The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1852-05-26
Homestead Dill.

HUpbCooIOu VI t"hNp VI ~ ahuJ VI WV
with an intention 10 obtain a free grant;
and that land acquired under this act shall
hotb e held liable for debts contracted prior
to the issuance of The patent.
1t is moi supposed that the bill will pass
the Senate at this session--but that il will
become a law before many years, we have
no doubt or fcar--because it is demanded
by the best interests Of the whole country,
and is designed to benefit a class who have
never before enjoyed but few Of the bles-
sings of government--and none of its
bounties-while in peace and in war they
have borne their full proportion of the
burdens.
The following is the bill
Be il enacted, &c., That any person
who is-lhe head Of a family and a citizen
of the United States, or any person who
is The head of a family, and had become
a citizen prior to the first day Of January,
eighteen hundred and 6(ty.two, as required
BY the naturalization laws of tho United
States, shall, from and after the passage Of
this act, be entitled 10 enter, free Of cost,
one quarter section Of vacant and unap-
proprialed public lands, or a quantity equal
thereto, to be located in a body in con-
formity with the legal subdivisions of the
public lands, and after the same shall have
been surveyed.
Sec. Q. find be il further enacted, That
the person applying for the benefit of this
&C, shall, upon application to the Register
of the Land Office, in which he or she is
abou! to make such entry, make affidavit
before the said register that lie or she is
the head of a family, and is not the owner
of any estate in land at the time Of such ap'
rlicalion, and has not disposed of any es.
tate in land 10 obtain the benefits of this
act; and. upon making the affidavit as
above required, and filing the affidavit with
the register, he or she shall thereupon be
permitted to enter the quantity of land al
ready specified: Provided, homevcr, That
no certificate shall be given or patent issued
therefore until the expiration OF five years
from the date of such entry; and if, at the
expiration of such time, the person ma
king such entry, or if he be dead, his
widow, or, in case of her death, his heirs
or deyisee; or, in case of "A widow making
such entry, her heirs or devisee, in case of
her death, shall prove By two credible wit.
nesses that he, she or they have continued
to reside upon and cultivate said land, and
sill reside upon the same, and have not
aIienated the same, or any part thereof,
then in such case, he, she, or they shall he
entitled to a patent, as in other cases pro
. vided Tor by law: find proUidedf further,
That in case of the death of both father
and mother, leaving an infant child OF
children under fourteen years OF age, the
right and the fee shall enure 10 the benefi
of said infant child or children; and The
executor, administrator or guardian, may
at any time within twoyears alter the dealt
of the surviving parent, sell said land fol
the benefit OF such infants, but for no 9th
er purpose +; and the purchaser shall &C
ouire The absolute title by the purchases
and be entitled 10 a patent from the United
States.
Sec. g.. End be il farther enacted
That the register oithe land office mott
al such applications on The tract books
and plants Of his office, and keep a regis
ter of all such entries, and make return
thereof TO the General Land Office, to
ge,her with the proof upon which the!
have been founded.
Sec. 4. find be il further cnaied, Tha
all land acquired under the provisions o
this act.shall in no event besome liable t
the satisfaction of any debt or debts con
tracled prior 10 the issuing the patent there
for. al
Sec. 5. .A.I be IL faHther enacted
That If, a, any time after filling the ailida
Wit as required in the second section Of lhi
act, and before the expiration Of the Gv
years aforesaid, i. shall be proven by tw'
or more respectable Witnesses, upon oaIt
10 the satisfaction Of the register of tn
land Office, that the person having fle'
such anidava shall have actually change,
his or her residence, or abandoned th
said entry for more than six months at an.
one time, then, and in that event, The lam
so entered shall revert back 10 the Gov
ernmeni, and be disposed Of as other pub
lie lands are now by law.
Sec. O.. And be ii farther eudcted
That if any individual, now a resident Q
any one OF the States or Territories, an
moi a citizen of the United States, but a
the time Of making such application 70
the benefit of this ACT shall have filed
declaration of intention as required by tn
naturalization laws Of the United State
and shall become a citizen OF the sam
before the issuance Of the patent, as mad
and provided for in this ac;, shall be place
upon an equal footing with the native
born citizens of The United States.
Sec. Z. And be il further enactet
That no individual shall be permitted I
make more than one entry under the pre-
visions of this act; and that the Commi:
sioner of the General Land Office is here
by required to prepare and issue such rule
and regulations consistent with this act q
shalb be necessary and proper to carry i
provisions into effect; and that the regit
ters and receivers of the several land o
fees shall be entitled to receive the sam
compensation for any lands patented undt
the provisions Of this act, tina. they al
now entitled 10 receive when the sam
quantity of land is entered with none,
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