Thus far I have considered Mr. Burke's theory only under one of its aspects--the revenue aspect: he presents another--that of population--and here all measure of comparison ceases. The sale of land brings no people: cultivation produces population: and people are the true wealth and strength of nations. These various views were presented, and often enforced, in the course of the several speeches which I made in support of my graduation and donation bills: and, on the point of population, and of freeholders, against tenants, I gave utterance to these sentiments:
"Tenantry is unfavorable to freedom. It lays the foundation for separate orders in society, annihilates the love of country, and weakens the spirit of independence. The farming tenant has, in fact, no country, no hearth, no domestic altar, no household god. The freeholder, on the contrary, is the natural supporter of a free government; and it should be the policy of republics to multiply their freeholders, as it is the policy of monarchies to multiply tenants. We are a republic, and we wish to continue so: then multiply the class of freeholders; pass the public lands cheaply and easily into the hands of the people; sell, for a reasonable price, to those who are able to pay; and give, without price, to those who are not. I say give, without price, to those who are not able to pay; and that which is given, I consider as sold for the best of prices; for a price above gold and silver; a price which cannot be carried away by delinquent officers, nor lost in failing banks, nor stolen by thieves, nor squandered by an improvident and extravagant administration. It brings a price above rubies--a race of virtuous and independent laborers, the true supporters of their country, and the stock from which its best defenders must be drawn.
"'What constitutes a State? Not high-rais'd battlements, nor labored mound, Thick wall, nor moated gate; Nor cities proud, with spires and turrets crown'd, Nor starr'd and spangled courts, Where low-born baseness wafts perfume to pride: But MEN! high-minded men, Who their _duties_ know, but know their RIGHTS, And, knowing, _dare_ maintain them.'"
In favor of low prices, and donations, I quoted the example and condition of the Atlantic States of this Union--all settled under liberal systems of land distribution which dispensed almost (or altogether in many instances) with sales for money. I said: