Year: 1860

part as the patriomony oflabor, by preventing its
absorption iuto large estates by capital and its
scquent cultivation by tenants and slaves, instead
of Independent freeholders.


The proposition to change our land policy, so as
to accomplish desirable result, by securing to
the pioneer home on the public domain at the
bare cost of survey and transer,is often rel ected
by those who have given but little thought to the
subject, as leveling and agrarian. When was
thcrean effort made, since the word began to wrest
from power its ill gotten gains or to restore to man
his inalienable rights butt has been met with the
shout of levelng and agrarian7 That is the alarm
cry of the dcvotee of the past, with which he ever
strives to prevent all reforms innovations upon
established usages. Behind such bulwark, old
abuses intrench themselves, and attempt to main
tain their position by hurting against every assail
ant terms of odum and reproach made so by the
cooring of the adherents of prcrogativc an power
Until within very recent period, the chronclcrs
Of the ace have been for the most part, sycophants
of the rcigning classes; and being allied with the
State. have CLOSED over its cotemporaneons des-
potsm and wrongs, and they have branded the true
defenders of the rights Of the people and the cham
pions Of honorable labor as outlaws OF history.


Because the Roman GTacchi proposed to elevate
the Romtn citzen By dignifying his labor, and res
torng him to the rights which he had been UNJUST
ly deprived by the oligarchy who controlled the
State their name was nude synonymous with in
lauy. ana rs llSlurOcrs Of tijt SOOu III
society, till Nebuhr tore off the vel of two thou
sand years Of oboquy, and vindicated to future
times their memories true defenders oil the rights
OF the people, and advocates of the best interests
and glory of their country. Such hasbeen the fate
OF the worlds reformers. Is it not time to learn
wisdom from the chronicles of the past and cease
blind reverence for customs or institutions. because
Of their grey age7 Why should not American
Statesmen adapt the legislation Of the country to
the development of its material resources the pro-
motion of its material resources, the promotion OF


its Industrial in ere IS an thereby dignity its labor,
and make strong the prime elements of national
power1


Let this vast dom lin, then be set apart and
secrated as patrmony to the sons Of toll; close
your land office forever against the speculator, and
thereby prevent the capital of the country seeking
that kind of investment, from absorbing the hard
earnings of labor without rendering equivalent.
While the laborcr is thus crushed by this system
established by the Government, by which SO large
an amount is distracted from his earnings for the
benefit of the spcculator in addition to all other dis
advantages that ever beset the unequal struggle
between the bones and sinews of men and dollars
and cents what wonder is il that misery and want
SO often st at his frcsidc, and penury and sorrow
surround his deathbedl


While the pioneer spirit goes forth into the will
derncss, snatching new areas from the wild beast,
ana bcqueathing them legacy to civilized m IN,
let not the Government dampen his ardor and pal
his arm by legislation that places him in the pow
of soulless capital and grasping speculation; for
upon his wild battle field these are the only foes
that his stern heart and right arm cannot van
ouish