Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-02-22

herring TO the old SYSTEM which has worked adj
mraby, and for letting well enough alone.
/ He found the railroad and homestead interests
were united in the general buncombe arrangement.
/ The game of . you tickle me, and tickle you Is
10 be resored 10, for the purpose OF carrying them
through. He had seen enough TO convince him
that great railroad interests had taken States into
their breaches pocket. He hoped il was not so
here. They should legislate as became American
statesmen. He wanted railroads 10 be built by
/ private enterprise. If there 10 be COM
| promise on this land question. he desired il should
| be such as would give the old States fair oppor-
| tunty 10 divide what is common 10 them all. The
homestead bill, in his opinion, encourages laZness,
/ by making those who 10 be benefited by It's
| provisions remain on the land for five years, and
| compel them TO root or die. In conclusion he re-
marked that he was a plain farmer. without pre-
| tensions 10 eloquence, and had without prepare.
| ton thus IN desultory manner expressed his
| views
| Mr.. GROW advocated the passage ofthe home
stead bill. In reply 10 Mr.. DENT, he asked whether
| il would not be better, as the population of the
| Old World will find home here here 10 fasten
them 10 an interest stronger than the oath of al
| legiance. But few men desert the land OF their
/ fathers and the home Of their childhood from
choice. Most them are driven hther by dire me-
cessity. These men. he repeated, must and will
come TO our shores. Would il not, them be better
thai they should be good and industrious citizens !!
He argued generally in favor OF the bill. and con-
tended that the public lands should cease 10 be a
source of revenue 10 the government.
Mr.. SMITH, of Virginia, made few remarks
| IN opposition TO the homestead bill, denying the
constitutional power 10 gratuitously give away
the public lands.
Mr., SMITH, Of New York, regarded the home
stead bill as second in Importance 10 no other
pendng--its substance. he meant He was in
favor OF this bill, not because by giving up part
the public domain 10 be occupied the remainder
will be more valuable than i, all was before such
cupation; nor he in favor of il because the
occupants will furnish new subjects OF taxation
nor was he in favor OF II for any of the more cur
rent and popular reasons for IL; but he was IN
favor Of this bill because he in favor of what
he interpreted TO be the admission that the govern
ment does not own The land, and that the landless
do own il. He hoped this bill would get the favor
and vote of this committee, and yet he could not
hope his reasons for il would meet with the APP
probation of the majority Of the committee; hut
he did hope that the committee would tolerate him
for holding his reasons. He then proceeded 10
show that The land does not belong to the govern
ment, but TO the landless, and that land monopoly
has reduced the great mass of mankind 10 AFFECT
poverty.
Mr. DAWSON replied 10 the objections which
Mr. SMITH, of Virginia, had urged in opposition
TO the homestead bill
The general debate has now closed
The committee rose.
BOUNTY LAND BILL.
The House referred to The Commute Of the
Whole on the state of the Union the bill adversely
reported on by the Committee on Public Lands,
yesterday, extending the provisions of the several
bounty land laws.
wAsHINGToN's BIRTHDAY.
Mr.. WRIGHT, of Pennsylvania. as tomorrow
will be the 22d of February, the anniversary of the
birthday of Washington, moved that when the
House adjourn, it adjourn to meet on Thursday
next
Mr.. FLORENCE inquired whether il would be
in order 10 move TO direct the Clerk 10 read TO-
morrow morning. at the desk, Washington's Fare
well Address
The SPEAKER replied in the negative
The motion of Mr.. WRIGHT was agreed to-
yeas ll3, nays "a. . NTH
Mr. HAVEN suggested that, as, the House had
agreed TO adjourn over tomorrow, they now pro-
coed TO clear the Speakers table But this was
not acquiesced in
And the House then adjourned