Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-01
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER
THE HOMESTEAD BILL. I"


of last week, upon the proposed measure falnili-
arly known by the title of "the Homestead BILL"
in which we quoted passage from the Speech OF
Mr.. ANDREW JOHNSON, Of Tennessee, at former
session of Congress- in support of the principle OF
that Bill it has been suggested to us that something
like injustice was done to one Of that gentleman 5
arguments by separating il from the context, and
that by rights, and to do full justice to it the con-
text should also have been published. Without
being able to see the matter in the same light as
the gentleman who has made this suggestion, are
disposed to relieve ourselves as far cam from
the suspicion of even accidental injustice to the mea
sure or to its advocates by turning to the official
report of Mr.. JoHNsoNs Speech on the subject, de-
liyered on the 18th day of July, 1850, and quoting
(below) at least SO much of it as gives full view
of the object and scope of the honorable gentleman
argument. TThe entire Speech will be foundin the
I'd VOL of the Appendix to the Congressional Globe,
1st session Of the last Congress, beginning on page
95O.l
He said that he had made this explanation for the
purpose Of letting the House and the country know that
this nothing less than the naked clean
position provide every man. who is the head Of fam
ly with homestead Of hundred and sixty acres Of
land, thereby encouraging agriculture increasing COM
merce, and widening the market for the manufactured
articles Of the country but he did not intend to enlarge
upon this branch Of the subject in this connection, but he
intended to march directly up to the consideration Of the
genora principles of the bill And by way Of prelude,
he would introduce some authority which he would
read at the Clerks table, which authority he thought
would be questioned by none and which he intended to
make the pedestal upon which he intended to erect his
Superstructure." b&+3 81 tttN fg
He then sent to the Clerks table, and had read from
Leyiticus chap o. %: The land shall not be
sold forever for the land is minefor ye strangers
and scourners with me-" Also the 1th chapter Of the
first book of NJ vattel the Law of Nations Also Pre-
sident Jacksons Annual message to Congress in 1882
with regard to the public lands commencing 1t can
not doubted that the speedy settlement of those lands
constitute the interest Of the republic, &c.; for
which extracts we have not in this paper and the
insertion of which rendered the less necessary from the
fact that they may be easily referred to by any reader
Mr.. JOHNSON then continued his remarks by saying:]
- That he thought that Moses, Vattel, and Andrew
Jackson made foundation, upon which he was will
ling stand without regard any other authority He
had introduced these great the purpose of salts
flying that portion of society who skepca in great
reform proposition like this and who would not take the
time and trouble to investigate and think upon the prn
cipe involved. Mr.. J. contended that the Government
had authority neither under the Constitution, nor in
compliance with the four great Elementary principles indis
pensabe to the existence Of man. to withhold the usuuc
OF the soil from its citizens Man cannot live without the
of the soil and Government cannot in compliance
with first principles withhold the essentials of life from
the people The Government whose legislation is directed
against these first principles, is making upon the
great scheme of Deity himself and reduces its operations
practical infdeiy. If the legislation of Government
made to conform to those great first principles which
lie at the foundation Of all things there would be more
wars famine, for armies and navies, no
revolutions, and strife legislation could
be made to take this direction hail it as the be-
ginning of the Millennium morn, when we should have
peace earth and good will among men. The contrary
has been the history Of legislation upon this subject
throughout the Christian and Pagan world the great OBJ
ject to have BEEN either from Ignorance design
perhaps from boho violate those great principles to
obstruct impede and aside and thereby defeat
the object of God himself As those violations accumulate
and reach such extent that they be borne
longer then is that those original principles resume
their course and the consequence is the overthrow of
monarchies revolutions in arstocraces and the crumbng
down of rotten and corrupt dynasties"
There objection existing in the minds of some
to disposng Of the public lands as proposed in the BILL
t pledged for the national debt This OBJ
lection, when examined, had foundation in reality
Notwithstanding the proceeds Of the sales Of the public
lands pledged for the payment Of the public debt in
the Law approved the 2Sh Of January, 1647 the
sources Of the whole Treasury were pledged and the in
rcst and the principal Of the debt paid out Of the
Treasury without regard to any particular description
fund The action Of the Government proves most CON
cusvely that this fund not looked to the means
paying the national debt On the 18th Of February 64
the law approved granting this very land In the
shape Of bounes to all those who entered the service
the United States In the with Mexico and so far
this objection is concerned he thought he might rest the
argument here but he would take another view of the
subject for the purpose Of satisfying that portion Of
cey who measured every thing by dollars and cents and
at the same time to every possible objection to thu
Government acting in bad faith far the pledgng
the public lands concerned for the public debt.
" If this bill shall be passed into law and carried ntc
successful operation 1t win greatly enhance the value
the public land and increase the from that
He said there millions Of of public land tina
lying in the States and Territories wholly unpro
ductve, and under present system would be SO fol
hundreds Of years to On the other hand, had
large number of citizens who without professions
and owned land, and were compelled TO rent from
others, become day-laborers be crowded into thu
large manufacturing establishments toll for their DAILY
support We then that have the men, and at the
time have the soil separated they produce but little
sofar as Government concerned The man that poo
makes but little consequently he has live upon the bar
necessaries of life, and Of the Injuries Under
impost tariff system he contributes very small portion
if any thing, the support Of the Government On thu
other hand the soil without the cultvator produces
nothing But by bringing the cuvator and the soil il
contact you increase the production Of both and thereby
add to the creative power Of the Government As Ibe
fore remarked, the without soil pays but little tt
the support Of the Government under sys
TEN; but by giving him hundred and sixty Of land
You increase his ability TO produce, and, increasing his
ability to produce you increase his ability to buy also
and as you increase his ability to buy you win not only
induce him TO buy Of the Of life for the
support OF his family, but indulge in many Of the
luxures for man in the main win indulge in the use OF
necessaes and comforts in proportion TO his ability to
buy them shall assume q basis which is far short
Of reality that individual owning homestead better
able buy hundred dollars worth more OF the
saries and comforts of life upon which the Government,
lays and collects duty than he before owning IT,
Our present system upon this additional hundred
dollars worth purchased by the individual lays tax Of
thirty per cent which would be thirty additional dollars
paid into the Treasury In years it viii be per
ceived that upon this basis the Government would recei
two hundred and ten dollars into the Treasury Of tn
Tr,xa al Ctataa tban~ hat