The Shasta courier., 1854-08-26
Gen. Ca.s ON the Homc.scnd Bill.

The following extract from the late great
speech Of Gen. Cass in defence OF President
Pierce's veto mess &c, will be particularly IN
tcres,ins to the friends of the homestead. WIN
out assuming to speak for the President or 10
intimate any knowledge os his views, Cen Cass
arrives at the conclusion that the homestead bill
is not in conflict with the principles OF the veto
message:
"The duty of profiably managing tue dainakl
and of rendering II more vaiHahle mus fhefeas-
ing the inducemtens TO emi grams to purchase
iustifes any disposition eslly efectns Tins
purpose. 1t does so in the words Of the lresi-
dent by 'ausmenting the value oil Abe residue,
and in this mode encourages the carly occuPa-
tion of it by tire industrious and Intelligent
pioneer 1t began during the administration
of Gen. Washington. when an act OF Congress
was passed granring three tracts of land IN ihe
Northwestern Territory to Isaac Zane, one
where GAINESVILLE now is, another v.heEe Lam
caster is, and third opposite Chillicothe, IN
consideration Of his marking and opening road
"a bride path raiher) from Wheeling TO the
Ohio river, opposite Limestone, now Maysville,
in Kentucky. 1t is upon the same ground OF IN
creasing the value OF the property that grants iof
The purpose of education, Of settlement, of de-
fence, and for many other objects OF q similar
nature. have been made in the public domain,
and may be consiitutionally defended and in
lke-manner the great bill OF the session, OF the
age rather--ihe homestead blll--maklnS proyl-
sions for granting u tract OF land to every man
who win occupy and improve it for five years,
becomes as constitutional rs it is wise and just.
A proposition earnestly advocated by Andrew
Jackson and by Daniel Webster must have some
claims 10 favor, and is hardly tit subject Tor the
sneers and denunciaiions it has provoked, here
and elsewhere. Its friends may pass them by
unharmed by virtuperation, and not fear 10 do
right, because charged by those who find the rule
OF conduct for others IN their own breasts with
being mere demagogues, while seeking to do
Justice 10 ALL whether ricn or poor. l believe,
If this homestead bill passes, as trust 1t Will,
that it will form Married era in the history OF
our country, accelerating her progress III all the
elements OF power and prosperity. 1t will add
to our population, TO our productive resources. to
our strength, and above all, TO the cOntentment
Of our Citizens furnishing new and powerful
motives to rally roond government III its hour
of danger, which offers 10 the world the noble
example OF beneficence instead OF taxation; and
which thus aids in fulfilling the great injunction
to ''replenish the earth and subdue it'---an in
junction which, If not facilitated by such mea
sure, would be delayed and disobeyed, it may
be for centuries in much of public domain
which would remain waste or forest, instead
Of being covered by happy and thriving popu
lation.
al have been sratified in finding that the doc
trincs OF the veto message, as unders' and them
bring the objects of this bill within the consii
tutional powers Of Congress; and This belief has
been fortified by the consideration that in the
examination of the grants heretofore made, the
President enumerates but two--those TO Ken
lucky and Connecticut-which he considered
clearly uncor stitutonal Among those not dis
avowed are the grants made by the Florida set
tlement law, by which tract of one hundred
and Sixty acres was secured to every man whc
shonld occupy il fer three years and also 10y
the Oregon settlement law, by which six hun
drcd and forty acres, or less, according to cir
cumstances, We're promised, after an occupation
of five years. Like grants, though On a smaller
scale. were made 10 the French inhabitants o
Gallpolis, and also to the Ohio company tor ac
tual settlers, and in other not necessary tc
be particularly referred to-"