any one of the last thirty years been
so little as 500, Oo0,000 per annum. Now
We know this is not to be entirely arrested By
apy legislative measure or policy; but when
every man shall he at liberty to make -
ouarter. section of tie Public Lands his own
upon paying merely tae coat OF surveying
ulattiae, and milking out tie necessary papers,
We are confident that thousands, hundreds oil
thousands, ultimately millions, who now haunt
the cities in frutlcss, Letrtsich quest OF
something to do" viii find new attractions
in the Western prairies, and NO shall entrea5
tbo,n 10 quit and keep clear OF the cities with
an energy and confidence hitherto nnfrlt. They
can no longer plead tina, they canno: raise
the means Of making spot their own;
and we have no doubt that thousands oil the
more thrifty and Fortunate laborers Of the over
crowded cities will 80 West 10 hew cut homes
for their children, aud leave far better
chance for tho class who are now often out OF
work. We shall have fewer able-bodied paupers,
fewer tenants unable 10 pay their re2ts, be-
cause of the Homestead Law, while tue COun-
try will rejoice in O large increase in the num-
Der Of its producers of wealth. Hence Trade
will flourish through the rapid increase OF able
customers, and every new county settled III
the West will call for new block oi stores
in New.Yorh or some other seaport. Unless
we nse sadly in error, there IL no honest and
reputable class Of our people who wlil not be
benefited by the triumph Of the Free Home
stead policy. And We rejoice that though Tie
Express, msled ~ .ts new political afinities, has
turned its back ON Itself, tlat policy has grown
stronger AMI stronger with tho People from The
hour il was first commended TO this day.
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