The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-06-09

--TV
under this bill. or some one with, Smilr
provisions
Mr.. Speaker, do not believe this nation
will be so unjnst 70 itself as not to seize
absolutely the property, including the
lands, of malignant rebels. Therefore I as
sumo that confscation in fee will be our
policy with reference to these lands. We
progress slowly, I admit I; but to this we
must come at last. ~.
will not stop here to v'ndicate the home
stead law. Although long delayed, it may
now be considered as a part of the settled
policy Of the Government m its disposition
cfthe public domain. Experience has fully
demonstrated that the Governn,nt realizes
more revenue from its public lands by offer.
ing them for sale. The demand fw public
lands is limited to the demands Of actual set
tiers except during times Of great land spec
ulation, as in 1887 and 1855. Although
Government realized millions Of dollars from
sales in 1856. yet those sales were positive
evil. Whole townships, and IN some in !.
stances counties, IN my State, iowa, were
taken up by spectators, and have been held
by them at such prices IS to preclude their
settlement. ii Ifsthere had been no sales ex.
cept TO actual settlers, or il the .bene6cent
principles Of the homestead law had then
prevailed, these localities would doubtless
now be occupied by prosperous and extern
sive communities, who would annually con-
tribute in taxes far more to the support Of
the Government than vas realized from
those sales. q Our public lands are valueless
i to the Government without cultivation. Any
other policy is unjust toward the hardy ri-
opeer Of civilization, injurious, to the public
interests, and would present a serious obsta-
Gle to the growth, development, prosperity,
and greatness Of our common country. :,
| THE LABoRER Is WORTHY n HIS HIRE.
Mr.. Speaker, no man believes that the in
stitution of slavery can survive this rebel.
l:on; when destroyed It's our duty to pro
| tect ths. freedmen in the conquered territory
as will continue so 70 live, :, l look upon, ,apy
any scheme Of COLONIZATION o. impractica5le,
and If practicable pernicious in its results to
the industry OF the nation We need these
freedmen to TIL our fiells and increase our
production there is now and always viii be
in this country great de nand for free labor
We find ourselves compelled to, devise
schemes to encourage immigration, therefore
sound policy prohibits the deportation of the
four million black lahorers within, ,onr terri
tory, md duty requires Of us to provide for
them here by such legislation as vii, encou
rage them to labor for their support.
! And let me here call the attention of gen
tlemen on the other side Of the Hous, to the
fact that Congress has twice affirmed this
policy of confiScation. that the courts have
sustained it. that the people appealed to have
also sustained it, AMI placed nearly every
| gentleman on that side Of the House in a
minority at home. because they opposed
this and other Necessary measures for the
suppression Of the rebellion The people
believe, whether true or not, that the leaders
of the Opposition love their old allies and
friends, the Shareholders, more than they
love the Government that protects them
They suspect the loyalty of those who. pro
Tossing sympathy with our cause, by their
words and actions give aid and comfort to
our enemies. They cannot understand the
logic that would teach them that, under the
laws of war, we can take the life Of a rebel,
but cannot touch his property. They can
not believe that justice requires that the bur-
dens of taxation shall fall ,on the loyal men
of the North, who have lost sons and broth
ers in this war, while those in arms against
us shall be protected in the full and compile te
enjoyment of their property 9ahH flf,.
We must wrest the power of the Southern
States from the hands of land owning,
slavehollng aristooracy, an,lrastore il to the
r,ghtful possession Of whole people, We
must labor for the elevation Of that people.
To do this we must destroy the present land
system. arst by conf scatiop 10 fee, then by
placing them within the reach of every man
who has q hand to labor or family to sup.
port. We must make the masses land .ow
ners If We would perpetuate the Republic
Those who till the soil are and ever have
been the hope of the Republic. They fiji
our armies to-day. look at the quotas Of
troops furnished in the loyal States, and you
find nearly always that the rural districts are
in advance Of acquisitions. The very nature
Of their pursuits inspires love Of foountry,
and patriotism to rally atits call. So
The establishment Of this system viii be
the, forerunaer Of the establishment of the
free institutions Of the North among that
people. With small farms and productive
labor come free schools, ! pure religion, free
churches, thriving villages, misunderstanding
towns, colleges Of learning, they ygrowth of
commerce., and all the blessings Of republican
government These established. we shall
realize ~ the result Of our policy the en-
thronement Of a republicanism which has
lived in theory but not in fact except in the
free States Of this Union:
Mr.. Speaker, our legislation should lie for
the whole people and not for class, thus
dealing justly toyard those who have expe-
rienced long years of oppression under the
banner Of the Republic. five hope to att
tain success in this contest we must guar
anty 70 all the privileges Of religion. of fam