Washington sentinel., 1854-07-25
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HOMESTEAD BILL.
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN b. WELLER,
OF CALIFORNIA,
In hhe Senate, July Is, 1854.

OF CALLfOhNlAy
In the Senate, July IS, 1854.
The Senate. as in Committee Of the Whole,
having under consideration the Homestead bill
Mr. WELLER said
Mr. PRESIDENT have listened with good deal
Of attention TO the debate on the bill now under
consideration; but have not felt, until Yesterday,
any disposition 10 engage in IT, can say, win
out subjectng myself 10 the charge of afeciatIon,
that always speak with great reluctance IN TINS
body. i around me senators OF riper years,
Of greater experience in the public councils, ana
who have made themselves familiar with all the
grave questions which We are called upon 10 de-
eide.
But sir, this is question in which the people
whom represent upon this floor are deeply inter-
ested II is question of vital importance 10 that,
as well as to every other section OF the country
which does not already contain a dense popula-
ton, and in which there SIN remains unoccupied
a large extent OF territory.
do NOT propose to-day, Mr.. President, TO go
into a discussion of the constitutional power OF
this government over the public lands. That
question has been SO ably debated here, that it
would be wholly unnecessary now TO enter into
il. But you will allow me, in passing, TO express
the opinion that entirely dissent from the doc
irine which has been advanced here, that the
power of the federal government over the public
lands is unlmted. ! regard this government as
one oflimited powers; andthere is properly speak
ing, no power conferred upon the federal govern
ment that is unlimited. fiji is not limited in ex-
press terms, it is limited by the general principles
and general provisions Of the Constitution. Sir,
your federal government was intended TO be
government OF limited powers; It was intended
that your federal Congress should exercise no
power, except that which was clearly given by
the written instrument, which was absolutely
necessary TO the exercise of a delegated power.
But, Mr. President, il has been the policy of this
government, for many years past, to encourage, in
all proper ways, the settlement and cultivation Of
The public lands. We have now an immense
amount Of public domain we have perhaps some
seventeen hundred millions of acres Of unsettled
land, over which wild beasts and savage Indians
now roam undistnrbed. You find the policy OF
The government TO have consisted, first, in re-
dncing the price of the public land from 50 10
81 rs per acre, and subsequently in the passage
OF liberal pre-emption laws, which, | may be
allowed 10 say, were as bitterly opposed in their
days as this Homestead bill is now opposed. Ihad
the honor Of holding seat in the other branch of
Congress in 1S41, when know certain gentlemen
belonging TO one Of the prominent parties of this
country were bitter in their denunciations ofwhat
they were pleased TO denominate squanderng
ofihe public lands. There were many who, be-
ing unable 10 purchase, had settled upon your
occupied territory, with a view 10 its cultivation
They were stigmaiized with the appellations Of
sgnaf1ers y and land pirates" who ought 10 be
dispossessed by military force. Sir, the whole
policy OF that Congress was TO adopt liberal
system Of disposing of the public lands TO those
who might desire 10 go on TO them. / took occa-
sion then, whilst member of the House, TO ex-
press my opinions upon this subject. and have
ieli no disposition 10 charge them. i read ex-
tract from speech made by me on the Sd of Feb
ruary, lS4, solely for the purpose Of reiierating
The sentiments then advanced:
sThe preemption bill fsvorite measure with me and
snsts all the kympathies Of nature 1t affords the
interests Of the hardy and enerpriring emcrant who
abandoning tho home Of bis fathers the wornout
rich valleys Of The far west Sir would rather be
nized the champion Of such than hold the
the encouragement Of the the promise that
within limited period they shall be permitted the pre-
sent price, purchase the land which they
with industry and enterprise, win soon give
way TO the comfortable dwelling, and the wilderness be
Of this net many in the old sstes Of this Union Who now
feel from day 70 day the cutting lash Of penury and want
fhe ability 70 supply them With even the nscesssries Of
life would emigrae to the west settle down lands,
f. In this way you would not only contribute to their
happiness but In making them the owners Of the soil,
crease and anelr @ to the Union and
the country broad and deep In the affections Of the people
se min to aa 1s s gin q the
prove the country than TO it falling the govern
ment price, into the hands Of specuators."
Again, in ls4s, while candidate for the guber-
material chair Of Ohio, in answer certain ques-
lions propounded TO me by " land reform asso-
citation" published the letter which now hold
in my hands, and from which will read:
.In answer TO your and second questions have
ssy I.ass lnaa a & p % sna uS s n
aIr and ne actual sciers at nominal rvoe-that
these grants should be made In limited quantities. one
hundred sixty Great injury has already been
inflicted upon many portions OF the west by permitting
VII neither sell fair price improve but depend upon
industry Of others TO enhance the value Of their pro
I'm answer your third question: can see no objection
the Psss.se Of an act esempns the homestead Of Ger
tain value from execution Tor any debt contracted after the
passage the Law. On the contrary see many ad
Tantsges which would result from It."
These were my opinions then; they are my
opinions now. In 1885 and 1896, under the oper-
aiion Of your internal banking system, which pro-
duced an inflated currency, your public lands were
fast passing into the hands OF spectators. There
were men who could obtain facilities from the
banks, who invested their thousands in the public
lands, who would neither improve them Them
seve. nor sell 10 settlers al fair price; but de-
pended upon The labor Of those who might settle
within their vicinity 10 enhance the value Of their
speculations. This state Of things honest men
everywhere deprecated, and desired TO have ar
rested.
You have gone on step by step, until at last il
10 proposed TO give 10 each individual who chooses
10 provide for himself a home in the west one
hundred and sixty acres Of the public lands. The
idea OF deriving revenue from these lands has long
.;ace been abandoned. We no longer look 10 them
as source from which 10 defray the expenses Of
our government. A more liberal and enlightened
policy has been adopted. We hold them now as
trustees for the people. Each Of us trust, is
anxious TO make such disposition Of them will
advance the general interests, and promote the
general welfare Of the country. In their present
condition they wholly valueless.
But IL IL objected, on the other side Of the
chamber, that The effect Of this measure will be
10 depopnlate the older States Of the Union. |
ought 70 say perhaps before go further, that
am in favor OF the proposition which has been
Submitted by the senator from Pennsylvania,
lMr. BRoDHEApl with a slight modification.
Instead Of giving away these lands TO the settlers,
would ix them ri the price OF fifty cents an
acre, and provide tfsf that sum should be re-
turned, afier the expiration OF five years, upon
every acre which the settler might reduce cult
walton. The object Of that is apparent. u is 10
induce the settler 10 enhfrote the lands which hs
may occupy The more he cultivaies, the less
money he will have 10 pay az the expiration ofhis
five years. say. therefore, that II could modify
This bill so as TO conform TO my own idea. would
fix the price at fifty cents an acre, payable in five
years, and deduct that amount on every acre which
he might reduce 10 cultivation. IL prudent and
industrious, at the expiration Of the period pre-.
scribed. he wond probably have SIXTY acres I'M
der cultivation, and thus hc would only have TO
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