Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-07-15
THE HOMESTEAD BILL.

r~-'N--~ 1880
THE HOMESTEAD BILL.
This Bill, as our readers have observed, is
under discussion in the Senate, where it en-
counters the most determined opposition. As
it passed the House, its sixth section confined
it's benefits, so far as aliens might be concern
ed, to those resident in the country at the time
of its becoming law; excluding all arriving
after that date, until they should become citi-
zens. "Noar, resident Of any one of tho
States or Territories" was its language Mr..
Wade an independent Democratic member Of
the House, sought to erase this restriction, but
Mr.. Dawson, one Of the SPECIALIZED Democrats
from Pennsylvania, who had charge Of the
Bill would not consent to it.
In the Senate, Mr.. Wade, of Ohio, when the
Bill was first called up, moved to strike out
those restrictive words, but when the consider
alton of the measure was resumed q few days
since, he Withdrew his motion, perhaps under
the impression that it would prove unavailng.
Mr.. Chase, Of Ohio, renewed the motion very
properly.
The restriction is illiberal it was fair
that those who opposed, as well as those who
sustained il, should be put upon the record.
Yesterday, (l4th inst. the question being taken
on the amendment. the vote stood:
YEAs-Messrs. Bayard, Brodhead, Chase,
Douglas, Fessenden, Foot, Gillette Norris,
Seward, Shields, Sumner, Wade, and Weller
10.
NAYs-Messrs Adams, Allen, Atchison,
Badger, Bell, Benjamin, Bright, Brown, Butler,
Cass, Clay, Dawson, Dixon, Dodge of Wiscon-
sin, Dodge Of Iowa, Evans, Fish, Fitzpatrick,
Geyer Hamlin, Hunter, Johnson, Jones of
Iowa. Jones of Tennessee, Mallory, Mason,
Pearce, Petit, Pratt, Rockwell, Sebastian, Sill
dell, Stuart, Toucey, Walker, and Williams
So.
Why the Senators from Michigan, Indiana,
Iowa, and Wisconsin, voted to retain this anti
alien clause, we cannot understand. They
profess great liberality towards emigrants seek
ing home in this country, but their votes on
this occasion were against their professions.
AS for Mr. Brodhead's vote in the affirmative,
when we recollect how stubbornly he opposed
the extension Of the right Of suffrage to foreign
settlers in Kansas and Nebraska, we must re-
gard it as evidence Of desire to make the
Bill still more obnoxious to Southern members,
and thus multiply the chances Of its defeat.
AS usual it will be observed, the Slave State
Senator'S were arrayed against q liberal policy
towards foreigners.
We have already had occasion to comment
upon the mean policy Of the Bill, as it passed
the House, in excluding colored people from
its benefits. By an oversight after it had been
expressly provided that the donations should
DO confined to white persons, the general word,
individual" without the prefix, "iohite," was
left standing in the sixth section. This, OF
course, could not affect the other provisions, as
determined by the adjective, "uhite"-but GER
tain Senators seem TO think their great bust.
ness is to fight for Slavery and make war upon
negroes. Senator Dixon, Of Kentucky, moved
yesterday to modify the sixth section, by stri-
king out the word individual and inserting
the words FREQ white person" A debate on
sued, OF course. Cass and Stuart, Of Michigan,
were unflvorable to the amendment but, as
might be expected, voted for it. Shields, of H.
linois voted first against it, and then changed
his vote. The Generals virtue on such occa-
sions is as prompt to retreat as advance Oh
course, the amendment was carried the Slave
holders gained victory over the colored peo-
pie, and our glorious Union was saved.
Mr.. Dixon, having put the nero down, next
fell upon the alien. lie moved 10 amend the
Bill by the following proviso:
aProvidsd, That the benefits Of this act shall
not extend to the children heirs, or devisecs OF
aliens born out Of the United States who are
twenty-one years of age, until they shall have
fled their declarations to become citizens OF
the United States"
This also led to discussion and, on the quos.
ton being taken, it was decided in the afirma-
tive, as follows:
YEAs--Messrs. Badger, Bayard, Benjamin,
Brown, Butler, Clay, Clayton, Dawson, Dixon,
Evans, Fitzpatrick, Geyer, Hunter, Johnson,
Mallory, Mason, Pearce, Pratt, Sebastian,
Thompson Of Kentucky, and Toucsy-2l.
NAYs--Messrs Adams, Allen, Chase, Dodge
Of Wisconsin, Dodge Of Iowa, Fish, Foot, Gil
lette, James, Jones Of Iowa, Jones Of Tennessee
Norris, Petit, Seward, Shields, Sldell, Stuart
Wade, Walker, Weller, and Williams-20.
All the Alternatives from the slave States, ex
ocpt the name Of the famous Mr.. Toucey, who
represents nobody but himself having been
dsowned by tho Legislature Of his State. AL
the negatives from the FREQ States, except one
from Tennessee and one from Mississippi. We
believe it was the Washington Sentinel which
some time since took tho ground that the slave.
holders were deadly enemies Of Native Ameri-
canism
Not yet satisfied, these gentlemen from the
South proceeded in their anti alien policy.
Mr.. Brown moved proviso 10 tho effect
that any foreigner who should fail to become
q citizen Of tho United States for six years
after entering upon the land, shall forfeit all
his rights under the BILL
This amendment was agreed to--yeas. 81,