Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-15

AA~''-NNt~sttS
The following are the NEST important proyi
ions of the Homestead bill. as it passed the
House of Representatives.
Any person who is the head of family. and
citizen of the United States, or any person who
is the head of family, and had become Il citizen
prior to the first day of January last, required
by the naturalization laws of the United States,
shall, from and afterthe passage Of the act, be
titled to enter free of cost, quarter section 60
sacres.) ofvacant and unappropriated public lands
The persons making application for the benefit of
this act are required to make afdavits. that they
are not the of any estate in land at the time
of such application, and have not disposed of any
such estate for the purpose of obtaining the bene
fits of the law. No patent shall be issued until
the expiration of five years from the date of entry
when upon proof of continued residence and cul-
tivatiou, the person making such entry shall ac
quire an absolute title.
Any person now resident Of any one of the
States or Territories, and not a citizen of the U.
States, but who at tue time of making such applica
tion for the benefit of this act shall have filed deca-
ton of intention required by the naturalization
laws of the United States, and shall become citi-
zen of the same before the issuance of the patent
as made and provided for in this act, shall be
placed upon an equal footing with the native-born
citizens of the United States.
This provision is in palpabe conflict with the
first section ofthe BILL which confines the bene-
fits of the act to such persons had become citi-
zens of the United States, prior to the 1st Janua
ry, 1852. The provision last quoted places the
whole foreign population of the country
equality with the native born citizens of the U.
States. The emigrant can claim and enter upon
his 100 acres of the public lands as he
reaches our shores, by simply fling declaration
of his intention to become an American citizen.-
The lands acquired underline provisions of this act
not to be held liable for debts contracted prior
to the issuance of the patent
These are the principal features of the gigantic
scheme of public spoliation, which has just re-
ceived the sanction ofan overwhelming majority
of the lower branch of Congress. The vote on
its passage, as our readers have already learned,
stood, yeas 10Y, nays Sc. We have not put our
selves to the trouble of Analysing the vote, but
Judging from the large majority given in favor of
the bill, we presume that it waa sustained by
more than one half of the representatives from
the old States. We acknowledge ourselves una
BILE to understand how these gentlemen re-
concile it with their of duty to their consti
tuents thus to squandera fund, part of which
was coded by them upon the express condition
that it was to be held as the common property of
all the States, and the remainder OF which was
acquired by the blood and treasure of the whole
nation. If the people of these States shall en-
dorse the action of their representatives and shall
quietly submit to be robbed of their share Of the
national domain, by the demagogues in Congress,
under the plea that it is the duty of the govern
ment to provide homes for those who have none,
it will argue degree of stoild Indifference to
their dearest rights and interests of which por
ton of the American people have ever yet been
accused, and for which we may in vain seek a
parallel, save in the example OF the stupid and
degenerate prince of Edom.
We are pleased to see that the entire delegation
from Virginia, with two exceptions, voted against
the Homestead bill We had supposed that the
Hon. Fayette McMullen was the only represen-
tative from this State whose vote would be re-
corded in its favor; but it seems that his compeer
the Hon. G. w. Thompson, shares with him the
glory of bartering away tn rights of this old com
monwealth
The bill will Curse pass the Senate at an
early day. and the public lands thus be thrown
open to the occupancy of ''all the world, and the
rest of mankind.''
LIFE OF THACKERAY.-Eyeryb body knows Thack-