Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-02-09

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ing Heavy Taxation-ShouId our
Pubiic Lands weld "a xevenue,
EScpeai OF the Homestead LAW DE
maudcd.
ALBANY. January 20.
NY DEAR Sir: The rebellion having assumed
proportions which tes u any, anticipated. II i'm
poses corresponding obligations. and demands
from our rulers and representatives the thought
iul exercise Of their best faculties The time
approaches. Il indeed IL has not arrived, when the
duties of statesmen in importance and difficulty,
will rise even above those Of Generals III the
rebellion. the ore hand. has hecn the most
wicked and destructive the world ever witness ell
il has on the other hand been met BY the lo,al
people with spirit aud determination and bv
sacrifices OF treasure and blood wholly unparal
leled in the history OF wars and OF nations The
people. great the emef gency ana terrible as
the ordeal. have proved themselves equal TO both
Three Years oil et entiui experience and Observa
ton has taught us one priceless and precious
truth, viz: that this rebellion is sure 10 result in
its own overthrow. in The vindication OF our gov
eminent. and in the restoration of our Union
Aud the penalty for rebellion will he the ineyta
BILE subverson OF the power which caused 1.-THE
only retribution pIoportioned to the magnitude OF
the crime
Assuming that are, no matter at what fur
ther cost, and in defiance of all obstacles, to pre-
serve our government and Union. il behOOves
statesmen To divide their time and thoughts be-
tween the present and the future We shall,
when the war terminates find that il has cost at
least four thousand millions of dollars three
fourths of which amount will remain as a national
debt
Even this formidable debt. required to preserve
our nationality, exceeds not that natonalifys in
trinsic value But is il not time to grid up our
fiscal l0ins and gather strength TO bear this
heavy burdenl Should we not cast financial
anchor that will enable the treasury 10 ride safely
through 4 crisis equal if not greater than Eng
land ever encOunieredy
When the Federal Government was estab-
lshed the old States eeded their respective rights
To the territory wrested from Great Britain to
the United States. By the purchase OF Louisiana
from France. in 1903 and the cession of Flor
ida by Spain in 1919. we became possessed OF a
domIin almost boundless and fabulous in extent
and value. MS domain was encountered by the
Indian RICH: of possession. But it sooH though
at immense cost worked itself free. leaving it's
proceeds applicable 70 the support OF the govern
ment anu paymeIt. first, OF the Revolutionary
War debt, and next OF the war debt of 1912
Though ever prOdissl with the public lands
The government found in the revenue they
Welded, an unlailing resource In various forms
OF bouniies. endowments and beneiaciions Con
greSs has parted with hundreds OF millions OF
acres; AMI vet the aggregate revenues derived
from the public domain cannot be les than one
hundred and fifty millions OF dollars.
Au early Congress. with wisdom aud fore
sight which hope did not die with IL anticipating
the value of the public domain established a UNI
form price tor The lands and turned the proceeds
into the treasury. That Congress discerned in
the vast wilderness Of that day, gradually in
erel,iug deposit, ample for past aud future ext
Cencies The most sanguine. however, failed "a
compute It's value. And though impaired-nay
even lriuered away-bv subsequent legislation
all charges aud each fresh demand upon that
reserve, failed 10 exhaust the fund The Indian
wars and the war OF 1912 only created deOts Co
AFFORD the government the luxury OF extinguish
ing them with the proceeds OF the public domain
And when. under the administration of General
Jackson. We had nothing more 10 pay. that fund
accumulated rapidly that It's distribution among
the States was ordered. lest so much surplu.
money wonld exert baneiul influence upon ths
action oil Congress
After years OF discussion and debate the pOpu-
lar idea of voting Yourself 4 farm" Obtained
aud IN lc6l the Homestead law was enacted
This. in effect. rendered the public domain value
less 10 the government The argument in favor
OF the homestead measure. that the government
did Tot need the proceeds OF tie public lands, Wa:
then conclusive. But y il so n0tr? Shall we not
when he lin of war ceases need every avail
able resource 10 maintain the national credit
The war has been prosecuted by the indomitabls
energies OF the people. We are the creditors oil
the government Is securities are our omls
assets Nor as in other countries. or even in
our own. on former occasions. are the creditor:
OF the government confined To bankers and ctp
talisis The farmer. the mechanic. and even the
lsborer has loaned his earnings aud his saving.
10 the government
With the pub.lc domain immensely argument
Ell by valuable acquisitions sacrediy devoted Il
the payment Of the national debt. the uati0na
credit will be placed upon an mpreguable basis
In the proceeds OF that domain We should have
fund annually increasing in amount. and as en-
during time The war. ended. We all know
With What IN elastic spirit people vii return
% their otdusry pursuits aud with what giau
strides our country viii resume II march OF i'm
prov,ineut The IRON Wass alFe adv pointing e
the Picihc VII be presently pushed 10 their de-
tination, rendering The whole public domain
available The population and wealth of Eu
rope will purchase, people aud cultivate our ter
rtories. whose teeming inhsbltaBts viii soof
organize new States for admission into the
Union
In view. therefore. Of an approaching momen
teus financial CRISIS crisis which. II not, 20 IA
as l. possible sessonsbly provided Tor. may prove
a. severe a trial as the war which has produced
twill not Congress Immediately rescue the pub
lie tonaia BY a'repesl Of the homestead Law
There Is % such sure way OF iortifyug the na-
tional credit There : no such easy, simple, OF
equitable mode OF providing for the payment oil
iu,ereston The paolic debt The proceeis OF the
public domain. under proper system. wlll ballast
tie treasury With that vast deposit. facilitating
the other financial operations OF the Government
snd easing the burisns of the people. the country
will shoulder its debt. and the people. with con