The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-27
From lie Neu York journal Of Commerce

should present TO readers the following article,
in which condensed some OF the objec tons 10
the bill
From The NeD York Journal Of Commerce
GIyING AWAY THE Pubic LASDs.-The United
States House Of Representatives, by vote Of l07 TO
so. have passed what is called the II homestead bill
Or, more properly speaking, the bill TO rob the
old thirteen State, first Of their lInd, then of
their money, and lastly. of their population.
IL provides " that any person who il the head
of family and ciuzen Of the United States,
any person who 10 the head Of family
and bad signified his intention 10 become citizen
PRIOR 10 the hrst day of January. 1854, required
by The naturalization laws OF the United States,
shall, from and after The passage Of this act, be
entitled 20 enter free Of cost. quarter seoiion
Of vacant and unapproprated lands, or quantity
equal thereto, 10 be located IN body, confOrmi-
" with the legal subdiysions Of the public lsnds,
and alter the same shall have been surveyed "
Subsequent section extends the same privilege %
"any individual now resident Of any one OF the
states or Territories, and not a citizen Of the
United States, Who, at the time of making such
application i,r the bcnt ht 81 this act shall have
flied declaration OF int, ntion, required by the
naturalization lave of the United States, ana shall
become a citizen Of the before the issuance OF
the patent" A quarter scction is one hundred
and sSty acres
II this iniqulious bill should become a law, ~
has yet to be- acted upon by the Senate IL will, IA
the fret place, take immense quantity Of land
originally belonging to elen Of the old thirteen
W
latter, surrendered 90 the nation Tor public pur.
posos, and gire IL array 10 particular eiass Of
cttEens, conuary % the whole spirit OF our insti-
tUtons.
2. IL will greatly depreciate, and in many cnses
render wOrth,ss, new lands ia the Wtsi, beion giug
90 individuals m the old States, who have paid for
them more than they are worth, even without any
Government interference 10 depreciato them When
th.y bought these lands from the Government, and
paid . 70 cents an acre for them in specie. they
had right 70 presume that they were dealing
with an honorable party, Who would not take al.
vantage Of HE position and power to destroy The
value VI the properly sold.
IL will be Offering direct bride, chiefly at the
expense Of the old Statcs, 20 tempt away such Of
their people as have no land. whatever elsc they
msy possess. Thus the old States will be made 70
pay for depopula,ing themselves, !. c 30 far as
the temptation preysiis-a double wrtag.
4. u will tempt hOrdes OF the worst and poorest
population Of Europe To come 20 THE country,
whereas are already receiving quite as many ss
are for the advantage OF the Republic the safety
81 its institutions. The annual imrni grafton in.
cluding that through Canada, IL not less than
3OO,OOO or 100000. Weare that the bill docs
not make direct provision Tor new corners, but
they know, or may know, (and their friends here
will tell then,) thIt as revolutions never 60 back
ward" 90, II the "lsndless" now IN this country
voted farms at the public expense, future ini.
migrants will be provided Tor m n sinilar manner.
5. hIs bill, II pace, into law will destroy one
Of our chief resources in tine Of war. In cnse Of
from customs would be very small But the pub
lie snds, " retain them, will be standing
source Of revenue, aud n very large one in the
event Of war with great commercial nation Thus
the leading object for which thcse lands were do
mated by individual Stites 10 the United States
will be disregirded aud defeated
9 IL will squander away invaluable patrimo
ny, which Witl be wanted by our children and our
chi dfcn's children. At The rate things going,
half a century, If not much l,ss time will use
% all the ueg land that IL worth cutiyating from
tie Atlantic ~ the Pacific Why should ve be IN
such haste ll Il all up with The dregs Of Europe,
u has the nation, in the eKtinguishment 81 In
dian title, IN surveys in purcbas from CIVILIZED
powers, and IN other means Of a. quisitiOn, Nus.
DREDs o. THDUsArDs Or DOLLARS; aud now pro-
posc 20 give u away 10 "thc pauper labor of Eu-
rOpel" We src amazed az the folly and madness
Oi the &C; and stl more when the
sure voted for by 80 large portion Il the repre-
sentauves Of the old States north Of Mason and
DiSou's line What docs IL mean! Do they think
they ssnt 20 Washington 10 giUe away the
property Of their constituents 60 fore igntrs by tens
VI miliiUns OF doats? What can be tue motive Of
tht ir cOnducl We cannot imagine, unless " be
that the Presidential election " hand, aud that
neither party ~ willing 60 take the responsibility
81 saying NO, even TO proposition rnonstrous,
lcst The other party should that little word as
cv6r raise their candidate into the Presidential
chair by means Of foreign yo,es. Well, II foreign
votes are potent now, bat will they be ~hen
this bill shai have had the effect to bring millions
more over to this country
WedO hope that the Senate, the conservative
power " the nation, will arrest the suicidal inca
sure on She spot II has not been properly discuss
Cd aud uudcrstoJd by Inc people. AZ least give ne
time 10 think Off a measure 20 vast IN ito sweep,
aud far reaching in i've consequences, should not be
passed without the most mature deliboratOn. "LoOk
20 the senate