Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-05-18
TIE HOMESTEAD BILL

We give below this bi passed the House of Repre-
.sntivss Wednesday. Two o the prominent features OF
e bill are these that excludes from It's benefits parties
already in the possession Of land who sela with
an intention obtain free grant, and that the land ac-
ouired under its regulations shall not be held liable for debts
contracted prior to the ssulnce Of the patent The follow
ing is the billitsel:
BE il enacted &C.. That person who is the head OF
family and citizen of the Cated States or any person VINO
the head of family and has become czen PRIOR 70 Tue
first day of January, eighteen hundred ana re-
oired bv the naturalization laws of the United States SHALL
from and after The passage Of this act be entitled 10 enter
free Of cost quarter section of vacant and unaPpoPr
ted public lands or quantity equal 10 oe oca,sa M
public lands and after the same shall have been surveyed
Sec q And be further enacted That the person nppy-
ing for the benefit Of this shall upon application to the
Register of Land Office in which he or she about TO
make such entry affidavit before the said register that
she Is the head of family and is not the owner OF
any in nd at the time OF such application ana mas
disposed in land 10 obtain the Dement'S OF
ths act and upon making the affidavit as above re-
ouired and filing the affidavit with the register, he
m she shall ,hereupon be permitted the quantity OF
land already specified Provided however, That no certificate
shall given patent issued therefor until Inc OF
five from the date of such eny and IT, at the expa
lion of such time person making such entry or ne DC
dead his window, in case Of her deat MS nes or oe-
ssce; OF wdo" making suc entry nei els o.
deysse in case DEATH shall prove by two credible wit
they have continued to reside upon
and cultivate said land and still reside upon the same ana
have not aenated the any part thereof then IN
such case he she or they shall be entitled patent as
in other cases provided fut by law And provided,
| further That in of the death OF boh litheT
and mother leaving infant child or children
under fourteen wears of age The right and the fee shall
enure 10 the benefit Of ssd nfan child or chldrcn ana e
executor, administrator or euardan NAV? al any 'ne
in two years after the death OF the Surviving parent a SAD
land for the benefit of such nfars ou ior no one upose
and the purchaser sha acquire tie absolute c oY he pur-
chase and bo entitled patent from the United Soies
Ssc3 And DO it further enacted That the register OF the
land office shall all such applications on the tract DOCKS
and pas of his Office and keep register OF all such entries
and make thereof the General Land Oce together
with the proof upon WHICH they huye been founded
And be il further enacted, That all land acquired
the provisions of this oct shall in no event become la
b 10 satisfaction of any debt de5a contracted prior
| 10 the issuing the patent therefor.
Sec s. further enacted That it, at any time af
ter filing the affidavit, required in the second section o
Ills act, and before the expiration of tho five years aforesaid
il shall be proven by two respectable witnesses
upon oah the satisfaction Of the register Of the land Of
6ce that the person having filed such affidavit shall have
actually changed his her residence aoundoned the said
entry for more than six months at any time them and in
that event. the land SO entered shall revert back to the Gov
enmen and be disposed OF as other public lands are now by
Sec s. And be it further enacted, That II individual
now resident OF any OF the States Territories and
not citizen of tho United States but at the time of making
such application for the benefit of This act shall have filed
declaration Of intention as rsqaled oy ae
same before the of the patent as made and pov
dcd for in this act shall be placed upon an equal footing with
the native born citizens Of the U. States
Sec T. And be it further enacted, That no i"dSidsu
shall bo permitted make more than one entry unoer h
provisions of this act; and that the commissioner OF the
General Land Office is hereby required 10 prepare ana
such rules and regulations consistent with ihs act as sna
proper carry its provisions INTO erect anc
that the registers and receivers OF the se'era ahu oe
shall entitled receive the same compensation TOT any
patented the provisions of this act that are
entitled 10 receive when the came Quantity OF ano
entered with money be paid by the party TO whom h
patent shall bc issued: Provided however That all persons
entering land under the provisions OF this act sha US nea
as may practicable in making such entries 90
10 each alternate quarter secon and land subject 10 p
yae entry: And provided further That nothing in TINS ac
shall be So construed TO mps interfere 10 any manhe
whatever with existing pre-emption rights.
The following is the vote upon the passage OF the 0'
! yr-Messrs AbcrcrombIe, Charles Allen Willis Allen
Allison Babcock Bartlett, r Bssel Briggs, Brooks, Al
ter Brown Buell. Busby Joseph Cable Th0%psI1 %"sH
uSs p
vis, John Davis, Dawson, Disney Do,y purkee Eas.
Ewing ckn Es F0sns oeds6 Foyd ams. r0ws em
Grew Grow Hall, Sampson W Harris, Hascall Hendricks
lIenn Houston IngersolI Ives Andrew Johnson John