The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-02-10
The Daily goltrnal.
EVANSVILLE, IND.
THURSDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY II
The Homestead Bill.

has been agitated and debated for the last
eight years, passed the House of Representa-
tives. 1t provides that any person who has
arrived at the age of 81 years, is the head of
family, and citizen of the United States
either by birth, naturalization, or has de-
clared his intention of becoming so-may
enter, free of cost, one quarter section of
vacant and unappropriated lands, which
may, at the time of application, be subject
to private entry.
The conditions attached to this grant are,
That the land shall be for the exclusive use
of the person applying or his heirs; no pat
ent shall be granted until the applicant has
resided upon the homestead for FIVE years
change of residence or an abandonment Of
the claim for any period of time over six
months vitiates the entry, and The land re-
verts to the Government, to be disposed of
as other public lands. In case of the death
of pareRts leaving children under 81 years
of age, the land may be sold by the executor
or guardian for the benefit of said children,
but for no other purpose; no person is per-
n1itted to enter more than one quarter section
under the provision of the act, and all
lands acquired under said provisions are
in no event to become liable to the satisfac-
ton of any debt or debts contracted prior to
issuing the patent therefor.
From these provisions, it will be seen that
the bill is of immense value to the poor of
our country, who are anxious to procure
home for their family, and are willing to
work. 1t is of equal advantage to the Gov
ernment, by scattering its population and
settling up unoccupied lands; also, by
quickening the love and patriotism of its
| citizens for none SO love their country as
those who own 81 portion of its soil. The
bill is essentially democratic. A measure
so favorable to the laboring men of the
country surely was sustained by every friend
( of labor in the House.
To Mr. Grow ia due the thanks of the
poor for his skillful pilotage of the bill
through the storm that greeted it in the
House. Desperate efforts were made to
swerve him from his purpose but he held
on steadily until the measure was triumph
ant.
Now let us see how the votes are CLASH
fed. Let us see who were in favor of fur
nishing the poor with homes, and who OPP
posed
The bill received the votes of 81 Republi-
cans, anti-Lecompton Democrats and &c
Lacompton Democrats. 1t encountered the
nays of ! Republican, 2 anti-Lecomptor
Democrats, 60 Lecompton Democrats, and
Is South Americans.
the single Republican who voted against
it was Matthias Fl. Nichols, of Ohio The
two hostile anti-Lecompton Democrats were
S. Marshall and Aaron Shaw, both of Hi
nois. Neither of these three gentlemen ar,
returned to the next House The sixty re
compton Democrats are composed of fifty
six shareholders and four dough faces, to
wit: English, Hughes, and NIBLACK o
Indiana, and Leidy of Pennsylvania.
The 'sectional" phase of the vote is al
, follows
5 For the Bill-Members from slave States
$ 3; Members from free States, lit.
t Against the Bill-Members from slav,
! States, 50 Members from free States, Z.
The members of the Southern States vote,
against the measure because it enhances tn
i. value Of free labor and is likely to speedil,
e populate the Territories with men who will
have the nerve to regulate their institution
in their own way The South American
;, voted against it, because it allowed aliens
who had only declared their intention t
become citizens TO participate in its benefit:
But why did Messrs. English, Hughe:
. and NIBLACK vote against it? We ar
curious to know. Are they opposed to ele
f waiting the poor? or are they fearful of cen
/. sure from their Southern leaders
The history of the Homestead Bill is in
teresting In 1852, Homestead Bill passe
the House. The affirmative votes came i
: about equal proportions, from tie free an
Y slave States. This bill was not acted upo
y III the '7eHate' III AOof lhe houSe aBai
. passed a Homestead Bill The votes in il
favor came from both sides of Mason an
IS Dixon's line but the Northern prepondel
e ance was considerably greater than tw
:; years before. This bill was rejected by tn
IS Senate Since then five years have passe,
Is The Bill again comes up, and only sert
d Representatives from free States are foun
voting against it. Of these seven, to o,
: shame be it said, Indiana furnishes three
10 OF these three WILLIAM f. NIBLACK
lie one.
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