Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-03
BILL TO RECOGNISE SLAVERY
UNDER THE FORM OF AN INDIAN HOMESTEAD BILL

UNDER THE FORM OF AN INDIAN HOMESTEAD BILL.
+. Having been no fortunate ~ to obtain copy
Of the Bill, reported in the House Of Repre-
January aOth, from the Committee
90 Indian Affairs, by Mr.. Orr, Of South Caro-
lima, defining the terms on which treaties
shall hereafter be made with certaih tribes Of
Indians we lay it before our readers.
Il isa curious Bill, with strange odor Of
humanity about it, IL would seem designed
to initiate new policy--that Of civilixing the
Indians investing them with the rights Of
American citizenship, and admitting them, Or
gained into States, into the Union.
Bot the unwonted philanthropy Of Mr.. Orr
looks beyond the welfare Of the Indians, and
embraces scheme for the recognition Of Sia-
vsry in all the Territories Of tie United States
Proposing to elevate the red man, it seeks to
extend and perpetuate the bondage Of the
black man. II would save tho Indians from
extinctio0 by organizing them into States, ded-
icated 70 slave-labor institutions, and tributa.
ries to the Slave Interest
Exanine specially the following provision Of
the Bill
Each family of the tribe or nation shall be
entitled to locate as permanent homestead
it single person over the age of twenty-one
years oneeighth Of a section; to each family
Of two, one-quarter; to each family Of three,
and not exceeding five, one halfseetion; to
each family Of six, and not exceeding ten, one
section and to each family over ten, one addi-
tional quarter-section for every five members
and to fansiiss Who oscn slGoes, az addition 10
tie foregoing there shall be alloyed, If less than
ten sIaDes, one hay seetioa If ten, and not en-
cssding fifteen, one section and for svery ten
obops that nan,bsv, one halt section"
As the tribes embraced within the SCOPE Of
the Bill are scattered all over the Territory Of
the United States. this provision is clearly in
tended 70 nationalize Slavery in all Territory
within the jurisdiction of the Federal Govern
ment--to secure for it everywhere in United
States Territory, Congressional recognition and
sanction. Especially is il designed covcrtly
TO legislsto Slavery into Nebraska, in disregard
OF the Law now exempting Il from that evil.
Nor 10 this oil. II offers premium TO slave
holding-it holds out Inducements to Indians
70 beooms Shareholders. The objects Of the
real Homestead policy are, 70 discourage Land
Monopoly, TO multiply the number Of small
Lsndholders % encourage agricultural indus
try to SECURE to landIoss men, or heads of fam-
lies, fair proportions Of the public domain.
The tendency Of this provision in Mr.. Orr's
Homestead Bill, is to encourage Land Monopo.
" By granting bonus to Labor Monopoly
TO swell the number Of large Landholders; to
encourage habits Of extravagance, unthrift, and
idisness, among the Indian tribes, and to secure
70 rich men and heads Of families inordinate
proportions Of the public domain.
This bill, to nationalze Slavery, to propa-
gate and encourage Slaveholding and Land
Monopoly among all our Indian tribes, under
the pretext of cvlising them and investing
them with the rights Of American citizenship,
10 intended, we are told, to be taken I'M. 30
soon rs the Nebraska bill shall have passed
en- event. Of which the Ruling Glass entertains
little doubt That such measure should be
coolly and confidently brought forward in an
American Congress, shows with what infinite
contempt the Shareholders regard the views
and feelings of the People Of the Free States.
ABuL
Defining the terms which treaties shall hereafter
Be made with certain tribes q Indians, and Tor
ether parpssea 4
Be IL enacted by the Senate and House Of
Representatives Of The United States Of America
IN Congress assembled, That the President Of
the Usited States shall hereafter require all
ofhcers and commissioners negotiating treaties
for the cession or purchase OF lands from the
nhti0ns or tribes Of Indians following. TO wit
the Choctaws and Chickasaws Seminoles.
CreskH Cherokces, Senecas, Senecas and Shaw.
nees Qnapaws, Osagcs, Miamies, Plank eshaws
and Wsas Peorias and Kasksskias Ottawas.
Sacs and Foxes Kansas, Shswnees Pottawato.
mics Wyandots, Delawases. Kickapoos. Sacs, 10
was HaIfbrteds, Otoes, and 0mahas-- to neooti-
etc tho same On the terms and conditions herein
after prescribed, TO vii: All the lands within
the boundaries of tho tribe or nation making
the treaty TO be cedcd TO the United States,
and that ~ soon thereafter az may be practi-
cable, tho President shall cause the same 10 be
surveyed and divided in like manner as the
public lands Of the United States have hereto
fore been surveyed, and immediately thereafter
each family of the tribe or nation shall be en-
titled 70 locate, a. permanent homestead
. single person, over the age of twenty.one
ysars, ono eighth of section; 10 csch family
d TOO, one qoartev-sectinn 10 each family cf
thrse, and not exceeding five, one halEsection
70 each family Of SIX, and not exceeding ten,
one section and to each family over ten, one
additional quarter-section for every i've men,
bsrs; and 70 families who own slsves, in ad.
diticn - the foregoing there shall be- allowed,
II lsas than ten slaves one halEssotion II ten,
and no. exceeding hflseu, one ssotion and for
every ten above that number, one halfsection;
PROVIDED, Thst not more than six families
shaa! select cctorminous lands: And provided,
fsTfh<r, Thst Il in making surveys two exist.
ms essttIemsnts shall fan within che same sub
division, the oideut occupant shall remain, and
the value Of I'll Improvements Of the family
oasesd shall b asseseed and psid such family