The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-12-18
The Present COnxress-The Homestead
Bill.

Ahe present COnxresS-Thc Homestead
Bill.
The present session OF our National Leg
islaturc is regarded as one Of the most i'm
pOrtant that has ever convened, from the
fact that many matters connected with our
foreign policy will undoubtedly be consider
ed, and as the session closes on the 4th of
March, of necessity there will be but little
time for Buncombe speeches and the present
will be a acorhiaC session.
Aside from these, matters concerning the
veal Of our own country at home will be
acted upon. Among them that philanthropy
lie measure, the Homestead Bill, VIC are con-
fident will come up in review, and if we
mistake not, become the law of the land
Heretofore, unfortunately, majority of the
Legislation, both Of the Nation, State and
Territorial, has been of an injudicious cast,
if nothing mOre-against the weak, and for
the strong. There seems to us no valid
reason why the Homestead law should not
pass, and many powerful ones why it should.
"Uncc Sam" certainly owns enough land
to give every citizen within his borders a
homestead. Our Territories Minnesota,
Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Washing
ton and Utah-to Oregon this law has been
granted, and the result of the late election
there at least numerically shows the benc-
fetal results that have sprung from it-all
need and are anxious for settlers; and tens
of thousands throughout the country whom
the recent crisis in the money market has
reduced from wealth to comparative power
ty would gladly gather up the remaining
wreck of their fortunes and hasten to occu-
Ply and reclaim those lands which now re-
main unimproyed and Wild; and though
misfortune had deprived them of thcircarth
ly possessions they would be enabled, for
themselves and little ones to be in possession
of that which is dear to every man-a
home!
ut were goodly sight to see" a nation
like ours whose flag is honored wherever it
floats, rear for itself still greater monu-
ment in the hearts Of its sous by giving ev-
cry landless one farm; one that would
command the appreciation and challenge the
plaudits Of every philanthropist in christen-
dom, to know that those on whom misfor-
tune had lain its heavy hand, were to have
the chance once more of gathering with
their little ones around the family hearth,
and singing the songs of "by-gonc days"
when plenty filled their boards, and as they
sing, see the finger of hope pointing to a
bright, and joyous future yet in store for
1t is not unfrequently said by the oppo-
nents Of this bill, that the profigate and
the idle may be benefited through its pro-
visions. Admit this. Who that has noted
the past history Of the ctuntry especially
the WeSt-has not observed with pleasure
that those who have settled here pennilesS
and friendless, and by dint of industry have
gained home and thereby found they had
for which to something to
excite they their ambition-have made some
of our best and most virtuous citizens p
Give those men who are dragging out a
existence in the eastern cities one
hundred and sixty acres of land after they
have lived on and titled it for a given num-
Der OF years and an incentive for action is
put in their hands, the cheerlessuess of their
past history will give way to buoyancy and
though many may return to the purlicus of
our cities-the majority will become good
and valuable members of society: and for
this reason we are the warm advocate of a
speedy passage of the Homestead Bill If
me out of every ten or even out Of every
hundred who may avail themselves of the