Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-05-10
THE GRAND RIVER TIMES.
GRAND HAVEN, MICHIGAN,
WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 10, 1854.
The Homestead Bill.

lO7 to 73, was then sent to the Senate where 1t
now remains, and where it will undoubtedly en-
counter powerful opposition. Two years
since similar bill was passed by the House but
blocked in the Senate, and it is by no means
improbable that influences will be brought to
bear that will secure defeat of the one now
awaiting the action of that body.
The present bill grants to every citizen of
the United States, who is the head of family
or twenty lone years Of age, homestead of one
hundred and sixty acres, on condition of occu.
pancy and cultivation for the term of five years.
Patents are not to be issued until the expiration
of the five years. The lands acquired under the
act are not to be made liable for any debts con-
tracted prior to issuing the patents, and persons
of foreign birth, residents of the United States
at the time of the passage of the act, are to be
entitled to all its benefits, provided that at the
time of making application under the law they
shall have filed the declaration of intention re.
quired by the naturalization laws, and shall be.
come citizens prior to the issuing of the patent
The general principle of the bill is good one,
and its main features are such as we cordially
endorse. 1t will provide homes for the actual
settler, tend to check land speculation which is
acknowledged to be an evil of gigantic magni-
tude, and at the same time hasten the settlement
of our vacant territory with population who
will be attached to their government by the
strongest considerations of interest and graft
tude.
The public lands have already brought into
the government Golfers 100000 above all
expenditures. They now furnish but small
proportion of the revenue, are no longer needed
for that purpose, and can be easily, as we'll as
consistently spared for the liberal purpose con-
templated in the bill to which we now allude.
We are well aware that wide difference of
opinion exists as to the policy of thus giving
away the public domain, but the expression of
the press, and the action of the popular branch
of Congress seems to indicate that the prevail
ing sentiment of the country is favorable to the
measure, and we doubt not but it's passage
would receive hearty concurrence from the
great majority.
RAILROAD INTELLIG ENCE.-Mr. INNIs of
Grand Rapids, resident engineer for the o. and
O. Railroad, was at the Washington House last
week. From Mr.. INNS we learn as follows
The entire line Of the road, terminating at the
mouth of Grand River, has been located Thro'-
out this county it passes on the north side, and
opposite our village it follows the river shore.
The distance from the western terminus to the
depot at the Rapids will be-, according to the f.
nal surveys, little short of 80 miles. In the
eastern counties through which the road passes,
the work is now being prosecuted with vigor.
By the first of January next, the road will be in
running order to the depot recently located in
Clinton county, about 20 miles west of Corun-
ma, and some 70 miles from Pontiac. A consid-
cradle force is also at work in Ionia county, and
during the coming summer operations will, un-
doubtedly, be commenced at various points in
US for the purpose of procuring deeds securing
the right of way to the Railroad Company, &C
cording to previous contracts with individuals.
He will, in the course Of few days, visit other
Par VI VI Jul COuhty III VIZ o.uO pun oSc. 'o
are much gratfed to learn that the people along
the proposed route have, with very few excep-
tons, agreed to surrender the right of way with
out any compensation, and that the total amount
demanded, in our county, for such right, is but
trifing.
THE WARD TRIAL.-Matt. F. Ward, the
murderer of Mr.. Butler, has been acquitted by a
Kentucky jury. The worst fears, therefore,
that were entertained respecting this case have
been realized, and bold assassin has, through
the influence of wealth, escaped the punishment
his enormous crime most justly merted. The
connected with the death of Mr..
Butler, as proved on the trial, have carreda gen.
eral conviction of the guilt of the accused, and
had gone far from preparing the public mind to
sanction the verdict that has been given. Extra
ordinary excitement prevailed at Louisville, as
soon as the result of the trial was known. The
house of Mr. Wolfe, Attorney for the Wards,
was pelted with voleys of eggs; the twelve ju-
rors were burned in efigy; strong resolutions
were passed expressing the outraged feelings of
the citizens, and various other demonstrations
were made, all evincing the most intense degree
of popular indignation.
A very correct synopsis of the facts, relating
to the offence for which Ward was tried, has