Whenever there is in any country, uncultivated
lands and unemployed poor, it is clear that the laws of
property have been so far extended as to violate natural
right. The earth is given as a common stock for man to
labour and live on. If, for the encouragement of industry
we allow it to be appropriated, we must take care that
other employment be furnished to those excluded from
the appropriation. If we do not the fundamental right to
labour the earth returns to the unemployed. It is too soon
yet in our country to say that every man who cannot find
employment but who can find uncultivated land, shall be
at liberty to cultivate it, paying a moderate rent. But it is
not too soon to provide by every possible means that as
few as possible shall be without a little portion of land. The
small landholders are the most precious part of a state.
http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch15s32.html
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