The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-08-06
THE HOMESTEAD BILL.

wAsHNoros, August ; 1854
To ths Biaior Of fAs Union
As chairman OF the committee in the House Of Repre-
senaves who reported the Homestead bill have received
many letters expressing earnest desire for lis passage
and for information the real state q the question In
answer 10 such Inquiries beg the privilege q publishing
this letter in your papeE
The FIRST session Of the thryhird Congress closed
and hvorite remains s be carried After
having twice passed the House OF Representatives by de-
cded vote aud apparently having majority Of friends in
The Senate THAI body has been pleased postpone
favor Of other measures 1t remains upon the Speakers
table and will come up again for consideration in The House
u Representatives early after The meeting of the session
when il must be reodelled and restored IL original
homestead features.
II is true that the Senate protested have adopted the
House bill with amendments but that which according
the Ele OF the bill is but accidental and subordinate TO the
homestead has usurped The place Of the principal and
makes The Senate h fact bill for the benefit Of States
and railroads and bui in the subordinate and lin
tied degree beneficial TO the actual settler
The provision Of the eighth section Of the bin as re-
turned from the Senate allowing every head Of family
or male person of the age Of twentyone years
ter quarteI-seelion Of unaPpropriated public land
upon the condition Of payment according TO graduated
scale Of twenty-five per But even this encum-
berd grant narrowed and restricted by the privileges con-
fesred upon States Of prenpng the whole Of the public
lands within their limits and by the privileges con-
TERED upon railroad corporations wealthy contractors
Should State choose purchase the lands within it's
limits and rase their price, she DO So which YOU win
perceive would negative the rights Of the actual settler
unless The State legislature should choose adopt the
legislation Of Congress and BY reenaeng IL restore those
rights TO the settler Should State by char,erng corpo
ntions for the construction Of railroads or By contracts
with Individuals the grants of 1850 within
miles Of the line OF road for each mile thereof she has the
power under this bill Of restricting the rights of the settler
TO that eS't To what degree this may be carried in
these days Of laid speculation and reckless fnancierng
is not difficult 10 conjecture.
The seter therefore under the coutro Of the States
In the FIRST instance peenors and in The next place
under the control Of the States in connexions with railroad
Operations which makes the privileges or vos that The
settlers shall enoy entirely dependent upon the control
hat speculative interests the other hand the princi-
pies OF jest legislation, may exercise the State legis-
laiure
The advocates Of the homestead have no special war 10
wage against grants raroad4 Their hostility Is con-
fned 70 The conflicting position in which works Of that
haracter placed by the Senate bin the actual set
tler, TO his great injustice and disparagernenL
Very little sagaeily will enable 20 fOcsee ha. would
be the result Of the Scnates provisions il behalf rail
roads should heg become law Who does know what
scramble would ia tbs land States among 81 nco-
oraied companies . get possession OF the Lands Of which
that which has been carried in Congress would b bat
nagn led reflection Who does no, see the nnuraera-
he charters which under the influence Of log-reng in
The legislatures woald be brought forth to absorb for rail
road purposes all the lands in those States to the utter
exclusion OF the settler which would immense guam
titles Of bonds 10 be spawned the country make the
competition for money unparalleled and increase The rates
Il interest unprecedented exent2
The si4riing Of many immature and i,nnfaccabIe
schemes BY ereatng fictitious demand for labor and the
accessories Of life would be perncions 10 its ina-
nee litie by little the gigantic bubble would continue to
swell and glisen ill il burst and bankruptcy in its most
tupendens form would be the sequel This 4; no picture
81 fancy, but with which the American public are ID
fact unfortunately familiar
viii thus be that the settler il the general contest
for the public lands which has been lately going on within
Capitol has been Lost sight Of and his salrs eakes
upon unworthy OF consideration
While the popular branch Of The uatioaal legislature has
reflected fairly the opinions and wishes Of the people in
he other and remotely responsible branch these
opinions and wishes have failed Of recognition
Bat II has been Great TO obtain the
establishment Of popular rights the hands Of power hare
always had to work their way slowly agsss class inter-
ess pre4dlce and the efforts of foes cucumber them
with odium These Influences permitted to obiain for
while with those whose unbiased judgments would
acknowledge The Justice Of the measures and would receive
ihelf enactment with cordial welcome 1t is known 10
those acquainted with The leading Of The past hal
century how long and with what apparent success meas
Of salutary reform resisted br The British sem
ate long after they had received the sanction OF the Com
ons Gy alluson is particularly 10 the reforr in
the elective franchise and TO the legislation for the ae
Grafton Of The laws Ia America we have seen hos
long and bitter the warfare before the friends OF dem
ocratc principles able to obtain an abandonment of
the system Of high duties and also before the custody OIL
the national treasury secured in the hands of the gor
eraent agents only after two suspensions 81 specie pay
ments had demonstrated lis necesstr.
would. therefore, have The powe. behind The throne
snliqhened public opinion which il greater than the
throne iseifto speak out in bold aud loud like
that which long sustained Golden in his opposition 10
the Lords and finally enabled him carry in triumph
Of the most eenehcent Of which the history OF
legislation bears record THIS IS the conduct which tie
present exigency demands Let past failures diseour
age friends bat raider let them stimulate to greater
struggles for The friends Of the homestead bin
should peseyer snd they viii yei witness The triumph o.
the measure at The session of Congress for which tey
hare been 20 earnestly ocnisndiAga measure which Is
based Ii justice 10 the settler which Is founded in wise
policy for The nation, and which measure can sprTa
10 the glory Of lie merits.
am verr respectfully your obedient servant,
JOHN /. DAWSON.