The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-12

his country worthy TO be observed ana initiated
Shall this government the creature ot the people, and
made for their benefit be less wise in lis policy and less
generous 10 It's citizens than the despolisns OF the Old
World or The republics OF the New. trust not Land
cullar of God "God gaUe The earth 10 Ms inhabu
ans thereof" The promised land was gift to the chill
den OF Israeli dollar and twenty .hve cents the
not demanded Tor II nor the actual culuvaior
PEELED from his home, il he possessed the tloo hun
dred dollars 10 pay down for the hundred and sixty
acres. and his home sold, under the hammer, 10 The
highest bidder land then the gilt OF God to man.
and 10 woman aso for the daughters OF Manasseh
permitted to inherit and parake OF the bounty OF the
Glver OF all good
Mr.. President to show the evils OF the present land
system, call your attention letter from the Com
missioner OF the General Land Office respecting the Stale
OF Missouri From this letter it is that State
tans superficial area OF about 05O37 square miles,
4l,6236so acres OF this quantity lT,l2574 acres have
been sold, and lSS,g0 absorbed BY Spanish and
French grants, leaving 2i,3J9605 unsod upon the
3Oth day OF June last according to the Commissioners
statement now before me-
Under the present wretched system of dsposng of the
public lands the first sales in Missouri took place in
1918. Thus, If has taken thirty years for the fed
eral government TO sell l7l25,l74 acres, by the
rato estimating by the rule OF proportion, II will take
forty eight years dispose of the remaining lands that
State The q ,309 635 acres, divided by 160 the quan
ty given TO each settler under this bill would add to the
population OF the State land owning and tax pay
ing inhabitants.
In Michigan the state of things is even worse as is
from The following letter OF the Commissioner of
the General Land Office:
GENERAL LAND OFFICE, February 25 1858
SIR In reply your inquiries Of this date, have the
Michigan was made in the year 1918 Fom that date to
the 3J; June last peoi OF thirty iou years, there
3oh Inne last remained undspo,ed OF the quantity Of
ls,67s,sl acres Estimating ae future by the past il VIII
require dispose of this remaiaiug land period OF
about strty-sigtt gears.
"'a great respect yqa5 ymdS 3Se1en. seTvanl,
Hon A. G. DoDag, United States Senate
These bat fair samples of the injury inflicted upon
the West by the present system Is there any
dead 10 the interests of Missouri and Michigan as TO
wish TO proong this state OF thlngs
To show how much the advantages OF this bill are
overfaled, call attention to the fact that few years
since passed law granting to settlers in Oregon, free
oil cost, and on condition OF settlement and five years
cupancy much larger Quantities OF land thaA pro-
posed to be given by this bill and yet you find the peo-
ple owing TO the abundance OF money caused by the dis
covery OF gold in California asking repeal OF The
srclon and that they be permitted pay for their lands
Such law has been passed during the present session.
and those settlers now have their option OF purchase
conditional gift only refer TO this circumstance show
that the conditions imposed by the homestead bill are
rigorous and regarded by its benehcianes-hose
at least o them who so fortunate as to accumulate
The means necessary to pay Tor their claims before the
plraon of the five years
The constitutional power to pass the homestead bill !
regard clearly conferred. Its language is:
Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all
needul rules and regulations respecting the territory and
other property belonging TO the United States"
What needful rule and regulation could be estab-
shed than settlement and cultivation? And considering
the sources whence our governmental revenues raised
what more beneficial one could be devsed'
Acting under this power, Congress has recently made
donations 10 an enormous amount to the soldiers of the
Mexican war; 10 those OF the oil 1912, the OF
the revolution, Bonapares exied marshals and soldiers
10 Gen Lafayette say nothing OF the sixteenth and al
lernate- section grants to States and companies.
Oi population OF over twentythree millions OF in.
habltants in the United States, the head OF the census
bureau, in reply TO request OF mine. has furnished
with an estimate approximalng accuracy OF the number
OF real estate owners IN the United States, which he xes
at two millions three hundred and thiry-two thousand
nine hundred and nineteen and this presume is abou,
the number
Mr.. President there never was measure so abused
so misepresened yillied as has been the homestead
bill In the first place, large portion Of the country
have been made enormously to believe that its grants are
made to foreigners, and of the States have been
told that its enactment would bring horde. OF foreign pau.
pers upon Like every measure OF progress and re-
form, is fought with all sorts Of Taw-bead and bloody.
bones argument which can be invented Is there any
public who has the courage dare TO propose a re-
peal OF the naturalization laws OF this country' opine
not. take it that native Americanism is 50 dead that
II will never kick again. Then, VI that be true and
these foreigners TO us in the numbers 10 which they
do, ask you, IN the name OF God, what will you do
with them Will you keep them in your cities will
you keep them where they denied the opportunity v
OF cultivating the soil OF the country l-or will you hold
out TO them generous inducement, such the home
stead bill does, and such all governments this con-
nen have held out! The British the north. and the
Mexican and South American republics on the south,
have invited and attracted foreigners. Will you not
rather choose elevate their condition BY inviting them
to the magnificent and fertile plains OF the West upon
which they SETTLE and their daughters and sons gro
up and be useful and respectable II is within the range
OF human probability that under the spirit and genius OF
our institutions and the glorious provisions OF oar consul
ulion some OF the descendants Of these much abus sed
and hated foreigners may attain the presidency OF
these United States In your legislation touching the
well soil is necessary. You forget The lesson laugh
by Greek and elegantly parapbrased by British poet
"What constitutes a statel
Not hgh-raised baitemcnt nor labored mound,
Thick wall nor moaied gale;
Nor cities fair with spires and turres crown'd
Not bays and broad-srn'd ports,
Where, laughing at the storm, rich nnvies ride
Not stsifd and spangled courts,
Where low bowed baseness WAITS perfume to pride
No men, hgh-mnded mem
Men who their duties know,
But know their rights, and knowing, dare maintain
Prevent the long-aim'd blow,
And crush the iyrant when they burst the chain
These constitute Statei"
iect, but shall not say it this occasion shall re-
serve II TO The time when the homestead bill comes up
regularly. think fairness requires that.
Mr.. PETIT | do not rise to discuss this question
now bat simply TO say that may have been expected
by that should avail myself OF this opportunity 10
address the Senate upon the homestead bi, shall de-
cline doing so now, owing TO the laeness OF the hour
and the absence OF many honorable senator's How.
ever, on some appropriate occasion shall give nv view
upon the homestead bill Strange and arrogant as /, NAV
appear, deste to say that when speak desire to adj
dress the Senate OF the United States and moi the peooe
OF the United States at distance When desire 10 adj
dress them, will take the proper steps TO do 40 The
day j. too far advanced and the Senate s too Thin
Tor me to willingly proceed with what have 10 saw
When, however the homestead bill shall come M shall
desire to address the Senate upon H.
MIR. WALKER. | have some regret thai a discussion
upon the homestead bill should have been started unon