Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-06-13
Tho Homestead Bill.

w uStuut 10 u uCubutC W.
which the laboring classes especially
are interested, indsmuch as il will cna.
Bile thousands TO obtain the means Of on
Independent livelihood, who are now
compelled by circumstance to cult.
vate, at great disadvantage, the lands OF
others-as tenants. They have long
expected that the government would a.
dopt soma such wise policy as this, and
the great favor with which the measure
has been received throughout almost The
entire country, especially ia the Cen
iral States aud the great West taken
ir connection with the fact that it hos
twice passed the popular branch Of our
national observation-disclosures little doubt
as 10 It's ultimate success. During the
present session, many Of the leading
Democrats in the Senate have taken
strong ground IN favor Of il, AMI when
it comes to vote, wo have no doubt q
majority Of that body will give it their
support.
But few have said anything in oppo.
sition 10 the Homestead bill, and those
who have done so used no argument
that has any weight, Mr.. Thompson, a
Native American Wing from Kentucky.
some time since, took occasion TO pour
forth TRADE Of abusive defamation a.
ganst it, stigmatizing it as measure
to benefit those who were too lazy to
earn money 10 buy land; and opposing
it especially because its provisions and
benefit would extend to adopted citz.
ems, and those about becoming such.
But such sentiments are happily enter.
tanned by but few, and they the most
bisotci Of the leaders Of the anti.pro.
gressives. This declaration of Mr..
Thompson that the measure was for the
benefit Of the indolcnt, is only intended
by this friend Of land monopoly TO ere.
ate prejudice against measure which
would so efrectuully prevent land job
bcrs from possessing themselve. Of vast
portions Of the public domain, and thcn
retailing it 10 the settlers at exorbitant
prices.
As regards the economy Of the mea'
sure, and The pecuniaIy interest Of the
government, we sold that as only alter
nate sections are to be granted free to
the settlers, the increased value Of the
remaining lands, the development of the
. resources and consequently increased
, wealth and commerce of the country,
will more than equal the revenue the
5 public treasury might receive from the
sales which would otherwise take place.
There a,e thousands Of young men just
commencing in life, who have by indus
try and economy accumulated sufficient
means to take them to the frontier set
dement's, anil probably enough to- pro-
. vide them with few Of the comforts and
e necessares of life in their rustic homes
in the west, who have not two or three
(; hundred dollars besides with which tt
e buy lands. They are of the most deserv
- ing class, and If once enabled TO posses
j, home, where they would not be com
/. PEELED to give one half Of the results o
y their labor TO some 'lord OF the soil,
II would soon be prosperous an'l happ.
|, citizens, blessings TO society ana 10 tn
j country. Then when the fai west be
u comes thus settle with enterprsne an,
u industrious farmers-(or w do not be
,r lieve the inIolent would accept farm
II on condition that they should culti.at
e it five yesrs-the remaining alternate
sections will be sought for and purchas
'f ell by the more wealthy, at three or lou
e times the price they could be sold for a
}" present. Those who have friends in tn
c. Eastern States will induce them to pun
ID chase lands adjoining theirs in the Yves
O. aud thus the government will realize a
IL much for the public lands in this way
le as by the mode heretofore practised, an
s, much sooner than by any other system
III There can be no doubt that this woul
s. DO the policy offs judicious pfoprieto
&, who aimed at ready reduction OF h
a lands into money at fair prices. r
+. Some have supposed that because tn
President has vetoed a bill making
large grant Of land for the benefit Of tn
insane-who ara wholly under the cal
~ ofthe States respectively-that he woul
also veto the Homestead Bill. We d
10 not think so. Ii is conceded that, Cot
~ gress has power to dispose Of the publ
's:' land in proper manner, ana that bod
u, has always exercised this power eth
o: o. in selling,'or making grants 10 soldie
rs in the United States service, and other
= 1t is only the injudicious an! prodig'
'er granting Of lands for purposes ov
"a; which the several States alone have col
al troll, and indiscriminate giving 10 CO
ne porations and monepolists, to whis
le, the President objects. There is nothil
ng in his Message which indicates that
m will veto the Homestead Bill.and shou
lln ". it pass the, Senate this Sess on, the pro
ec. e, pect for which seem very (a'r-we dou
ny not he will promptly and gladly give
the executive sanction. -
The The, Insane Bill was passed under I
ce. limportunities Of Miss Dix, "a lady w
her calculated to enlist the sympathies
les Congressman in favor Of the unforluns
md class for whom the grant was asked
ew appears that through gallantry and a.
is sire TO please the fair petitioner, as W
ain as to relieveihe insane; members oy
or. l,oked the fact that they were maxi
me provision for on object entirely outsl
20. 'es' Of their legitimate sphere. ~ Marie
md Rspabl;ean. s. sss