Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-07-26

The Eaquirer swallows Mr.. Hunters Homestead
Bill 1t does so, told in its issue of yesterday
morning as choice Of evils but at the same time
speaks Of the Hunter substitute in such eulogstic
terms that its readers may well consider it avOriie
MEASURE OF the Democratic party for getting rid cr
the public lands. SIS Mr. Hunters substitute less
obnoxious than the original Homestead Bill ? This
is the issue-that their alternative" says the Eayu.
rer We are to understand then, that we were bound
to have Homestead Bill in some shape or other and
after all the denunciaon that the Eaguirer has hc,,
ed upon any such measure it is reduced to the dis
agreeable necessity OF taking one in which it con.
fesses there are feaures which it cannot approve
How is this, that with an overwhelming party ma.
jority in the Senate and in the House Of Reprcscn-
tatives, and with n Democratic President. our neicb
Dor is placed in such an unpleasant delemtna on 4
question OF disposing Of the public lands? There
must he great want Of harmony in the party when
such sacrifices have to be made. II is pretty well
understood that the President intended to 20 the whole
hgure, ana approve the original Homestead Bill with
all It's "odIous features, and our very strict consruc
tonists may congratulate themselves upon the passage
oil the Hunter substitute the less bitter dose of the
two. That rs all the comfort they have and poor
comfort it is The difference between the oririnol
bill and the substitute amounts to simply this the
former made free grant of 100 acres of land to IN,
settler the latter pretends to provide for the
Of twelve and.a-half twenty-five cents per nor,
alter the expiration Of five years. provided he keen
1t that long In other words, it ijs mere conrivanc
for getting out Of constitutional difficulty by KING
nominal price upon the public lands.
We append the following scathing criticism Of In
bill from our Democratic contemporary Of the E,,y,
iHtr 1t shows it up in its true colors:
1--WE do not at all fancy the graduation clans, h,, ..
confess the whole Homestead feature of This AMI, I
very much like dodge; and the fact of aft the Dn
Senators having voted for IT, only gives the anaae,o
ugly aud hdeous appearance The trick Of str5 ~
out the words, IAN acto provide Homestead for acn
settlers, from the GH MAS utterly beneath aud Nor,
OF the Senate.
ave do not ike this new form Of the Homestead "a
any better than the original form; nor 30 well w
difference In principle LetWeen al absolute L,
ioH OF the public lands aud pretended sale for nom
nal price, worth, capable Of Jeifayine the crpensa
Of collection, aud on credit which amounts 70 paymoo
a. The Day Of Judgment, aud three days grace. Ph
principle of sale At profit 10 the Treasury aud for
r'rsHWe TO tho States surrendcred aud long before III
i've years i gone the panoe Of price will be surrendere
too. What great party could sickle for tue sum Of
csnsf Plain thinking people would laugh il of III
HuHnkA Tue present. Homestead bill oniy ,Iocs by hi
direction ~hs The original bill proposed do by direction
aud because the straight forSard and downright
Ne should have preferred IL the Homestead provision
Of the other"
admit that the question was perpleIing one an
that western Democrats would not staud Hrm, that IA NJ
rossoa Shy ne, of the s1a,b should back out BaeIan
uut TIE poofea way Of al N get OF dicnl
aver DSnVsrAt 10 tbe Senate 10 the round uoflJ yo