The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-11
In CONGRESS- OF THE u. STATES.
Thirty-second Congress second Session
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY "A, 1853.
lin CONTINUATION
SENATE.


consideration, proposing, does disposition OF the
public lands shall avail myself Of The liberty il affords
fore the Senale for the disposition OF the public domain
shall first consider the bill which has acquired the IL
uHby common consent. OF the "homeslead bllP'-a
ie which gives popularity throughout the land that
other could coner. Perhaps there is no Dame save
that OF wife, children, friends, that is haowed BY
so many endearDg associations as that oil the family
homestead. II forms common platform on which The
affections OF aihe rich and the poor, the old and the
young-peet upon level Every senator in this cham
ber yielding to the impulses of his own.hear will es
Iy to the truth Of the poets declaration, that
"There is place like home.'
Every co,iages heart in this broad land beats respon
svey to lis ruth. and alf take delight in confer
ring benefits upon the necessitous, feel confident that
every senator this floor is disposed for the
bull when i shall be taken up or for some proposition
that will mbody substantially the great object sought
be attained by it, he can do so consistently with his
duty to the constitution and the country
propose, sir to enter upon brief examination OF
powers the public domain, and our duty upon the
important question OF its proper disposition. assume
the position postuate that the public lands have
been acquired by the common blood and treasure OF all
the States of the Union-that the czeas OF each State
have common interest in the undand that Congress
tie trustee. charged with the duty of dsposing Of the
lands in such as shall best promote the Interests
OF ALL without doing injustice to any The power of
Congress the public domain differs materially from
lis power money in the treasury II the best inter
Of the eestu que trust will be promoted by it, is not
only the right OF Congress, hut is its duty give the
lands away But have not the power to collect
ey in the form Of give away, for the conclusive
that the constitution has not conferred the taxing
power for any such purpose, and cannot appropriate
money! when collected and in the treasury tor any other
object than that for which we were authorized to collect
ii With this view OF the power and duty of Congress
over the subject proceed 10 consider the merits OF the
bill The object sought to be attained by the bill is, that
every head OF family shall have and enjoy hundred
and sixty OF the public land upon his her making
the application in due form, taking oath that he or
she is The head of family and the of any es
tate in lands and with the additional requirement that
The applicant shall occupy and cultivate the same for
have been complied with patent shall issue. These
the leading features OF the bill.
Mr. President, am by no means certain that il would
not be money making operation, having view its ef
fects on mposs give actual settlers the public lands
in preference 10 the present mode OF selling them al
81 IS per acre Bear in mind that the government has
adopted the principle of raising revenue for It's sup
port almost exclusively from duties on imports Then
20 with me to the dwelling of the poor man, who feels
that he is but tenant at will either OF the government
or OF wealthy epecula'or. Observe that toiling
for years upon rented farm he pays third OF the
proceeds OF his labor to his landlord and nine out
Of ten he but scanty subsistence for his family
His improvements, repairs. and cultivation OF the soil,
are carried from year to year TO meet present wants
Not knowing what day may bring forth, his labors
look not the future for their fruition. But, let
some fortunate turn in his affairs occur, that he
bed TO secure afreehold in his right and you will
see him work with a new energy. iis improvements
are made with view to permancnce, knowing that he,
and those who most dear 10 him, will reap the bene-
fits of his labors in years His farm is enlarged,
his property improves he begins to count the years when
his orchard will yield its various fruits, his garden blooms
his children are educated he has artificial wants which
he knew not BEFORE he is able TO purchase and pay for
imported goods and by these means the receipts in your
are sweed far beyond his contribution OF two
hundred dollars for his one hundred and sixty acres OF
land, which when once paid, he neverpays again.
As many OF the senator's from the older State are not
personally acquainted with the characters OF those who
intended to be the benefciaes OF this BILL and with
the privaons they compelled TO endure, shall be
pardoned for advering briefly TO them. In the first place.
your lands absolutely worthless IN the wilderness
until the pioneer prepares the way Tor others BY his
enterprise and labor he makes the settlement attractive
and your contiguous lands valuable This fact itself en-
titles him the favorable consideration of his govern
ment But when you add TO this that our complex yet
model government is maintained and supported by the
confidence and affection Of the people, that IL is
the highest duty OF the government no less than lis true
policy afford every facility for lis citizens TO become
feebolders because, by having an interest in the soil,
you increase their interest in the government
have witnessed at land sales that convinced
me OF the love OF the settler to his house. have
men attend such sales who had encountered all the tolls,
bardships and privaons OF frontier life who know
ing the government price, had managed by pDchng
omy, TO barely enough 10 pay Tor The quarter sec
ton on which they had erected their humble hut, cleared
and fenced a small field, Ii the speculaor should bid
one dollar above the government price, their homestead
was swept away, and their wives and children lett with
out shelter TO protect them IRON the peng storm.
have witness the settler the proceeding
merca order, approached his tracts have gazed upon
his anxious countenance, giving expression TO alternate
alarm and apprehension. And as his home struck
down to him, have witnessed the glow OF Joy with
which b. counlenance was III up, as he turned from the
stand and eracsd his steps, TO convey The good news TO
his expecant wife and children, that this lmprov
had become the family homestead They only can ap.
preciaie such a pctare and realize its Truth who have
felt the sting OF poverty and witnessed the scenes have
attempted to describe.
And sir il is no fancy sketch that have presented TO
your view, but of the sober realities OF every-day
frontier life Nay more sir, the settler rs honest, kind
hearted and hoeptabe III the stranger weary travel
Ter calls on him. he is taken in, not in any doubtful
sense but with cheerfulness and hearty welcome which
more than compensate for his homely fare. He never
forgeis favor, either from individual or the govern
ment | recoect occasion al land sale, OF being
quested by settlers to bid of their lands for them
I did So Some years afterwards was canvassing ior
the Office of circuit Judge Oh approaching certain
netv hborhood | met 4 with whom unac-
uuan,ed but when made myself and the object OF my
yist known, he remarked that | need not 90 into his
neuhbobood seeking votes that they had learned that
aided sone OF the settlers IN purchasing their homes and
thai thew all intended to vote for did not lose
vote at that box allude this incident, in passing to
prove The truth my remark, that these people
upgraieful. l,H..H
IN ma homestead II misfortune overtakes him, he will
surrender all his other properly before his homestead
adv win Weld 10 her husbands creditors her carriage and
other valuables almost without murmu but when you
come TO IA re the that spot which has become
seh and the unbden tear attest the strong hold II has
upon the human heart a
Mr. President cordially approve the object OF this
bill and appreciate the anxiety OF its friends Tor fs pas
sage and think shall not TALL behind Them IN any
proper effort 10 make glad the hearts OF The poor bat
neither this. any other object good IN itse snoud
be attained AT the expense OF Justice have come ub1ec-
tlona IN he uh shall procped In the