The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-28
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
THE HOMESTEAD BILL-THE COMMONWEALTH
siTIoN OF PARTIES.

THE HOMESTEAD BILL-THE CONFERENCE.-The TO-
siTIoN OF PARTIES.
The House resolved itself into Committee of
the Whole on the state of the Union-Mr HiBBARp
in the chair-and took up the bill proposing TO give
to every man, the head of family, a homestead
OF one hundred and sixty acres OF land out OF the
public domain, on condition OF occupying and cul-
tvating the same for period of five years.
Mr.. STEPHENS, of Georg ia, rcmar ked that he
could scarcely pretend TO be advocate a sup
porter of the bill before the committee but he did
thinkitwos tablet to the objections hich the gentle
man from Maryland Mr.. BowIE) yesterday urged
with 80 much ability and eloquence; nor did lac
think that 30 many benefits would be derived from
II as its original proposer (Mr. JOHNSON, of Ten
nessec) and its other advocates had so zealuusly
represented. lie would, however, frankly cav
thht II the public lands To be disposed OF as
they had been for the last session or two of Con
gress, he was decidedly in favor of giving them
away in this manner IN preference TO the other me-
thods which, II seemed, about 10 be incoI Do
rated in our policy.
Congress had given to railroads. TO the States for
internal improvements, and 10 soldiers for boun-
tics, within the last two yoars, nearly one hundred
millions Of acres Of the public lands And if the
question should be submitted TO him, whether he
would give the public domain TO the INDECENT and
homeless of our land, he would not hesitate say
that he would prefer this system to that general
and wholesale scheme of giving il away. He was
in favor OF a new policy OF disposing of the public
domain; and 1t some general system foe the &C
complishment Of this object should be adopted, he
would be willing TO incorporate this bill of
its features. Al present, without any definite pol.
icy, he rather inclined TO think That this ques.
ton had better lie postponed until they should sec
what great system was likely to be adopted
The gentleman from Maine, (Mr. SmAnT,) who
made speech few days since, said be rose to
defend the North, and made good his assertion
He (Mr. STEPHENs) did not respond 10 that by
saying that he rose on ths occasion to defend the
South, but TO defend the Constitution Of our coun-
try, our common country. North and South This
a. 10 he n 10
country. IL presents attitude il never did be.
fore In all republics, it is said. there must be
parties; but Inc planted hImst II the position that
there can be no parties without principles He had
constantly ringing in his cars " Whig" and "Dem.
ocratic parties. lie maintained that in this coun
try II was strange and anomalous fact that there
arc nominally two parties, but which really and
essentially do bot exist. A party, he Tepentc
must have principles, and men must adhere to
them. lie bad heard much about progress fOgy-
ism, and Young America, but he rose TO defend no
party; he rose to day 10 defend faction or either
the Wing or Democratic party, but TO lay down the
fundamental principle which should govern free
people, and without which Government cannot be
mainiained-namcly, that all partics, living, &C.
tive, and energetic, must be organized on the ques
tons Of the day. You may organize faction and
the Wing and the Democratic parties but lie adj
ministration must stand or fall on principles And
whs, IL the prominent question Of the day? The
great, leading, controlling, prominent question
which s likely 20 enter into the contes il the right
try to reclaim their fugitive slaves.
IL u said there must be disagreement between
northern and southern men on this question. That
is, II he understood tho logc Of the Insertion on
great constitutional question men must disagrec
II this is to be adopted either by the Democratic or
the Wing party, II ~ time the country should know
u. There is a majority Of the people OF the United
States in favor of The fufjmcnt of every coustitu.
tonal obligations; that ma orty has been evidenced
by the votes Of this Iiouse; by those who have spo
ken in the language Of law. The principle has
been affirmed North, East, South, aud West. This
principle has not only been affirmed by the Icgis
laiors, but by the courts of the country An over
Wbelmng Bajority Of the American people il in
favor OF this principle; and if he believed that there
must be disagreement in the particular stated
the future indeed TO him would be ROBBED in thi, k
darkness. What did he ask, az an American r, OF
gentlemen Of the NORTH lie did not Epoak To them
as Wbigs, Democrats, or Frcesoilers; he spoke to
them az representatives Of the American people,
in whose hands the desiinies of the country
and Of markings happiness; would they rex an
a)rogauOn Of the acts and reputation Of the
deeds Of their fathers who framed the Constitu-
tom Would they insist upon disagreement on
this great question, lie held that where there IA
great. prominent, vital question al issue
which goes 10 the foundation Of the Government
and men ask for a disagreement, they must speak
plainly, that their sentiments may be known; aud
that the friends Of the Union, the Constitution
and the country, must always express thsmeclve.
frankly, that they may be distinctly understood
Some gentlemen coy tbat If tbis be tue test We
make great sectional parties; but was he TO be
viewed os sectional man because he asked for the
enforcement Of a law upon the statute book which
has been affirmed by the Senate, and the House and
the highest tribunals of the country; was he TO be
charged with being sectional man because
he asked for the enforcement Of a law sanctioned
by every department Of the Government n co.
and Wings and Democrats cannot bring their
party organization TO the recognition Of tis prin
ciplc, and there is not majority to carry " out
II 1t u true that large portion Of the North is
unwilling 20 stand by the constitutional guaran.
tees aud rights, for one he wanted 10 know il. II
IT u truc-hc did not, however, believe it TO be
true, but thought IL was the cant OF n few men Of
the North. who want TO hold the balance Of power
he wanted 10 know il, az a southern man, ma