The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-12-28
The Homestead Bill.

The interest with which the country is
looking for the action OF Congress on the
homestead bill induces us to publish it at
full length, as reported by Hon. J. L. Daw
son, Of Pennsylvania, from the Committee
on Agriculture, Of which he is chairman:
bill to encourage agriculture, commerce,
manufactures, anda all other branches Of
industry, by granting to every man who
is the head of family and citizen Of
the United States. homestead of one
hundred and sixty acres of land out Of
the public domain, upon condition Of oc-
cupancy and cultivation of the same for
the period herein specified.
Be it enacted, &c., That any person
who is the head of family and citizen
of the United States shall from and after
the passage of this act, be entitled to enter,
free of cost, one quarter section of vacant
and unappropriaied public lands, or a
quantity equal thereto, to be located in a
body, in conformity with the legal subdi-
visions of the public lands, and after the
same shall have been surveyed.
SECTION 9. And be it further enacted.
That the person applying for the benefit Of
this act shall, upon application to the Reg
| IL
is about to make such entry make affida-
Wit before the said register that he or she is
the head of family; and upon making the
affidavit with the register, he or she shall
thereupon be permitted to enter the guam
tity of land already specified; Provided,
however, That no certificate shall be Civ.
en-, or patent issued therefor, until the ex-
piration OF five years from the date of such
entry; and if, al the expiration Of such time,
the person making such entry, or, if he be
dead, his widow, or, in case Of her dee.th,
his heirs or devisee, or. in case Of wild.
ow making such entry, her heirs or devisee.
in case OF her death. shall prove by two
credible witnesses, tho. he, she, or they
have continued to reside upon and cu'ti.
vate said land. and still reside upon the
same, and Fave not alienated the same, or
any par; thereof; then. in such case, he,
she or they shall be entitled to patent, as
IN ether cases provided for law; And pro-
vided further. In case Of the death of both
} father and mother, leaving an infant child
! or children under fourteen years Of age,
! The right and fee shall innure to the benefit
4 Of said infant child or children, and the ex-
Y ecutor. administrator, or guardian may, al
+ any time within two years after the death
of the surviving parent. and in accordance
with the laws of the State in which sucl
children for the time being have their dom
!. icil. sell said land for the benefit Of sat
: infants. but for no other purpose; and thu
= purchaser shall acquire the absolute titl'
o by the purchase, and be entitled to pat
S ent from the United States.
,ff Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, Tha
e the register Of the land Office shall note al
e such applications on tract book and plat
e of his office. and keep register Of all sucl
Q entries. and make return thereof to tn
!, General Land office, together with the proc
Y upon which they have been founded.
nj SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, Tha
II all land acquired under the provisions G
}. this act shah in no event become liable +
20 the satisfaction of any debt or debts con
IS traesed prior 10 the issuing the patent there
d for.
J. Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, Tha
le if, at any time after fling the affidavit a
\. required in the second section Of this ac
l. and before the expiration Of the five year
a. aforesaid, it shall be proven, after due nc
N tice to the settler. to the satisfaction of tn
" register of the land office, that the perso
b. having filed such affidavit shall have &C
at tually changed his OF her residence. Q
b. abandoned the said entry for more than ST
n. months at any one time, then, in that even
IS the land so'entered shall revert back to tn
r. government, and be disposed Of as othe
We public lands are now by law. subject to a
e. appeal to the General Land Office.
in Sec. 6. And be it further enacted. Thi
.ir if any individual now resident of an
one of the States or Territories, and not
n citizen of the United States. but al the tim
an Of making such application for the benel
d. intention, as required by the natnralizatio
TO laws Of the United States. and shall becon
an a citizen Of the same before the issuane
er Of the patent. as made and provided f;
ty in this act. shall be placed upon an equ
Ith footing with native born citizens of Il
nd United States.
sc Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, TIL
lat no individual shall be permitted to NAL
ed more than one entry under the provision
he OF this act; and that the Commissioner
lid the General Land Office is hereby require
nd to prepare and issue such rules and reg
rs lations consistent with this act as shall
'ur necessary and proper to carry its provi
ms ions into effect; and that the registers ar
af. receivers Of the several land Offices shs
he be entitled to receive the same compens
ds ton for any lands entered under the pr
for visions Of this act that they are now enttle
Mt to receive when the same quantity of lar
ae is entered with money, one-half to be pa
lal by the person making the application
, the time of so doing. and the other halfc
,at the issue of the certificate by the person
Dr.. whom it may be issued; Provided, howe
er. That all persons entering land und
the provisions of this act, shall be as ne
ars as may be practicable in making such e.
BILE tries, be confined to such alternate quart
,lh sections, and to land subject to private q
Ills try And provided further, That nothir
er. in this act shall be construed as to impa
as or interfere in any manner whatever, wi
,es existing pre-emption rights.
es. The bill was referred to the Commit
yht of the Wncle on the State of the Upio
sre and with the report ordered to be printe
r Al II