The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-06

~ ~ onc hundred and sixty land out Of the public
upon the occupancy and cultivation o. he same
or the period Of nys years
Mr. JOHNSON said
Mr. prrsIprSr The immediate proposition before the
seoate is an amendment offered by the honorable senator
from North Carolina Mr. CLINGAAs, which provides
that there shall be land warrant Issued to each head OF
family by the Secretary of the Interior, and dstibu
ted among those who do not emigate TO the public do
main and take possession OF and cultivate the land for
the term of wears specified in the BILL have something
TO say in reference to that amendment but will not say
it ia this connexioh. will take it up in its order
propose in the first place. to explain briefly the proys
ions of the bill.
The first section provides for granting one hundred
and sixty acres oland to every head of family who will
emigrate to any OF the public domain and settle upon
IT, and cultivate 1t for term of five years. Upon those
facts being made known TO the register of the land office
he is to be entitled to obtain patent The second Sec
ton provides that he shall make affidavit and show
to the satisfaction of the officer that his entry is made in
good faith and that his intention is to cultivate the soil
and become actual settler The sixth section of the
bill provides that any person who is now an nhabitant
Of the United States but not citizen if he makes appl
cation and in the Of five years becomes citizen
Oft United States shall be placed footing Of equal
ity with the naveborn citizens Of the country in this
respect The third section provides that those entries
shall bc confined to land that has been in Market and
subjected private entry and that the person entering
the land shall be confined to each alternate section
Those substantially the leading provisions Of this
bill 1t does not proceed upon the idea, sup
pose of making donation gift OF the public land to
The settler IL proceeds upon the principle OF conSidera
tion, and conceive and think many others do the
individual who emgrates to the West and recaims and
reduces to cultivation hundred and sixty Of the
public domain, subjectng himself to all the prvaons
and harshps of such e pays the highest considera
tion for his land.
But before say more on this portion of the subject
desire to premise little by giving the history Of this
homestead proposition. Some persons from my
gon Of the country, or in other words from tho South
have thrown out the intmation that this is proposition
which partaes to extent OF the nature of the En-
igant Aid Society and il to operate njuriousy to the
southern States For the purpose of making the starting
point right want to so back and show when this prop
oson first introduced into the Congress OF the Uni
ted States am not but that the Presiding Off
Mr. Foor in the chair remembers well the history
of this measure.
In 1916, on the 9th day of March, long before we
had any emigrant aid societies. long before had any
compromises in 1850 in reference to the slavery question:
long before had any agitation the subject Of save-
ry in 1854 long before had any agitation upon it in
1885, this proposition made its advent into the House of
Representa- 1t met with considerable opposition
1t scarcely received serious consideration for length of
time; but the pressed until the public mind
took hold Of III and it still pressed until the 18th day
of May 1882 when passed that body by third vote
Thus that its origin and its consummation far
tho House Of Representatives concerned had nothing
do with North South but it was proceeding upon
that great principle which interests every in this
country, and which, in the end, and provides for
him home. BY putting tlese dates together it will
fifteen days from the introduction of this bill until its
passage by the House Of Representatives.
shall not detan the Senate by any lengthy remarks
the general principles of the bill for do not intend
to be prolx, or to much of the Senate's time
What is the origin of the great idea Of homestead Of
land We ind turning to the first law-writer and
think Of the BEST for informed that hc wrote
by insprationtat be advances the first idea this
subject. Moses made use of the following language
"The land sha be sod forever land IS ye
are strangers and soiouners with Licu chapter verso
We begin thcn with Moses The next writer to whom
will call the attention Of the Senate is Vattelone Of
the abcst if not the abest writer upon the laws Of
tons He lays down this great principle (book !, chap
teri y
all the arts lage agriculture the most useful and
say ri the nursing father Of tho State Tho cultivation Of tho
earth to producc nhno ncrcaso tho
onree and the most solid fund Of rich commerce for the people who
This affair then, deserves tho utmost attention from government
The sovereign ought neglect rendering the land under
his obedience well cultivated possble ought
either communities Or private persons acquire tracts Of land
proprietor Of the free liberty Ing q his anshat viii not
allow him TO farm teh and cause them be cultivated the
advantageous these rights contrary
Of the state and ought 70 be suppressed reduced round
Inc property introduced among he citizens does not prevent tho ma
whole country to produce the greatest and most advantageous
Tho ought carefully avoid everything capable Of
dscouIagng hubandmen, Of diveing the abos
son the burden Of which falls almost entirely upon cultva
@ @ @ anu s nexaoas they saef from the commissioners who
The earth and depepuate the country Spain the fertile and
The worst cultivated country Europe possesses
much land and the undcracrs who arc author
zd purchase allow prices al the they nd
peasant above what for the
family greatly discourage the husbandsn
corn than necessary for support
arises the geatest scarcity in country capable feeding neigh
bors. = 80
Another abuse injurious agriculture contempt upon
huspandmen The inhabitants artists
ana the most lazy citizen consider him who the soil with
dsdans eye; they humble him.
procession that feeds the human racehc natural employment Of
man stay maker places beloved employment
dthe hrst consnls and dciaors Of Rome
China has wisely prevented Agriculture
e N honor aud this happy drinking every
year on sonn day. the Emperor himself by whole
ieheo china the best cultivated country
hcs IN innamerablo multitude Of people that appears
traveller too great for the they possess.
The cultivation Of the soil only recommended by tho
government of that ow
from u but from It's being obligation imposed by
Inc whole earth appointed for the pourshmen OF It's inab
nahts but would bs incapable doing uncuiyacd
Every nation then Obliged by law
fallen
require assistance Others any pcs
incapable OF furnishing II with Those people,
e e ancient Germans and modern fariars who, having fertile
asdain TO cultivate the earth rather choose ~ live by
rlu are wanting to themselves
savage and rapacoas bs There who avoid agre
u would only live by hunting locks This might doubt
@ 90 allowed In the first
more than inhabitants; prosci whom
race Is so greatly multiplied, would subslt all
resolved TO live this
VIC he rsurp
Tor were hoy nae honest labor therefore,
other nations
n possess apart Thus though conquest
pne Of Peru and Mexico usurpatcn the establish
ent of North America ny on their combining
'eres within just bounds, be extremely people
e vast countries rather overran than inhabited 'hcn.p
propose next to cite the authority Of Gen Jackson
VINO was believed to bo not only friend TO the South
s friend TO the Union. He inculcated this great doc
'rine IN his message Of 1882:
enno be doubted that the speedy settlement, Of those lands