The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-18

Now, sir this being the condition of the public Ian,
States ask you any measure winch has for its obec
the encouagcmentof the settlement of these lands with
hardy industrious people who win find their way them
4 will do us any harm? think but the contrary
great benefit No one, take it, viii propose repeal tn
naturalization laws Then is not better liberal laws
to make them landowning and taxpaying citizens, than
by different policy to keep them in your crowded cities
TO state the case 1t appears to me- is TO meet an affirmative
answer ot all the capital in country, muscle ant
bone is the best to develop its resources feel abiding
confidence that the homestead feature ngraed upon
present land system will operate most bene6ciay, and
will be felt TO greater less extent in all the raiica
ons Of society. 1t will give confidence and security
those who are seeking to benefit their condition. but
prevented from settling on the public domain because
the dread with which they look TO the sale OF the land
on which they may reside OF ali the things the
est and dearest to the human heart is the desire to be-
come the possessor of piece of mother earth 1t il
the strongest feeling which aninates the human breast
The settlers upon the public domain in the States and
Territories look with alarm the appearance Of the United
States surveyor with far greater terror the proc
nation OF the President ordering the lands which they
] have located to be sold ON three-mOnths notice.
PAS this bill, aud the individuals who may settle and
reside upon public land for five consecutive years will gel
their homes; Others who not willing to wait so long
time can bny theirs whenever they choose
From calculations which have been made am inclined
to the opinion that than one-haf the quantity OF
public lands annually disposed Of in the Northwest pur-
chased by those who wish TO cultivate it, An immense
amount is now being entered by those who do il excu-
siyely from motives OF speculation One of the excellent
tendencies of this bill will be check these pccuatons
the public domain, and am of those who think it al
most national calamity that the bill reported by Senator
Walker OF Mississippi in 1885, and which passed this body
connng the sale Of all public lands to actual settlers did
not become n law
ask senators, American ctzens-as those who nrc
disposed to keep the country together and sustain all
its instituons-wheher it is betterno proposing to
repeal the naturalization laws of the United Satesthat
you should keep the foreign born population confined TO
the cities discourage them from going to the frontier
allow them to spread out and fuse in with, and become
part of the population of the country Sir their numbers
as have before remarked are magnfed The census shows
this very clearlyshows that the number of foreigners
the country and the probable number who buy the public
domain is immensely exaggerated Let no man tell me
that this is bonus bounty revolutionary Europe
Sir your naturalization laws and your free instittions
the participation of foreigners in the struggle which burst
British tyranny and enabled to advance from colonial
dependence TO present pond ositiony nterco-
nuncaon by steam nayigaiion--ihese are the things
which bring foreigners here and your land sysem.
large portion of them mechanics and tradesmcn who
settle in cities and will not under your most liberal land
system find their way TO the frontier No. sir it is not
the lands but the laws and free institutions that bring
them here fH
Sir, have said that think something is due to the
House of Representatives That House. ut early day
among the very first measures which passed ut this
session. sent us the homestead bill ii was sent to us at
the first session OF previous Congress 1t then lost
because OF want Of devotion the part of its friends
proposition to establish ocean-lne steamers increase
their compensation and other of like character
which have speculation and outside strength to sup
port them, easily pass and upon the shortest possible
notice. but look at the time that have had to consider
the homestead bill To-day is the first time has been up
for months Sir is for class whether they he foreign
not who able to be represented here by lob
coming successful that they deserve 1t is bill for
those who pay the taxes who fight the battles Of the
and that too without any nduccment hey ond patriot
sf it is for the who rally for the trifng pay which
is given TO the regular soldiers the first sound of war
and ready to march the Rio Grande or TO other por
tons OF the country which may be assailed by enemy