The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-26
CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES.
SEN ATE.
itOMEsTEAU HfI,f,

On II.Jtion by Mr. WALKER, the Senate resumed, in
committee Of the whole the consideration of the House
bill ato grant homestead of hundred and sixty acres
Of the public lands TO actual settlers
Mr.. WADE. move TO amend the bill in the sixth
ton by striking out after The word individual to the
word and The words proposed to be stricken are
"a resident OF any of the States Territories and
The object Of my amendment is TO strike the limitation
which restricts the benefits of the bill to persons who
residents of the United States and will prevent its
operating in favor Of those who may into the
after its passage good for the dis
tincon now made in the BILL
am willing that foreigners who come into this country
go to the public lands and there and labor for
five years. should then have the advantages of this law
willing SO far as concerned, that the law shall
operate inducement for such persons to here
and settle public lands The effect othe amendment
will be barely TO strike out this restriction and to make the
bill operate in favor of all foreigners who may in
hereafter, well those who here. That is the
only object of the amendment
Mr.. WALKER. VIII not the effect of that amendment
In this connexi0n be to confne the benefits of the bill
trely TO foreigners?
who residents Of the United States They pro-
yded for without this section and this amendment will
only strike out the limitation to which have referred. Let
the section be read it will stand If amended to
certain whether am right or not.
The PRESIDENT. The section if amended proposed
to be amended by the senator from Ohio will be fol-
lows:
That any individual citizen of the United
States but who at the time Of making such application for
the benefit Of this act shall have filed declaration Of nten
ton as required by the naturalization the United
States and shall become citizen OF the before the ssu
be placed equal footing with the native citizen
of the United States"
Mr.. ADAMS. | cannot, Mr.. President vote for the
amendment Of the senator from Ohio. Since have had
the honor Of seat here have been very anxious for the
passage of bill 10 reduce the price of the public lands
Ny own opinion Is that proper graduation of the price
Of the public lands to dispose OF them at their in
rinsc value will be worth great deal to the
try than what is known the homestead bill OPP
posed to the principle Of this BILL which, disguise it you
may at last but taxing portion of the people the
O n
portion of the people and placing il nhe pockets of others
by legislation However meritorious, and however deeply
my sympathes may be excited in favor of the necessities of
the poor consider this bill violation of principlea
principle which look upon almost vitality important to
the legislation Of this country.
But sir the proposition Of the senator from Ohio is that
you shall not only tax portion Of the people for the
benefit Of another but that shall tax the natvborn
and adopted citizens of this country for the benefit
egners that you shall say, by this BILL TO every who
may reside without the limits of the United States if he
will come here that your citizens shall be taxed to the
vane of hundred and sixty acres and bounty of that
amount Of land bestowed upon him. To that am OPP
posed
have hostility against foreigners. Ny friend from
Iowa the other day, collateral issue, question
which before the Senate remarked that had desert
ed him, and those who act with him, this bill Sir,
am not conscious favored the hill ar the
principle of the bill therefore, not deserter from
it. think, if will cast eyes around u.s. shall
that the time has passed when tits necessary 10 hold out
inducements to individuals to emigate 10 this country
Ny friend from Iowa said he hoped the time would
arrive when the people Of this country would to re-
member with sentiments of gratitude the claims OF the dc
sndants Of the Lafayettes the Koscuskos and Montgom
cries and Others who aided fathers in the revolution
hope so too; but times have changed The time has
ceased in my humble judgment when should continue
hold out other and different inducements to individuals
10 immgrae and become citizens Of this country than
Afforded by the character of institutions would not
change the policy OF thus government and refuse to hold
out inducements such have heretofore held out to
foreigners. desire to this country continue to be a
home and asylum for the oppressed Of all nations de
sire whenever foreigner sets his foot upon soil to
of
to protect him in his person his property in the pursuit Of
happiness and unbounded liberty Of conscience and
with that from this day forth, will stop. To every man
who has here under existing laws would extend all
tberights which present laws promise him and to
every who comes TO this country in the future with
the rights have indicated would cease TO offer more
Have yon not seem sir within the last few months pet
tons presented here and laid upon your table remonsra
ting in the Of foreigners against the action of this
body2 Not content with that, have You not learned,
through the public newspapers that mob of foreigners,
under the style OF foreigners assembled together, and
hanged in effipy honorable member of this body
What does that indicator II the act indicates anything,
has any significance t i that In the estimation of those
mn The individual referred TO- the chairman of the Com
ntee Territories Mr. DOUGLAS ought TO be hung by
the neck until be Is dead and for what sir1 For doing
his duty TO the constitution his oah and to his
try ask senators IL they do not see indications in
this of combination in retaining the notions Of the oden
country which shows that Il is necessary not that we
should check it by egsationI do propose that at
the present tmebu that should to hold out any
further inducements
What do we need Of further immigration from other
egpntres2 We have gulicient population 10 protect
ourselves against M the world We have sufficient
population 10 settle every portion OF country which
n necessary 10 settle For the purpose Of free and
happy government have q sufficient population, and
think should not adopt the amendment OF the senator
from Ohio and thereby nativeborn and adopted cit
nens 70 purchase hundred and sixty of land
pr ,hose who may think proper como here hereafter
NY friend from Iowa few days ago manifested his great
ansey for these Foreigners Well sir when ! remcm-
oeed that that senator by hs speech and his here
naa done the very thing pthat the chairman of the
committee on Territories had done, supposed that the
hanging Of The chairman in efgy signfed that they be
heved that my friend from Iowa also ought to be hung for
osehargng his duty upon this floor fcarlessy mparaly
aud manfuiy, as he always docs. Sir when saw what
they had done and the disgrace which they had attempted
70 heap upon that senator thought he might well have
used language which used in oldcn times A certain
individual went to Absaom who had usurped the throne
of his ther and proposed 10 him. Absaom rcmcn-
eered the many avors which his father had conferred upon
lhs individual and he turned 10 him. and in place Of
epnng cordially his proposed services said Is this thy
kindness 10 thy friend ~ think my friend from Iowa
when he was battling here for the rights Of these foreign
ets might well have turned as Absalom did and said
Nen they by their conduct declared the world that he
ought TO be hung for dcharging his duty here as this
MY Kindness TO thy fricnds2h
sr, the time has come IL combinations are formed IL
@a'e distinctions kept up hy those who think proper
~ Nuopt this as their country when should at least
N 70 ax our citizens for their benefit These cir
pNoes may not weigh with Others with me they baye
H auuence, Bat am opposed TO the bll upon prnc-
may reduce the price of the land rs low rs you
~ 80 @ 70 restore 10 the treasury the cost of butte
one portion of the people for the benefit OF another Is
''g 70 which, TO my knowledge have not consented
no, VIII ever consent 70 such proposition
resident hope shall not be considered unknd OF
stnenoiy to foreigners. ! showed my regard for them