Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-04-08
THE HOMESTEAD BILL.

which rises in Importance above that OF " ire
ZONES" to landless settlers in the West, but w
cannot but regard the bill, in its present shape,
as partial and proscriptive. BY reference to the
first section of the bill, it will be seen that the
benefit arising from its provisions arc confined
to free tehite citisens," and by referring to the
9Th scc., you will perceive that this is extended
to all aliens who nor reside in this country, and
who have declared their intention Of becoming
citizens, previously to the passage of the bill :
thus excluding all other classes. We advocate a
measure which which will provide free homes for
aH--no matter whether an African, European or
American sun first dawned upon hm-and tn, I
too at the very moment he may set foot upon our
soil. But to the bill:
l. Any free white person who has arrived al
the age of twenty-onc years, and is citizen @
the United States, shall be entitled to enter one
quarter section Of vacant and inappropriate
LANDS, which may at the time the application Il
made, be suject to private entry at 81 20 pei
'cre or q quantity equal thereto, to be located in
body, in conformity with the legal subdivisions
IF the public lands, and after the same shall
have been surveyed.
Sec. .. And be IL further ednctcd, That the
person applying for the benefit of this act shall
upon application to the register Of the land Office
in which he or she is about to make such entry
make affidavit before the said register that he or
she is the head of a family, or is twenty-one
years of age, and that such application is made
for his or her exclusive use and benefit and those
specially mentioned in this act, and not, either
directly or indirectly, for the use or benefit of
any other person or persons whomsoever; and up
on making the affidavit as above required, and fl
ling the affidavit Of the register, he or she shall
tlercupcn be permitted to enter the quantity Of
land already specified: Proyidcd, ho,ccrcr, That
no certificate shall be given, or patent issued
therefor, until the expiration Of five years from
the date of such entry and if, at the expiration
of such time, the person making such entry, or,
if he be dead, his widow, or in case Of her DEATH
his heirs or devisee or, in case of widow ma
king such entry, her heirs, or devisee in case Of
her death, shall prove by two credible witnesses
that he, she or they have continued to reside up
on and cultivate said land, and still reside upon
the same, and have not alienated the same, or any
part thereof, then, in such case he, she or they
shall be entitled to patent, as in other cases
provided by law And provided, further, In case
of the death of both father and mother leaving
an infant child or children, under twenty-one
years of age, the right and the fee shall cnurc to
the benefit of said infant child or children, and
the executor, administrator, or guardian may at
any time within two years after the death of the
surviving parent and in accordance with the
laws of the State in which such children, for the
time being, have their domcil sell said land for
the benefit of said infants, but for no other pur-
pose and the purchaser shall acquire the abso-
lutte title by the purchase, and be entitled to a
patent from the United States.
See 3. And be Il further enacted, That the
register of the land office shall note all such ap-
plicaions on the tract-books and plats of his of.
fee, and keep register of all such entries, and
make return thereof to the General Land Office
together with the proof upon which they have
been founded.
Sec. 4. And Jc 4 further enacted, That all land
acquired under the provisions Of this act shall in
no event become liable to the satisfaction Of any
debt or debts contracted prior to the issuing Of
the patent therefor
See. 5. And be Il further enacted, That if at
any time after filing the affidavit as required il
the second section of this act, and before the ex
piration Of the five years aforesaid, it shall b,
proven, after due notice to the settler, to the sat
, isfacton of the register Of the land Office, tina
} the person having filed such affidavit shall hav,
actually changed his or her residence, or aban
dones the said entry for more than six months Al
any one time then, and in that event, the land
: so entered shall revert back to the Government,
and be disposed of as other public lands are now
by law, subject to an appeal to the General Land
Office
Sec. 6. And be IL further enacted, That if any
individual now resident of any one of the States
or Territories, and not citizen Of the United
States, but at the time of making such applica-
ton for the benefit of this act, shall have filed a
declaration of intention as required by the natu-
raliEation laws of the United States, and shall
become citizen of the same before the issuance
of the patent, as made and provided for in this
act, he shall pc placed upon equal footing with
the native-born citizen of tho United States.
Sec. 7. And be Il further enacted, That no in
dividuol shall be permitted to make more thar
ono entry under the provisions of this act and
that tho Commissioner of the General Land OF
fee is hereby required to prepare and issue sucl
rules and regulations consistent with this act a,
shall bo necessary and proper to carry its prOvis
ions into effect, and that the registers and reeev
ers Of the several land officers shall be entitled
to receive the same compensation for any lands