The daily union., 1854-02-24
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY al, 1854.
THE HOMESTEAD BILL.

Mr.. DENT. Mr. Chairman, representing, as do, in
part OF The sovereign States OF the Union, feel !,
To be my duty not 10 lei this homestead bill pass without
stating my objections TO 1t. have waited with great
patience, in the hope that some other gentleman IRON
Georgia would the floor. and do justice TO
this subject than can hope TO do. Being entirely new
member and TO the proceedings OF legisla-
i've bodes have felt at loss 10 know how TO proceed
10 obtain the floor to speak opposition 10 the bill
have desired that this bill should be opposed by
frou Georgia because the people oil that State opposed
TO IT, have notes. and my remarks on the present
occasion must be rather disoined but propose TO
ter my protest against the pending proposition for the
dspoeitIon OF the public lands before this cor nit
tee | opposed 10 the homestead bill for various iea-
II is unjust and unequal II proposes TO give that
which belongs To the sovereign States and people oil THIS
confedeacy TO set oil individuals, who, perhaps, are
as little worthy receive II any other class on the
continent II remember the language of The BILL II in
effect really invites the paaper population Of Europe TO
come and take possession oil our public lands
Mr.. DAWSON beg leave to correct the gentleman
in that respect There nothing in the bill which holds
out inducements 10 The population OF Europe. It's pro-
visions are exclusively confined 10 those who
citizens and residents OF the States and Territories OF
the United States.
Mr. DENT A friend has just handed me copy Of
the bill, and find the following 10 be IT'S language
"src g. 1nd BE- furtLsr snaeisd That IL any lndivd-
ual now resident any of the States Territories,
and not the United States, but at the time OF
shng such application Tor the benefit OF this shall
have died declaration intention required by The
urazaton laws OF the United States and sliai become a
ezen OF the same before the OF the patent
made and provided Tor this act shall be placed upon
eaoa footing with natiyeborn citizen Of the United
Ststes."
There is no Limitation in the bill Its operation is TO
be perpetual and as the pauper population OF
Eufope are informed that IN this country, 10 which they
are naturally disposed to come, such law has been
passed by the American Congress our shores will be
lined with millions OF them
Mr. DAWSON | only interrupt the gentleman to
turn his sitenton 10 the language o The bill tie SCENE
to have overlooked the words "aow resident lhe pro-
visions OF the bbi exclusively confined TO those who
are nop citizens. residents OF the States or Terri
tories.
Mr DENT Very well; then ten years hence--for
this bill makes no limitation TO the length OF ilne u Is TO
be in lotcr-those emigrants who come here IRON Eu
rope within the i've years will then be ouzens OF
the United States, and consequently enueo 10 'he ben
MIR DAWSON Not at all The gentleman from
Georgia sbors under great msapprel en- on as to the Ell
M DENT Very well; If / be mistaken, I am VIII
ling to be corrected by the gentleman from pennsyiva
MA 49,.
Mr. SMITH, OF Virginia, (inierlup,ing) desire TO
state few words in reference 10 this matter suppose
The gen from Pennsylvania certainly does NOT mean
10 conhpe the operation OF this bill TO nose persons
who are now in The United States because everybody
knows that the principle to be adopted, that the
which would carry this bill in favor OF those
who are citizens OF the United States to-day would also
be carried out in favor OF lhose who come here ,o-mor
row The principle mbodied here would, II settled. ap
ply as well 10 who hereafter as to those who
Mr' DAWSON The only answer that have 10 make
TO this objection is. that there IL provision IN the bull
which conies it's benefits any other Than those who
are now cinzens residents of The United States As
10 what the Congress of the United States hereafter
do on the subject is matter for Congress ;isef to de-
eide
Mr. DENT do not recognise the right Of any gentle
this floor TO interrupt me while am addressing
the committee and wish TO be distinctly understood
that il is no want OF courtesy my part when object
these interruptions Still, II make any erroneous
statement. willing TO be corrected But am speak
ing exiemporaneoosy, without notes. and therefore DO
not wish 10 be interrupted.
In rising at this tme, Mr. Chairman. wish SIMPLY 10
20 before the House and the county, that there "a ~ least
one this floor from the sovereign state o.