The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-03-30

ssss'i fedi .3EisGi dsvI bna u edi 80 sgssi ~
IN I'd RElLAlRKs 0F a. y. PRICE, Jr,a sas
ouansi "a, oFfkaW-HANeyER, soiislii5ua,
OH Il @esolstiyn tofssUide hSnses Jar the nome.
Cess, dslssersa ii the House of Repressntal
> -tssss. sidi 10 ltss4 noi6srlqo III To len
ilwHmixs, Anumeuons landed proprietofship
Is the best and most endearipg basis Of popular
governmcht, and whereas, II Is wise both for the
Statcand Nationsl Goveriimeut to encourage in
which, which Without sash encouragement Il Is i'm. i'm.
possible toestablishi In North Carolina for long
time to come, aud whereas it Is expedient to
now lay the foundation OF system that VIII
hold out the hope of a fnturelsupport TO- the poor
and homeless oiYur State !, therefore be II
Resolved by the General Assembly OF North
Caroline. That our Senators and Representa-
tiyes in Congress be requested to urge the dona-
tion tothis State Of two millions ofacres Of the
public lands. which, upon such conditions as
Congress may prescribe, shall be sold, and the
proceeds thereof to be Secured and appropriated
exclusively to the purchase, Of homes in this
State for the industrious indigeLt, on such terms
as shallbe difected BY law, as Repayment of
purchase money under. rthe general control, Of
3. Resolved That the Governor be instructed
to causeIa copy Of these resolutions to be for
warded to our Senators and Representatives in
Congress- with tie request that the same be laid
before their respective HOUSES .ss,ass,''egi Il
Mr. STEAMER; It's hardly necessary that
anything should, be said by the friends of
this resolution in advocacy of IFS passage.
Tlle necessity of some measure of This kind is
so palpable that I supposed the passage of
this resol utlon would meet with no serious
opposition. Before introducing this resolu-
tion, Mr.. Speaker. consulted with many
of the membefs'of this lionofable body, both
Republicans and conservatives, all ofwhomi
agree with, me that a. great, necessity exists
and that this General Assembly should in
some way extend such aid To the poor labor
ing class as tolsechre for tthem 1homesteads
in the State on such conditions hthat the
poorest and most humble citizens in the
State may /, possess, their own homesteads.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, had these resolutions
emanated from the abler minds OF this hon
orable body, they might have been more
comprehensive and more efficient than this
weak effort Of its feeble advocate, but, sir,
to say the least of these efesolutbns,i ,ifthey do
noigooa they certainly can do no harm, and
I believe every member upon this floor, both
Republican and Conservative, if controlled
by the better angels of their, nature, win not
only support these resolutions But will use
alltheir influence tolaecomplish the great
object which the resolutions are wont to
effect The object of these resolutions, Mr..
Speaker, as indicated BY the caption and
preamble, to provide homes for the home
less, should awaken the siumbering sympa-
thy of every citizen of North Carolina who
studies her interest and welfare :, and re-.
joices in her prosperity. In asking this
honorable body to pass these resolutions /
ask your indulgence for afew moments, that
/ may briefly state some of the motives from
which I was actuated to, make this feeble
attempt to secure aid and assistance to the
hard laboring class of our people, whom in
our legislation We bave so criminally neg
lected- .,.....;,....s, lat..., -.
! It is well known, Mr.. Speaker, that the
colored people of North Carolina constitute
principally the laboring class, and their con-
dition is well known BY every member iof
this body. Thrown upon, their own re-
sources after their emancipation without a
homestead, without dollar, without even
foot Of land as a compensation for the in
cessant labor rendered by them during the
long dismal nights of slavery. receiving no
encouragement from the, government to i'm
prove their condition by placing hon1esteads
within the reach of the poor helpless labor
ing class of our citizens Now, sir, II hope
I will not be understood as advocating the
principle Of the false promises of the Demo-
cratic party, when they attempted to deiude
the ignorant masses of our people, by their
promises of forty acres and mule; for L bei
lieye I speak the sentiments of every col7
ored man in North Carolina when say they
do not ask that land should be given them,
they would not appreciateAit If they had it
given them, bat iweido iesk THAI ssneh pro-
visions be made as viii place o portion, Of
the millions of acres Of uncultiyated lands
oflthis State within the reach q the
.aborers on Fsnch conditions that by tl1
strong arms and powerful muscle they i5E1
settle upon, improve cultivate and Pa
reasonable price for the same. Now, SIT. !
am impressed with the idea that the mil
lions of acres of fiuncultiyated landsin North
CAROLINA, the untold and, unknown, wealth
The hidden and undeyeloped, resources of
the old North State demand that every la
borer in North Carolina should have such
Inducements held i'out to them as would
retain, them in the State, for it., is that
class of laborers, who are welded to her soil,
who studies her interest and welfare, which
depends, TO a very great extent, the future
prosperitylof the State.'er7l slf 70 irfss'sry7
Now, it must. be apparentto every inuel.
hgent mind that just, in. proportion as this
class of our cltizens are placed in possession
Of land, just in proportion do they make
good, ,lsw-abiding, citizens and flour gov
ernment would give more attention to- the
interests, of the laboring classes by giving
such aid as would tend to make labor more
honorable, our streets would have less beg
| gars, our Poor Houses less paupes our Jails
less criminals, and iour Penitentiary lesf
convicts. Now, ! ask, Mr.. Speaker, is there
d man in North Carolina, especially mem
Der of this Assembly, who has not witnessed
with disapprobation and regret the grea
exodus of laborers from this State for th'
| past twelve months. Every train that leave
for the South is carrying away large mum
/ bers of this class of our citizens iwht
| are the bone and sInew of,the Old Nortl
/ State, Now / ask this honorable body VIII
| are sitting in council to shape the, destin,
4 Of this oppressed class. to give this subiec
4 their consideration and support. Y .l1ii
! Now let us enquire into the practicabilt
of carrying into effect the substance of thi
proposition and its ultimate results. In th
4 first place there is, in addition to the hun
4 dreds Of thousand of acres of uncultivate
land in this State, sufficient to give home
stead to the family of every laborer in til
| State. There is more than. 40,000,000 {
acres Of government lands in the Souther
4 States. But aside from this, Mr.. Speake
!, suppose that part of these thousands q
4 acres of uncultiyated lands in this State
placed within reach OF, the, thousands
| families who are daily leaving the Sta'
1 seeking employment, leaving their hom
i and friends with the bright promise of 81
Il per. month, many. of whom will never rccei'
Onc-half that amount, even supposing thu
should be so fortunate as to survive the a
tacks Of the yellow fever, cholera and 9th
!, contagious diseases ,or sspi'9f lgdt slHs
u Suppose, some system, should be inaug
rated by which portion of this land cou
i !. be turned into .homesteads upon such teri
Z as would allow such reasonable time for :
81 payment as TO enable them to improve al
ki cultivate tf,sir lpntis. Why it must be Q
"a parent to every intelligent mind that Just
ii proportion as this land is improved just
!, the same proportion would the proper
~ around the same be enhanced in value, al
ii property that is worth comparatively not
ing, would then be worth, from one to t
dollars Der acre. But suppose there be
inducefnaent offered, no hope held out,
encouragement given to The laborers OF o
:, tate-suppose the,exodus conhnues-wh
!, will be the ultimate result 2, Why, sir, in