Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-05-15
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
HOMESTEAD Bill

On motion of Mr.. McMULLEN, the House went into
Committee Of the Whole the state Of the Union Mr.
HBBARD, Of New Hampshire, in the chair and resumed
the consideration Of the bill to encourage agriculture,
commerce, manufactures and all other branches Of In
dusy by granting to every man who is the head of
family and citizen Of the United States homestead of
MAN, upon condition Of occupancy and cultivation Of the
same for the period Of FIVE years. HN e%t
Various amendments offered to the last section,
none Of which, however, were agreed to- lfoe q'4
Mr.. COBB moved to amend the bill by adding thereto
section to graduate the price of the public lands accord
ing to the length of time they have been in market
The CHAIRMAN ruled the amendment out Of order as
not gerrnane to the bill. .so9t 81
Mr.. BROWN of Mississippi offered substitute for the
BILL which proposed to perpetuate presumption actual
settlers the public andsthat is to say persons ac
curing the right Of presumption shall retain the same
without disturbance and without payment Of any kind to
the United States certain conditions giving the
emptor the right at any time at his her discretion
enter the lands preempted by paying one dollar and
twenty five cents per acre. !'
Mr. b. said that he was anxious that the American Com
gress in dsposing Of the public lands should at least
guard the persons who would be therecpens of its bou
y against imposition 1t did seem to him that if they
should give the occupant the right to settle upon the
land and to remain there long he chose they would
for him that the benevolent could desire
BY his substitute they would the occupant in the
possession Of home they would secure him against his
profigacy and misfortune and against all the world
including himself He was not In favor of giving the
their debts with them He ready to give them homes
the public lands and secure them in the possession of
them long they might think proper to remain, and
whenever they fit to hold the soil Of their own right
he for taking money from them for the land as he
would from any body else.
Mr.. HALL expressed himself opposed to the substi-
tute when
Mr. HARRIS, OF Tennessee motea substitute for the
substitute of Mr. BRowN proposing to graduate the price
Of the public lands to actual settlers and cuvaors
cordng to the time the lands have been in market and
remained unsold. 49, st'1
Mr. SEYMOUR, Of New York, opposed the amendment
Of Mr. HAMS, and expressed preference for the sub
stitute Of Mr. BRowY when 49,
The amendment Of Mr. HARMS was rejected: Ayes Az,
noes 49, Y.
Mr. COBB then renewed the amendment which he had
offered at previous stage Of the proceedings and which
had been ruled out Of order by the Chair but which
now received as In order. He declared himself firm
friend Of the homestead bill, and made few remarks III
favor Of his amendment, ~ .e ) -.
Mr. CAMPBELL, Of Illinois, opposed the amendment
and spoke in opposition to the substitute Of Mr. BRos
believing it was intended to build up and perpetuate
system Of tenancy between the citizens Of the United
States and the Governmenta position which he could
desire to the reee Of this country occupy
wards their Government 4 !; y III NV,
The amendment Of Mr. Com was then rejected
Mr.. M0REHEAD moved to amend the substitute Of
Mr. Bnows by adding thereto provision exemptng from
taxation for twenty years the lands granted under this
act.
Nfessrs MoBEHEAD and JOHNSON, Of Tennessee,
debated the amendment when it was rejected.
The Committee then rose and reported progress.
And the House adjourned.