Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-07-14
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" ASIIINnTnN. NInnlny .

W ASHlN"ION. Monday. july 10.
Mr. Shields presented a memorial from the
lcarinn Society Of illinois PRAYING Tor a grant
of land in Iowa, of which to make "A settle
mrnt, the same to be paid for after selection
and settlement
McSSrs Chase and Summer presented mo
MORALS from Connecticut. Ohio. and Massa-
chnsetts, for the repeal Of the Fugitive Slave
act. Referred.
The Homestead bill came up as the special
orGcr
Mr.. Clayton moved to strike out the sixth
section, which is in these words
"llat if any individual. now II resident Of
any one of the States or Territories. and not
citizen of the United States, but at the
time OF making such application for the be-
ncht of this act shall have filed declaration
oi his intention, rs required by the Naturali-
cation Laws of the United States. and shall
become "a citizen of the same before the is
Snancr of the patent, as made and provided
for it this act, shall he placed upon an equal
footing with the native born citizen of the
United States"
And to insert in lieu thereof the follow
ing
That any mechanic or other citizen Of the
| nitcd States of full ago, engaged in, and
accustomed to any business, trade OF calling.
other than the cultivation Of land. shall. in
consideration Of his inability to comply with
the conditions of this act. hv reason of his
want of knowledge, skill, or experience in
such cultivation of land. be entitled to re-
ccIyc in lieu of 100 acres of land as herein
provided, the sum of Sl60 to be paid to him
out of any money IN the Treasury not other
wise appropriated.
The proposition was then made to post
ponc the bill to December next but was ne
gatived, 80 to Il.
Mr. Clayton said the object of his motion
to strike out was to test whether the Con-
gr"ss of the |, ). would give the same equal
participation in the public domain of the ma
ton that they gave to native born citizens.
The bill allowed an alien lust landed, and
who would make the declaration. the right
to take 100 acres of land. 1t was confined to
those now here, but hereafter the law would
undoubtedly be extended to all others who
may arrive here.
Mr.. Shields said the section AS il now stood
gave to aliens declaring their intention to
become citizens the right to cultivate Dor
ton of the public land for five years, and then
upon their becoming citizens to give them a
title to it.
Mr.. Dixon said he 50 understood the bill.
Ii gave no land to any man who did not be-
come citizen. During the period of five
years, while he is in actual occupation and
cultivating the land. he can become a citizen,
which. if he does, he will he entitled to the
patent. lie saw nothing Objectionable in this.
lhrs" people were in our country. The po-
hey had always been to uaturalizc them He
was tor making them citizens in fact as well
nN IN name. lie was opposed to all di.tinc-
tons between native and naturalizcd citizens.
| lac a tptn
ton. lie thought the policy of naturalist
ton good one, and was opposed to it. re-
peal lie believed the best way to deal with
til" cmigrants was to Amcricanize them as
: non as possible, and in no way could this be-
don" 80 well as by giving them an interest in
the soil.
Mr.. Shields said that for several reasons he
had no desire to engage in this discussion.
iy tlr ill rs it now stood, an alien had To-
be resident of the United States M the time
Ut its passage, and shall declare his intention
to become IA citizen. These are prerequisites.
During these five years that he shall be en-
gagged in cultiyating the land, he might DE
considered as probationary citizen. After
It's expiration, he having become u citizen.
he can obtain II patent. lie yenturcd 10 sur-
-est To the senator from Delaware whether
Il would not bee Il wise policy t. take from
'orn population and plant them upon the
frontiers of the Territories, there to engage
N cultiyatipg the soil aud clearing the forest. ID
At present they settled down in the cities.
Where they were too often cheated and mislcd .
y designing men for selfish purposes Their .
great numbers in the large cities. and their
''inS 81 often played upon by dishonest per
'ls, was the principal cause leading to the
unfortunate prciudices at present existing
gninst them in some places Lead them
WAY from those Large cities and their clans
md societies will he broken ~ and they will
"r"mr ircer and better men and citizens in
very respect. \ man who for five years hv
liS own labor cultiyates his own farm, clears
way the forest, builds his own cabin. and
aS his own hearth around which to gather
rs little family, will De a far better man.
10Th politically aad morally, than he was
eiorc he commenced the work There were
umhcrs OF these aliens now naturalizcd and
rltled all over the Northwestern States and
errltnrl's There were no citizens more in
nstilous ana loyal. They were in all res
Gets as good and as reliable citizens as the
nose ana hoating population to be found in
''S' OF the large cities, lie throw out the
'SS suon to the Senator. therefore, w ether
would not be wise 10 withdraw tits class
'om the large cities and send them to the
'r'llorl'S to settle upon the public land. and
ar Tor themselves and their descendants
'1,e'"l and happy homes.
Mt clayton repeated, TIE hill as it now
'hd Laced ,hc alien upon the >,nue footing
II TIE native cltil'u. Il required the alien
, ~ here hut five wears. curing which time
; could cultivate the lands aud hrcmn, A
tl<"u. TIE natiVe-huru cti2rn had tu cul.
'Itr IA" Itni five Years before he cuuid get ,
patent The ali therefore, Just n,p ed
'uld get his patent as soon as the natl,
nm citizens. lie was not in favor of rcInaI- I
x the polity of naturalization, but he was Il