Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-04-14
WASHINGTON, ID. C.
THE HOMESTEAD BILL Mr. DAWSON AND
THE AHTI-ALIER SECTION

THE ANTI-ALIER SECTION
The editor OF German newspaper IN Fem
sylyania has inquired Of us concerning the
action of Mr.. Dawson, of that State, on the
anti allen section of tho Homestead Bill BY
referring to tho official report Of the proceed
incs OF the House in Committee Of the Whole
on the state Of the Union, Of Monday, March
9th, published in the evening edition OF the
Daily Globe OF the same date, he will find that
Mr.. Dawson was q steadflst advocate OF the
obnoxious section
The sixth section Of the bill, as reported by
Mr. Dawson, and referred to the Committee
Of the Whole on the state Of the Union, was
40 follows:
And be it further enacted That if any indi-
vidual now resident Of any one OF the States
or Territories and not a citizen OF the United
States, bnt ut the time Of making such appli
cation for the benefit Of this act, shall have
filed q declaration Of intention, as required by
the naturalization laws Of the United States,
and shall become a citizen of the same before
the issuance OF the patent, as mado and pro
vided for ia this act no shall DO placed upon
an equal footin with the native born citizen
Of the United States.0
The word "nowo refers Of course to the
date Of the passage Of the act and confines
the benefits Of the BILL 80 far a. foreign immi-
grants are concerned, 10. those resident an tins
country al that time, and who shall have filed
declaration Of intention, and shall become
citizens before the issuance Of the patent SO
No immigrant arriving after its passage can
share in tho benefits it confers, until after he
shall havc become a citizen--that is, after the
lapse of five years--and then five years more
must pass before he can obtain his patent
When this section Of the bill came up, the
following proceedings as reported in the DAILY
Globe, took place
"Mr. Dean. move to strike ont the word
nov in the second line.
do not propose to debate this matter, but
think Wa are making an unnecessary dis
elimination here.
Mr. Lane, Of Indiana. Will the gentleman
from New York state the effect of his amend
menta
Mr.. Dean. The effect of this amendment
will be 10 allow persons who emigrate and de-
clare their intentions after the passage Of this
act to receive the benefits of this bill the same
as if they had declared their intentions before
the passage of the act. | ain not in favor OF
the restriction contained ia this section
think that man who declares his intention
TO become citizen the next week or the next
year after it ia passed, ought to receive the ben
e6ts Of this bill, upon every principle Of justice
ms tho man who has declared his intentions be
fore the act goes into effect. ! am utterly OPP
posed to making discrimination between any
GLASS OF personr, no matter where they were
horn, or from what country they emigrated
The principle upon which the bill is founded,
and ON which only il can be defended, is occu-
pancy and settlement; and zee no reason for
making the time when declaration Of inten-
ton TO become citizen is made, ground for
discrimination.
aMr Dawson | insist that the provisions
Of the bill shall be confined to those persons
who are now residents and citizens Of the Uni.
ted States. | therefore object to the amend
ment Of the gentleman from New York, Mr.
Dean
Mr. Wade. ! propose to amend the soc
ton IN line two, by striking out the words in
dividukl now, and 10 insert in the third line
the word who between the words but and
sat'
The Chairman. The question must be first
taken upon the amendment OF the gentleman
from New York, Mr.. Dean That will not
preclnde the gentleman from Ohio from offer
ing hs amendment afterwards.
: The question was then taken upon Mr..
Deans amendment and u was not agreed to.
aMr. Wade. ! now oHsr the amendment
already sent to tho Clerks table.
Il do not wish to trouble the Committee with
remarks upon this matter but It does seem TO
me that it is Perfectly idle for us TO make any
prohibition here with regard to foreigners, for
u uriIl ha throo hafx~c th,a hal. S..h
iect will again be revived for tho benefit a
those who hereafter arrive 10 the country and
apply for citizenship and who will become,
upon the principle Of citizenship entitled 10
receive the same benefits from the Government
that those who are now residents are entitled
to.
Tho evil OF the legislation now asked for IL
that IN a few years the some thing will DO re-
peated oser and over again There is no use
IN talking about confning il to the present
time These foreigners, Vi they are 10 be en-
couraged &C all, should be encouraged not to
stop in the pnrIieus OF the cities where they
viii drag out n,iserabls existence in vice and
intemperance. ia evoly conceivable form, but
they should BE- encouraged to emigratc into
the country, where they can eDj " pure aud
fresh ar, and where they can become agricul.
fural laborera, rejoicing in an incr,ased health
Of body, mind aud morals
Ny favor for this amendment Is not pred
iosted upon the fact that we shall have to d.
the rams thing FOR many years, If we refuse il
nov, and thus time and money will be wasted
We shall certainly have to do il in less than
t~o years, and We might just as well do il now
and save time by it.
M. Dawson. Ia reply TO the gentleman
- - just hakcn bis scat, will merely say,
- h y 90 No province nor duty Of this Con-
Grse - lsxolafe for ell the nations Of the
vorld sd - r<st Of mankind. Laughter
oor Cobb. move 70 strike out Of the sixth
ssooon ~ fs1lowipg clause At the time Of
mskinx such application for the benefit Of this
cot ahsli have fed declaration Of intention
~ rsqaircd BY tho natural zation laws Of the
Uaibsd States, aod shall become citsen OF
fha 1anno hoE.pa kba irsuance az thu poteut IA