Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-02-15
INDIANAPOLIS, IND, MONDAY,

INDIANAPOI
.I1rlsiHrr nsfF1 a afs,H lII'I-8lsI I0r 7l''l
holds; within the limits Of the 'Confederacy" at
least three-fourths of a million. Nearly all Of
this vast amount of real estate would be forfeited
forever by its present propretors If this consca-
ton measure were carried oat according to its
terms; for there is scarcely real estate awner ia
the South who has not participated iD the rebellion
in one way or another. Such sweeping work.
were il practicable. wonld throw into the shade
everything of the kind known to history. ~
"The object of the Polish and the Irish confs-
cations was to make quiet subjects Their sue
cess may be read in the chronic discomfort and
repeated instructions of the two countries down
to the present day. The object of our conisca-
tons must be to make willing citizens. for our
republican system admits Of no such condition as
that Of subjects We may strip these rebels Of
their possessions if we please, but we have got
hereafter to share political power with them, and
sohave our, children with their children We
should like to have some of these wholesale con
fscators answer this question: Tqualifed or
limited eoatiseafions ia Ireland or Poland faiie5
10 make good subjects, how rli unqualified ad
unlimited eonfseations make good eitizens7''o
ThurIow weed on the National Debt
He Suggests n Scheme for avoid
ing Heavy Taxation-ShouId oar
Public Lands Yield a Revenue!-
Repeal of the Homestead Law De-
lil4 1s f'nI ALBANY, January 20.
Mr. DEAR SIR: The rebellion having assumed
proportions which few, il any, anticipated it i'm
poses corresponding obligations, and demands
from our rulers and representatives. the thought
ful exercise of their best faculties. The time
approaches, ii indeed il has not arrived when the
duties OF statesmen. in importance and difficulty,
will rise even above those OF Generals. If the
rebellion, on the one hand. has been the most
wicked and destructive the world ever witnessed,
it has. on the other hand been met by the loyal
people with a spiri. and determination, and by
sacrifices of treasure and blood wholly unparal
leled in the history of wars ana Of nations. The
people, great as the emergency. aud terrible as
the ordeal, have proved themselves equal to both
Three years of eventful experience and observa-
tiOn 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 be the inevisa
BILE subversion OF the power which caused 1.-THE
only retribution proportioned to the agnitude of
the crime.
Assuming that we 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 terminates. find that IL has cost at
least four thousand millions of dollars three
fourtlIs Of which amount will remain as national
debt 2i .af m
Even this formidable debt, required to preserve
our nationality, exceeds not that nationaIily's in
trinsic value. But is it not time to grid up our
fiscal lons and gather strength TO bear this
heavy burdenl Should we not cast financial
anchor that will enable the treasury to ride safely
through crisis equal if not greater than Eng
land ever encounteredf
When the Federal Government was estab-
lished the old States ceded 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
domain almost boundless and fabulous in extent
and value. This domain eDcumbered by the
Indian right of possession. But il soon. though
at immense cost. worked itself free. leaving its
proceeds applicable to the support OF the govern
ment and payment, first, OF the Revolutionary
War debt, and next of the war debt OF 1872
Though ever prodigai with the public lands,
the government found. in the revenue they
yielded, an uniailing resource. In various forms
of bJunlies, endow ments and beneiactions. Con-
gress has parted with hundreds of millions Of
acres: aud yet the aggregate revenues derived
from the public domain cannot be less than one
bunfired aud 6ftv naillioua s,f' dolt,rs
An early Congress, with wisdom and fore
sight which hope did not die with it, anticipating
the value of the public domain established a uni
form price for the lands and turned the proceeds
into the treasury That Congress discerned in
the vast wilderness of that day, gradually in
creasing deposit ample for past and fut are exi
gences. The most sanguine. however, failed TO
compute its value. And though impared-Day
even irttered away-by subsequent legislation,
all charges, and each fresh demand upon that
reserve, failed to exhaust the fund The Indian
wars and the war of 1912 only created debts to
afford the government the luxury oi extngush.
ing them with the proceeds of the public domain.
And when. under the administration of General
Jackson. we had nothing more 10 pay, that fond
Accumulated so rapidly that its distribution among
the States was ordered. lest so much surplus
money would exert baneiui influence upon the
action Of Congress.
After years of discussion and debate the popu-
lar idea of '.votiug yourself farm obtained
and in 1861 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 need the proceeds OF the public lands, was
then conclusive. But is it notc7 Shall we not
when The ''din of war; ceases, need every avail
able resource To maintain the national credit,
The war has been prosecuted by the indomitabit
energies of the people. We are the creditors o
the government. It's securities are our only
assets. Nor, as in other countries. or even in
our own, on former occasions, are the creditors
of the government confined TO bankers and cap
talists. The farmer. the mechanic, and even the
iaborer, has loaned his earnings and his savings
TO the government.
With the public domain immensely Argument
ed by valuable acquisitions sacredy devoted tc
the payment OF the national debt, the nationa
credit will be placed uDoD an impregnable basis
In the proceeds OF that domain we should have
fund annually increasing in amount, aud as en-
during as time. The war, ended, we ali knos
with. what elastic spirit people will return
to their ordinary pursuits. and with what gian
strides our couniry will resume its march OF i'm
provement The iron ways already pointing q
the Pacific will be presently pushed TO their des
tination, rendering the whole public domain
available. The population and wealth OF Eu
rope will purchase, people aud cultivate our ter
-ritories. whose teeming inhabitants will sool
organize new States for. admission into th
In view, therefore,. Of an approaching momen
tous financial crisis--a crisis which. if not, so ia
as is possible. seasouably provided for, may prov
as severe a trial AS the which has produce'
twill not Congress Immediately rescue the pub
lie domain by a repeal of the homestead Law