The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1865-01-04

by making them more general and levying them upon
more valuable landed property. A government so
rich in territory ours, overwhelmed with land
that only wants settling and cultivation to make
the means of an enormous revenue to the defraying
freely If she could afford it years ago. she afford
it now better than ever. The great increase in the
number of bounty land warrants to be given will
proportionately benefit the government.
Take the sum total of the vote of loyal States
recent Presidential election, and find it greater
than that of $780, Notwithstanding the caused by
the The fact is not alone due to increase in
the native population, but to emigration which was
immense before the war; and which has not materially
decreased SINCE owing to the great inducements offer
ed by this country, chief of which it's fertile and
cheap lands. Any additional increase in this direc-
ton is to the interest of the government Unoccu-
pied and uncultvated estates, yielding revenue,
to individual holders worthless for all present
purposes. That which is true, when applied to indi-
vidual holders, is equally true when applied to the
government. Our treasury needs the revenue which
the settlement of these waste lands would yield
in taxes when cultivated, and any plan that will
speedily settle territories at the giving will
increase the price, wealth and Importance of the
country. What better could be devised than to give
soldiers living, as honorably discharged
if dead, their hers-bounty lands in the West? 1t
was done after the Florida and Mexican wars-ndeed
was condition of our soldiers enlistment; it
United States losing cent by this kindness? On the
contrary she gained immensely by uniting the inter-
ests of her citizens and soders she gained in the in
which she issued; she gained in States in power, in
population and in lin fine, to this fact alone
is due much of her present greatness. That which
good policy before, could not have lost all of
its virtues soon. by the the present
War first discovered the soundness of the sys-
tenn, and will probably continue it indefinitely
Our country is agricultural one, and the products
of its lands it's chief Any increaseof
agricultural population must be beneficial, not only
from the substantial yield of its labor, but from the
impetus and increase it gives to other branches of in
dustry Agriculture is productive in senses than
in raising grain and food it gives helping hand to
all professional, commercial and mechanical branch
es and therefore, being the dominant interest should
be encouraged and protected in proportion it's great
ness and usefulness.
We need scarcely stop to argue the fitness of our
soldiers to receive these bounty land warrants, to
settle upon theland when received Every knows
though few to have reflected upon fact-that
there thousands of youth, just from school
it Were who took arms and still bearing them in
behalf of the Union. They had neither time OPP
portunity to acquire trades, and in many
education to properly fit them for the duties of e
by reason of that service. They have served three
years; many the road to six. So long service
even if these men escape injury proves to be very
big hole in their lives, and they brought to