WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1858
115
hazards, the inconveniences, and risks which new settlers en- counter on the frontier. .This, then, would not be a donation, but it would be granting the land in consideration of service rendered to the Government fully equivalent to its value. It is only intended for persons who will encounter these diffi- culties, and who will encounter the labor and toil incident to a new settlement in the wilderness. If, however, you were to adopt the amendment of the honorable Senator from North Carolina, there would be no equity or justice in the measure. It is intended to induce the emigration from the overstocked communities of the country of such persons as could be spared from there, where they are in a miserable condition, who would improve their condition by emigrating to a new country, where they would have stimulation to enterprise, and where every advantage would result to them individually; while, at the same time, it would disembarrass the great cities which have a sur- plus populace. ·In this way, thousands would become industrious and productive citizens, who otherwise would become paupers or miserable dependents, demoralized, and demoralizing society. It would have a tendency thus to relieve society of that surplus population which is unpro~uctive, and set it to work to fell our wilderness, to 1·educe to cultivation and to improve the public land. Looking at it in its effect on the Government lands which will come into market, it would certainly be a great advantage to the Government. If, however, you are to issue warrants to all heads of families in the United States, what would be the consequence? Could it possibly produce any revenue to the country. Quite the con- trary would be the case. The bill will give the needy an oppor- tunity of possessing the land, who will render in its cultivation a consideration for the fee simple of the soil; you will be con- ferring a benefit on them ; and you will be estopping speculators from grasping the whole public domain of this country. If, however, you issue warrants to all heads of families in the United States, the market will be stocked with them; they will fall to five or ten cents an acre. Millions of families in the United States would not think of abandoning their residences and going to the frontier. The warrant would be worthless in their pockets, and they would have to sell it for a merely nominal amount, and thus the public domain would be m::mop- olized by speculators who would grasp the surplus warrants issued to persons who would not go and occupy the soil. The market would be glutted with them, and you could not brin~
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