The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-13
EVENING, DEC. IS, 1877.
gECyTEGTEABs FOR SOLDIERS AND
SAILORS.

The bill with the alb we taking title was
before the House yesterday. 1t ought to
read "a bill to enable spectators TO mo-
nopolize all the remaining public lands of
any yalue." It's practical operation would
be to food the market with land. warrants,
which would sell for few dollars each,
and which would be bought up by land
sharks, and located upon ailethe arabic
lnds within reach, thus ciowding out the
tuai settler, or compelling hin to pun
chase of private parties at increased rates.
The publ lands are sacred trust, to be
hel and guarded with scrupulous care for
the bvnefit of the toilng masses of to-day
and he crowding myriads Of the future.
They are the refuge Of orr competitive
system, to which the poor and unfortunate
can always fee when the pressure Of
want is too srong'in the older states. To
preserve them for actual settlers only is
The policy demanded alike by justice and
sound policy. To this we should adhere
With mistaken fidelity. No private epecu-
later, DO corporation, should ever be al
loved to Obtain another acre upon any
terms W hattyer, except actual settlement
and Improvement. Let Us adhere TO this
with iloa determination. Give the soldiers
money, cover them with honor, load them
down with gifts, but save the lands--God's
best gilt TO the sons Of men-from speeu-
iatiun and monopoly.
In behalf OF the soldiers, wo denOunce
the whole scheme as an strocious attempt
TO steal the lands from the llard-handsd
masses Of the people, under pretencs Of
helping those whose heroic serv.css the
gold Of the world cannot pay, and who ask
n9thing ofthis sort from Congress.
Geneial uawley, OF Illinois, struck
the key-iote in bis speech against the bill,
from which we quote:
Nhat, then. will tie The practical op ration OF
tNis aT it II eh I'D pass a older Or 5aiiCr
who rs NO ds,ir Ioenter s!pon tue pubic lands
VITA Sell his certificate / II " nttever he can gel
iafit. IN he iorn stun OF iNe or len or
fifteen d3lHla 10 10 not IIhrly to be more, Tor
THESE crr.iiiCisu viii be s. nl1lnTo ns thL hey
woutd E,ke up near y all tn. artUle lar d nov re-
rnani : fJr Settlement. They olta sell ior !.
Tnpte nc. 10 Ter an insignft ant elm OF money.
and he III, d ior which Tie eettiiiear s Would
be tgus sold az b uaht up by spectators
ws0u lie lucn I'd by them III quaint liz $ OF three
hundred itua tNen y ace es To Tue tract
ETrrS CT ilen of the Unttd ats s who VIII
20 INTO OH OF our nrw states r rTitoreS may
sake M ' ,eant and unoeeupied lands under
it's prov ons " heieveE the, are TO he found II
NsRo on as we h iTe q ne, tIId-r the lrov sions
Of that INV, we shall have no diff, lilly The
Hands will nj be aiken UP 10y uc u;ti settlers
am one of those, SIR. WHO believe that The
Jaw GU ht to he alne drd that the puzzle
laid cannot be acq'iItd unGer or oy VII lne VI
G1y Itw other than the homestead law l
GIN In favor OF the absolute repeal OF The PR
EN-. ton law. heii"ve that the putiic lands
onent, o. to be offered fors ls, Tut should be
served Tor actual settlers
Ii is plopostd, how ever ny this bill 10 g We the
20 ders Ald sailors some hing. At claimed by
the friends of this bill that the soldiers ire MOI
81 isiied With the law as IL n Nv exists be leve
sir that tie soldi r, are satisii with the Yis,.
isiins hw. baiieve IA those soldier. win really
DIES ie To enter Upon pub ic latd> ;it all az.
fit with The law asst exists. because more lib
eTai law conld moi possibe be passed III favo Of
tho who dasil- 10 enter upon he public lands.
ha solder who's iNins lo'day In u city, as
kp9g' sed II IN meut ago by tha gen i-mau II ON
Missouri, tMr finkrlhhng. may ray: I
sha never want 10 90 upon he public lands
VII sc m. eer itetie for Il e dollars II that
10 ali Can get. wall secure what can NJ der
The prpYisione OF this l,w.n But hen he takes
she i've dolla's, and assigns his certificate ton
land .iectla,or his riShl under lbs homestead
law II gone forever
no VIII lti Inc this is wise legislation
why should va noi stand ny the poll y we have
esth bi sh' in leierrhc- tn lie refill, ment OF the
pa lie la O. 4? Iwond 60 further perhaps than
the law now zoe, aid i bill which have how
pendiDg in The House. aud which hope 0 call
u!' nt ~ eaily Gay, provide III It hereafter the
public iaiidt shui My ne di posed O., under the
hom-slead law OF lN62 and iis va inus amend.
meme, together With The soldiers homes stead
INV passed ut the last Sc, sion. think the pub
lie lahd4 ouRhr To be Disposed nf und ose
Laws N none other. We ought TO repaai the
ptetmption laws; we ought 10 csas-
10 advertise the pubic iaans for tale
70 The highest bidder. We o. ght 30 aIr
prcpliats the lands imply and Only To the rnau
who want 10 uccupg ihrni Iii not oui oiay
10 give Lands to n MAN who dors not want o oc-
elpy thsia, because ii you give them 10 him he
either hold ih-In 10 speculate l,',n or sells
them 10 me one esr. But ii you leave the
lands open iheie are plenty OF lands In he
eonntty brewery man, aad there VIII or
MANY, many yeais come. II ynu will cease
gr1h Ing lund- To glelL cofporati ns, and hold
llsm 70 be dspo ed OF nndrrt csc ] ST sWs TO
which h ave just referred, tam sue y1n viii
fasr the ~lsest and he course thai whi' h will
IN ct with tue nppFobatlon Of The people OF this
great oJnGuy.
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