Washington sentinel., 1854-03-11
THE HOMESTEAD BILL.
SPEECH of HON. w. B. w. DENT

The House, as in Committee OF the w hole,
having under consideration the Homestead bill,
Mr. DENT having obtained the hoor, SAID:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: Representing, as do, IN part,
one of the sovereign States OF the Union, ieei II
10 be my duty not TO let this Homestead bill pass
in its present shape, without stating my objec-
tions 10 II / have waited with great patience,
in the hone that some other gentleman from
Georpa would secure the floor, and do more JUS
tice to this subject than can hope TO do. Being
new member, and but little accustomed to the
proceedings of Legislative bodies, have felt at
loss TO know how to proceed to obtain the floor to
speak in opposition to the bill. / have desired
that this bill, in its present shape, should be op-
posed by some one from Georgia, because the
people of that State are opposed TO IL. am
speaking without notes, and my remarks on the
present occasion must be rather dsjointed; but
propose to enter my protest against the pending
proposition for the disposition Of the public lands
now before the Committee.
This bill, sir, is unjust and unequal. II pro-
poses TO give that which belongs TO the sovereign
States and people of this great coniederacy to one
class 10 the exclusion of all the rest. If remem-
Der the language of the bill, il in effect invites
the pauper population of Europe to come and
take possession Of our public lands.
Mr. DAWSON. Tbeg to correct the gentle
man in that respect; there is nothing in the bill
which holds out inducements TO the population OF
Europe. Its provisions are exclusively confined
10 those who are now citizens OF tho Statcs and
Territories of the United States.
Mr. DENT. A friend has Just handed me
copy of the bill, and find the following to be its
language:
"SEc. 6. ind be IL further enacted That if any
individual now resident Of any of the States or
Territories, and not citizen Of the United States,
but at the time of making application for the ben
eft of this act, shall have filed declaration of
intention, as required by the naturalization laws
Of the United States, and shall become citizen
of the same, before the issuance of the patent ~
made and provided for in this act, shall be placed
upon an equal footing with the natural born citi-
zen of fthe United States"
There is no limitation in the bill, its operations
are to be perpetual; and soon as the pauper
population Of Europe are informed that in this
country, to which they naturally disposed to
come, such law has been passed by the Ameri-
can Congress, our shores will be lined with mil
lions of them.
Mr.. DAWSON. only interrupt the gentle
man to turn his attention to the language of the
bill He seems to have overlooked the words,
''now resident" The provisions of the bill are
exclusively confined to those who are now cit-
2ens or now residents Of the States or Territories
Mr.. DENT. Very well; then ten years hence
for this bill makes no limitation as to the length
of time it is to be in force-those emgrants who
come here from Europe within the next FIVE years,
will then be citizens of the United States, and
consequently, entitled to the benefits of this bill.
Why should they not be? Will you seemingly
invite them to come expressly for the land and
then not give it to them? Will the government
not extend the benefits to those who may not be
SO fortunate as to have already arrived
Mr.. DAWSON. The gentleman from Geor.
gia labors under great misapprehension to
the effect of this bill.
Mr.. DENT. fl be mistaken / am willing to
be corrected by the gentleman from Pennsy lvania
hDt rta nl ~ moi mist kpn IN "a
the principles contained in this bill will produce
upon the country, and desire here to say that
no man rejoices more than do, that our country
is an asylum for the oppressed and down-trodden
people ofthe old governments ofthe world. They
are naturally disposed to come here, and am
glad of it; and when they get here, am glad to
see them become citizens, and under our laws and
Constitution, placed upon equality with those
who come before them. The very poor people
who come here from the old countries of Europe,
are not prepared, are not able to settle home in
our western wilds. i is the rich emgrant alone
who can ever reach those lands and settle a farm.
Why, then, do gentlemen call it the poor mans
laws
Mr.. SMITH, of Virginia, (interupting)
desire to state a few words in reference to this
matter. | suppose the gentleman from Pennsyl-
vania certainly does not mean to confine the
operations of this bill to those persons who are
now in the United States because everybody
knows that the principle to be adopted, that the
sai,,e arguments 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 those who would come here tomorrow. The
principle embodied here, would, if settled, apply
10 those who come hereafter as well as those who
are here at present.
Mr. DAWSON. The only answer that have
to make to this objection is, that there is pro-
vision in the bill which conters it's benefits any
other than those who are now citizens or resi-
dents of the United States; to what the Con-
gress of the United States may hereafter do
on the subject, is a matter for Congress itself to
decide.
MIR. DENT. My time is going on, and do
not recognise the right of any gentleman on this
floor TO interrupt me while ! am addressing the
Committee; and | wish il TO be distinctly under
stood that it is no want of courtesy on my part.
when / object to these Interruptions Still, if !
make any erroneous statement, / am willing to
be interrupted.
If you are determined to distribute your public
lands among the citizens Of the United States, do
so upon terms of equality; give to all alike ours
is government Of equal rights and equal Privi-
lcges
wish it simply to 90 before the House and the
country, that there is one representative on thi'
floor, from the sovereign State Of Georgia, who
is opposed to the prese mt plan Of distribution; the
disposition that is now attempted to be made OF
the public lands, not only in reference to this So
called Homestead BILL but the great Pacific rail
road scheme upon the plan proposed, your rail
read grants TO the new States, and, in word,
to this general system of Buncombe and plunder
in reference to the disposition OF the public lands,
except 70 that one which proposes to relieve the
soldiers who fought and bled acquire and defend
these Territories, who served their country when
she was in danger, and who stood by her in her
hour Of trouble.
| understand the principles which prevail in
some OF the committee rooms. / understand the
feeling in this House which prompts members, to
refuse justice TO those who by the best right are
entitled to these lands, while they are ready to
give them TO that class of men who are often too
lazy to work TO provide themselves home.
dislike this agrarlan system, which discourages
honest industry and enterprise Gentlemen say
give the land away and thus keep il out of the
hands Of speculators Who will keep it out Of
the hands Of spectators when the government
tenantry is out' There never was, in my
mind, more stupendous speculation than this
hi, bo, ~