Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1854-03-27
.ITbe Honestead Bill"

| "Ine homestead DILL
The following is copy of the Homestead Bill
recently passed by the House of Representatives.
aud now before the Senate Of the United States,
where it has been read twice and referred 10 the
committee on public lands: M
| An Acr TO grant homestead of one hundred and
| sixty acres Of the3public lands TO actual set
! tiers.
Be it enacted by the Senate AM. House of Rep.
reSemiatives Of The United States of America nm
Congress assembled, That any flee white person
who is the head of family, who hos arrived al
ine age OF twenty one years. and is citizen of the
United States, shall, from and afer the passage OF
his act be entitled TO enter, ree of COST quar-
ter section of vacant and unnppIopriaed public
landS, which may, at the time the application is
made be subject 10 private entry at one dollar and
twenty-five cents per acre, or quantity equal
thereto, TO be locate in body, nformity with
the legal sus1ivi. ions OF the public lands aud af
| Ter The same shall have been surveyed.
! SEC. q. And be itlurlher enacted, That the per-
son applying for the benefit Of this act shall, upon
I application 10 TIE register of the land Office in
winch he or she is about 10 make such cn;ry, make
affidavit Def lie said register that he or she
the head OF family, or is twenty une years If age,
! aud that such application is made Ol his or her
| exclusive use and benefit, and those specially
mentioned in this act, and not either directly or in
directly for the or benefit CT any otLer person
OF persons wLomsoever; and upon making an aft
davit as above required. aud filing the affidavit
with the register, Or she shall lhereupon be per-
mItted 10 enter the quantity oil land already sreci.
fed: Provided, however, That no Certificate shall
be given or patent therefor, until the expiration OF
i've years from the date of such entry; and If, al
The expiration of such time, The person max
such entry, If he be dead, his widow, or IN case
OF her death, his heirs or devIsee, in case OF
| widow making such entry, her heirs or devsee. in
case OF her death, shall prove by Two dible wit
neSSes that he she or Ihey have continued TO reside
upon and cultivate said land, aud still reside upon
nave not nlienaied the same, or any pnlt there
OF; then, IN such case, he, she, they, Shall be
entitled 10 paleEt, as III oter cases provided for
by law: And provided further, In case OF The death
OF oost tatler aud mother, leaving infant, child
OF children under twenty one years of age, the
rIght anu The fee Shall inure 10 tie benefit OF said
INFANT child or children. ahd The executor adj
InlnlStrator, OF guardian. may, at any time Within
Two years ater the death of the Su:viv ns pnlent
anu III accordance with the laws of the State in
which sch Children for the time being have their
uonlcl, Sell SAID land lar the be nefit oil said IN.
tants but Tor no other PURPOSE; and the purchaser
snail acquire the absolute title by The purchase,
anu Ge entitled 10 patent from The United States
Sec. ): And 6e ii further enacted, That the
register oil The land office, shall note all such ap-
pllcations on the tract books and pIats of his OF.
nee, anu keei. register of all such entries, and
make return lhereoi 10 The General Land Office 10.
gether whh The lEoof upon which they have been
founded.
Sec. 4. And be l. further enacted, That all
lands acquitted under The provisions OF this act
shall i'll no event become liable 10 the satisfac-
lloh ol any debt or ueblS contracted prior 10 the
| issuing the paiant therefor. .a
Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That IT, al
any time alier filing the affidavit required in the
st cOnd section Of this act, and befure tue expira-
ton OF the hive years oresaid, II shall be proven
alter due notice the settler 10 th.
Of the register OF the land Office, that the person
| having fled such affidavit Shall have actually
Changed his or her residv nee, or abandoned III.
said entry Tor more than six mouths at any time.
then, and III that event, the land SO entered shnJ
he- nanf
ol Us other pubic lands now are by law, subject
TO an appeal TO he general land Office.
Sec +. Aud be it fuItEcr enacted, That il any
individual now Resident of any ono OF The States
IT TeTrItr lies, and not citizen OF the United
states, but, al the time Of making such application
Tor the benefit o. this act snail have fled dec
lataton OF Intention as required by the nauIaIIza
tIun laws OF the CnIten States, and shall become n
cliztn oil The same belOIe The issuance of the ia.
tent, as m tie aud provided for III this act, shall be
place" upon IN equal footing with the native born
| citizen of the United States.
Sec. I. And be 1t further enacted, That no in
utvluuai shall --ptInlltted to maLe more than
ore entry unter the provisions of this act; and
that the General Commissioner oil the land Office IS
hereby required 10 prepare and issue such rules
an" regulations consistent with .hIs act, as shall
be necessary and proper ry its provisions IN
10 effect; and that The registers OF d receivers of
the several land offices shall be entitled t. receive.
Tue Same comp .nsatIoh lur any Lands entered un
der the PROVISIONS nj This act that they are now
is entered with The n!orey, one half 10 be Maid Inv
ihe person making The arplication at the lime OF
so doing, aud the ulter half on the issue OF the
certlhca,e by the person 10 whom may be issu.
| ed Provided, howev'r, lhataIl persons enter
ing land under the provisions of tins act SHALL as
NJ or rs may be practicable. IN making such Ell.
;rles be confined 10 each alternate quarter sec.
tIon' hnd 10 land subject 10 private entry; ard
provided further, that nothing III this act shall be-
SO construed as 10 impair or interfere in apy man
ner whatever with existing redemption fights
PROVIDED. further. that the PROVISIONS of this &C,
snail be so construed as 10 authorize the class Of
persons provided for i'll the foregoing part of this
sell WAC may not own one hundred and sixty
acres OF land TO enter free of cost, any The pub
lie lands adjoining his ~ her am subject TO entry
at tne ,hi"'"m price per acre, quantity added 10
what they may n0w OA.n, lie equal 10 one hu ntted
and sixty acres, prUside,l lie She shall cultivate
the Whole 1t n part tLeIeof
The FINE ARTs.-We had opportunity yes
eTIa v, tIy MIL