fundamental principles of justice and right are secured to the citizen and his posterity, and cannot be taken away without the action or consent of two-thirds of the members of Congress, and the ratification by the legislatures of threefourths of the States, all of whom are jealous of any infringement on the rights of the citizen.

Rights not enjoyed in England.

While some of these rights are obtained from the fundamental law of England, there are others which the English government have not yet conceded to the people, and which the people can only enjoy by coming to the United States. Chief among these are the freedom from religious intolerance, and from the compulsory support of a religious institution; the entire freedom of speech and of the press; the right to bear arms, rendering the existence of a large standing army in time of peace unnecessary; and other rights which will be readily recognized.

Control of Legislation.

The effect of the exercise of these political rights is to secure to the laboring man laws favorable to labor. Working men being the most numerous portion of the elective power can, and generally do, elect men favorable to their interests.

The Free Homestead System.

But besides these great civil, political, and religious rights, the citizens of the United States, and those who come here with the intention of becoming citizens, have, within their command, advantages which render labor particularly remunerative. The homestead law, which secures the actual settler one hundred and sixty acres of land-or, if near a railroad, eighty acres of land-free of cost, makes a wide difference between the condition of the agricultural laborer of England and the agricultural laborer of the United States. The man who is accustomed to farm-work can by his own labor not only become a farmer, enjoying all the fruits of his own toil'

but he becomes the owner of the land he cultivates, and, in a few years, as settlement increases around him, he finds himself not merely a farmer owning a cheap farm, but, in all probability, he finds himself the owner of land of great value; perhaps as an improved farm, or it may be of real estate valuable for commercial or residence purposes, securing him an ample independence, and a valuable inheritance for his children. All this is within the reach of many, and, so far as a valuable farm is concerned, of all agricultural laborers who choose to avail themselves of the advantages offered. No chance of this kind is offered to the laborer, and seldom even to the well-to-do farmer, in England.

Effect of the Homestead Law on Wages.

The effect of this homestead privilege is to draw constantly from the labor market, leaving it with less laborers than can supply the demand. The effect of this on wages is wholly in favor of the laborer who remains, and makes his services indispensable. This is the secret of the high rate of wages which laborers command in the country. This also produces a corresponding depression in the price of unimproved land, so that land not owned by the government can be had at reasonable prices in settled portions of the country, so that those who do not like the isolation of pioneer settlement can always procure land adjacent to established settlements.

Labor first for Hire.

While, therefore, we regard the free homestead privilege as one of great importance to the agricultural laborer, it does not follow that we should advise all to avail themselves of it at once on arriving in this country. The early privations incident to settling new country would be lessened and the work of establishing a home in the forest rendered much more pleasant if the settler, without capital, would content himself to labor for hire a few years first, as it would enable him to start with a capital that would procure comforts during the first

few years, and until the produce of his farm could be brought to a profitable point, and of sufficient market value to command a compensation for the labor invested. No class of men could command better compensation, as laborers, than the average agricultural laborers of England.

Land in Exchange for Labor.

There are many farmers in America who have more land than they can profitably cultivate, and they would willingly dispose of portions of their land in return for labor on their farms.

Labor, other than Agricultural.

Even if agricultural labor should ever prove over-stocked, there are other kinds of labor, such as railroad, highway, canal, and bridge building, while the mining regions furnish profitable employment for all who will engage and are able to perform labor.

NATIONAL INDUCEMENTS TO THE ENGLISH EMIGRANT.

All we have thus far said, and much more can be said, in favor of the United States, as offering to the surplus agricultural laborers of England the strongest inducements to emigrate, leaving at home only so much of the laboring element as can command remunerative prices for labor.

STATE INDUCEMENTS TO THE ENGLISH EMIGRANT.

All the afore-mentioned advantages are offered in Michigan, and others not yet enumerated.

Homestead Exemption.

In addition to the Constitutional privileges secured by the fundamental law of the United States, the Constitution of Michigan protects the personal property of every resident of the State to the amount of not less than five hundred dollars, the homestead of not exceeding forty acres of land, and the dwelling house thereon, and the appurtenances to be selected

by the owner thereof; or instead thereof, any lot in city or village, and dwelling house thereon, not exceeding in value fifteen hundred dollars, from any forced sale on execution, or any other final process from a court, so that once a resident and owner of a home, no amount of misfortune can ever deprive the settler in Michigan of that home. It is as sacred as the palace of a king, and of more certain tenure.

Hon. Solomon L. Withey, on his motion to increase this amount of exemption to two thousand dollars, in the Constitutional Commission of 1873, eloquently portrayed the moral advantages of this homestead exemption. He showed that the influence of a permanent home on a family of sons and daughters was so important that no edict of a court, however just, should be allowed to deprive the family of that influence, and that in making this provison of the Constitution, the State was protecting itself from evils which would inevitably result from the breaking up of families were homes subject to execution by the sheriff. The value of the exemption will undoubtedly be increased by the adoption of amendments proposed.

No Imprisonment for Debt.

No person can be imprisoned for debt except in cases of fraud or breach of trust. All votes are given by ballot.

Free Schools, Colleges, Etc.

Free schools, supported by school funds derived from public lands and by taxes on property, are secured to the people, so that no matter how large the family or how poor the parents, nothing can deprive children of an education if residing within a school district. The school house is usually the first public building erected in a new settlement, and in old settled places it is usually the finest structure. The schools are free from denominational control, and are conducted entirely on unsectarian principles. A first-rate University and a model farm and Agricultural College are also provided and handsomely endowed; both accessible to the people at trifling cost.

Libraries.

Town libraries, free for all citizens, are established by fundamental law, and supported by the proceeds of fines and forfeitures.

Property Taxation.

The taxation is on property equally assessed. Those who have no property pay little or no taxes. In this way the poor man cannot be oppressed by heavy taxation.

Protection to Labor.

Stockholders of corporations are individually liable for the labor performed for the corporations.

Private Property.

Private property cannot be taken for public use without the consent of the owner, or proper compensation.

Rights of Aliens.

Aliens who become bona fide residents of the State, enjoy the same rights, in respect to the possession, enjoyment, and inheritance of property, as native born citizens.

Control of Railroads.

The Legislature has power to establish reasonable maximum rates of charges for transportation of passengers and freight on railroads.

Statute Law.

In addition to these provisions of fundamental law, the statutes provide ample protection to life and property.

State Lands.

The State hold lands at reasonable prices, and on very easy terms for settlers thereon.

Railroad Lands.

Lands granted by the United States government for aiding in the construction of railroads, are held by the respective railroad companies, and sold by them to settlers on very easy