Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-06-05

internal improvement there Is little doubt that one COM
voice would rise up against from the West But
regard it, although color has been given
presumption by the fact that most Of the early and strong
advocates Of the Homestead Bill have been bitter and
uniform in their hostility to the railroad measures the
perhaps that they consider them anagonstica
each other The restrictions which thrown around
grants Of land obtained under the provisions the Home
stead Bill will tend TO make the demand slow and gradual
in its operation 1t will not swallow up the public do
main by great effort has been suggested but will
require time to make its influence percepbe although
that influence will become stronger and stronger Many
lots Of land will doubtless 90 of at the first burst should
the Homestead Bill become law, but the active demand
will abate In the time these great railroad
questions are pressing upon the attention Of Congress-
and cannot long be put by but must their final de-
feat be passed before any actual effect has been
perienced from the Homestead bill.
1t viii require Of course careful examination Of the
bill in detail to determine how far those features which
intended to guard against imposition the part
the buyer have been made perfect and practical whe
ther for instance it is in the power of the party after
he has made the necessary improvement to enable him
go upon the land to quit his claim another who may
may not be andhoder, and thus thwart the spirit Of
the law by what other provision succession of title
is secured and guarded against perversion. All these
considerations for the Senate who have the bill before
them but from the understanding Of the bill which
have derived there is reason to believe that under all
views of its effects the people Of this State would justify
our Senator's in voting for it, But it is plainly one Of
Godsmiths cases. in which much may be said upon
both sides"
FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA ARGUS
THE HOMESTEAD BILL.-One of the most vilanous
schemes devised by the demagogues Of the day is what is
called the Homestead BILL pending before Congress
Under the imposing title Of bill to encourage agrcul
ture commerce, and manufactures and all other branches
Of Industry it proposes to grant to every who is
the head Of family and citizen of the United States
homestead Of hundred and sixty of land of
the public domain" upon condition Of occupancy and
cultivation Of the for FIVE years And thus bid is
publicly made in market by the demagogues Of Con-
gress for votes and the consideration is to be the pro-
pery Of the people of the United States Their own land
is offered for votes to defeat their own will
Now we should like to know what right Congress has
thus to dispose Of the public doman Where is its letter
of attorney Under what clause of the constitution is the
power founds Are not the public lands the pro-
pery of the people of the whole country? Is not the
power that the General Government has them dele
gated for the good of all Then how it lay its finger
rood of them in the way of gratutous bestowa
this that particular Observation-Disclosures he be the
head the tail of family? The public lands esti-
mated at dollar and twenty-five cents per One
hundred and sixty then worth two hundred dol
lars Congress might therefore just well clutch two
hundred dollars in coined money out Of the public trea
sury for every oafer that would consent to spend the
same for gingerbread and whskey and call the proce-
dure for the encouragement of agriculture,
commerce, and manufactures, and all other branches of
industry" Much more appropriately might it be named
bill to encourage lazness, loang, gambling and every
other branch of rascaity for who is going to work for
land when he get from the national domain? Who
will labor for bread when he obtain from the
public crib? Who will reap or gather into barns when
assured that while there cent in the treasury he shall
not lack for loaf?
These lands are the poopes and Congress is bound to
sell them and bring the proceeds into the treasury to pay
the debts provide for the defence, and promote
the general welfare of the nation to distribute them
amongst the rightful in proportion to their
spectve interests therein. They amount fourteen
hundred millions of acres and, properly administered
they would defay considerable portion of the expenses
of the Government for ages upon ages to come dis
rbuted amongst the States according to federal popula
on it has hardly entered into the heart Of
ceive what they might be madeto accomplish for the
lands and loafers, condition of raising shanes on
them and scratching their surface for few years. they
will prove curse to the whole country.
In the first place, all hope Of further from this
prolific will entirely People win not pay
the Government for lands when the Government freely
gives them all that they need Then the citizens of the
old States viii have TO pay the national debt contracted
In the acquisition of these lands without deriving cent
Of income from them
Secondly The value of lands in the old States will be
greatly deerorated by the gratutous distribution Of
many millions of acres in the new. Who will pay fair
nothing BY going to Missouri or to ne gan get II Tor
Thirdly 1t will draw the population of from the old
States and convert those who would make good citizens
were they to remain with their families and kindred into
squatters and scratchers idle and vicious those
never fail to be who fed at the public crib.
Fourthy II will tempt the scum of society in the old
world to cross the waters and squat upon public do
man to scatter moral and political pestence and death
in the frontier settlements for they soon under our
easy naturalization laws become cizens OF the United
States" and derive much advantage from the bill
those to the born. And entirely opposed to
that fantasca philanthropy that would provide for the
paupers and oos Of the whole earth out of her national
heritage.
And filthy: 1t will be an entering wedge to further
division of property When find that they reap
where they have not and where they have not
labored they viii not be content without thus reapng
and eating If they have right other peoples land,
bread and cattle and money! Let the land be divided
frst and other divisions Of property will be called for
and shall have the agraran laws Of Rome re-enacted
with all their RIGHTEOUSNESS and bloodshed amongst
The first Roman who proposed gratuitous distri-
button Of lands >impeached for demagogism, and
thrown down the Tarpeian Rock We have no Tarpeian
Rock here but there 10 another awful steep Of which
demagogues have constant dread-the steep of popular
displeasure; and down this hope all who would
corrupty truck of the public domain Indignantly hurled
IRON THE JOURNAL or COMMERCE.
GIVING AWAY THE PuBLrc LAsDs.-The United States
House Of Representatives, by vote Of 107 to SO, have
passed shat called the Homestead Bill or more pro-
pery speaking the bill to rob the old thirteen States
first of their land then Of their money and lastly Of their
population 1t provides that any person who is the
head Of family and citizen of the United States any
person who is the head Of family and had signed his
intention become citizen prior the first day Of Jan
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