Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-03-18
The Homestead Bill.

tribute TO extend the cause of free labor in this
republic. and better the condition OF the work
inr classes. there are few that have a more d.
rect bearing than that proposed by the " Home
stead bill" which is before Congress for 1t
will contribute largely to the Development OF
the public domain, now unoccupied or else con-
ceutrated in the hands of spectators. As a
question OF national policy affecting the spread
of our free institutions, encouraging indiVid'
ual and domestic industry, resting the tounda-
tons of our government upon strong, manly
patriotic yeomunry. aud spreading before Us lh-
to the wilderness the civilization that is the
pride and boast Of the age, 1t does Lot admit
of argument. 1t is too the climax tn that anne
loration of the land system OF the United
States, which has been so long maturing under
free democratic guidance, and which has only
been partially expressed by the exclusive and
aristocratic tendencies Of southern extension
lists. Cash sales Of public lands, pre-emption
to actual settlers, graduation of price accord
inr to quality, nave beeu the successive steps
in The advance from the old ideas Of govern
men. monopoly that first obtained II these
reforms tended TO confirm the soil to the pio-
neer, and were designed for that purpose
The finishing stroke remains, and that is TO ex-
clude speculation from the homes of the mas
sea, and Weld the magnificent domain Of the
west 10 the citizens who will reduce It to Guilt
yation
In view of this progression, we are glad to
see that subject of so much Importance is
receiving the attention of Republican members
of Congress for from the nullifiers We can,
with few exceptions, hope for nothing. Their
policy is to devote the territories to the spread
of slavery and the cultivation of negroes, aud
of course, they oppose any modification that
looks to filling them up with free citizens -
To show this fact, it is only necessary to trace
ont the congressional history of the Z" Home
stead biIl' itself. In 1881 the first homestead
bill was introduced in the House which was
supported by some of the most prominent Of the
Republican party. Among the ablcst speech
es then made in its behalf was that Of Mr..
Grow, of Pennsylvania, who, from that time
to this, laboreI necessarily for the success of
this measure. The bill passed the House the
first session of the thirty-frst Congress, in 1851
and was lost in the Senate by the refusal OF
that body to take it up for consideration the
slave extension interest generally opposing it.
Mr.. HALE made an effort to get it conf l.
cred aud on the test to vote but one southern
senator voted with him. Mr. Grow and 9TH
ers made an effort to have the homestead pol
icy incorporated into the democratic platform
at Baltimore, in 1852, but the effort failed
In the session Of congress in 1858, Mr. Grow
introduced homestead bill and again made
telling speech in its favor and was most a.,
tive and vigilant in securing its passage in the
House. 1t WAS again defeated in the Senate
On the test vote to lay on the table, but six
northern voted for the notion and but nine
southern men voted against it. In the last
Congress, Mr. GROW again introduced his
homestead hjll, which, owing to the press Of bu
siness. failed to be- reached during the Con
gress yet, on the first days of this session he
again introduced his bill. and it has now been
referred to the committee on public lands. Its
principal features are, TO give any person who
is the head Of family, or who has arrived at
the age of ftwenty-One years, and is a citizen of
the United States, or who shall have filed his
intention 20 become such, as required by the
naturalization laws Of the United States, one
hundred and sixty acres of the public lands,
on condition Of occupation and culture for five
years providing he, she, or they shall become
citizens of the United States before the issuing
Of the patent thel eof
Oar desire in calling attention to the sub
ject at this moment, however, is not so much
to evoke public expression from the cOmmun-
ty. for that was fully done, so far as St. Lou
is is concerned, by the declaration of the mass
meeting at the rotunda on the Sth Of January
last bat rather to incite members Of the pres
sent Congress to suffer no failure in bringing
the matter to the test of a direct vote. 1t will
set before to the country au interesting record
and show who are prepared to sustain the cause
of land reform connected with the free labor
extension, and also, who are fettercd with the
ignominious traditions Of government monopo-
ly. If it fails in this Congress, it can only be-
cuse it is opposed as heretofore, by the slave
propaganda of the southern seaboard, and even
should it fail, that defeat would only give re-
newed vitality to the measure, and ensure its
triumphant passage when the present admins
| traton loses its baneful ascendency st Lou
IS Democrat: