The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-08-25
The lTomes &C arant.

interests Of the great West, and none which
has 20 strong hold upon the affections OF
our people ~ the Homestead law. The meas
ure h one specially designed for the benefit
Of the people, for the INDECENT OF oil ages,
for the enterprising young men, for all men
who have the hardwood to 90 forth on to the
frontier and improve farm. 1t 10 designed
to break up the monopoly of spectators in
tho public lands, and to give to every man
who will seek it, and make it, q farm and a
home. The passage Of the bill would inau-
gurate new system in regard to our public
lands, and would forever break up that sys-
tenn of land speculation which has proved SO
ruinous to the interests OF all the early set
tiers Of the West, and which is still the great
curse Of our new States. The West will be
more rapidly settled; issresources more fully
developed, and ell it's great interests will be
more completely built up and strengthened
as soon as this measure shall become law.
1t has bsen before the country for years,
and has passed the House Of Representatives
nearly every session since 1852. The meas
ure was originally brought to the attention
Of Congress and the country some twelve
years ago BY Andrew johnson, then mem
Der of the House Of Representatives from
Tennessee, and now the only friend Of the
bill amongst the Locofoco Shareholders Of the
Senate. But, although the Homestead meas
ure has been approved by the House of Rep
resentatives half dozen times, the slave
holding and specializing interest combined,
have thus far succeeded, by open war or se-
cret stratagem, in killing it Of in the Senate.
Below we publish the bill, in its present
shape, as introduced by Mr.. Grow, Of Penn
sylvania, the leader Of the Republican side
of the House:
| A BILL TO SECURE noNEsrEADs TO ACTUAL SET
Tiers ON THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
Be 1t enacted BY the Senate aud House Of
Representatives OF the United Ntdtes Of
| america In Congress Assembled, That any
person who 10 the head Of family, or who
has arrived at the age of twenty-one years,
and 10 q citizen of the United States, or who
shall have filed his intention to become such,
az required by the naturalization laws OF the
United States, shall, from and after the pas
sage OF this act, be entitled to enter, free Of
| cost, one quarter section of vacant and un-
appropriated public lands which may, at the
time the application is made, be subject to
private entry, at 81 rs per acre, or Q quaint
| ~ equal thereto, to be located in body, in
conformity with the legal subdivisions OF the
public lands, and after the same shall have
been surveyed.
| Sec. 2. That the person applying for the
benefit Of this act shall, upon application to
the register OF the land Office ia which he or
4 she is about to make such entry, make Aida
Wit before the said register that he or she is
the head of family, or is twenty zone years
or more OF age, and that such application is
made for his or her exclusive use and benefit,
and those specially mentioned in this act,
and not either directly or indirectly for the
use or benefit OF any other person or persons
whomsoever; and upon making the affidavit
as above required, and fling the affidavit with
the register, he or she shall thereupon be per-
mitted to enter the quantity OF land already
specified: Provided, however, That no GER
tifieate shall BIO given or patent sssued there
for until the expiration OF Eve years from the
date Of such entry and il, at the expiration
OF such time, or ct any time thereafter, the
person making such entry, or, If be be dead,
| bis widow, or, in case of her death, his heirs
or devisee, or in case OF q widow making
such entry, her heirs or devisee, in case of
her death, shall prove by two credible wit
nesses that be, she, or they, have continued
| to reside upon and cultivate such land, and
still reside upon the same, and have not alien
ated the same, or any part thereof, then, in
such case, he, she. or they, II at that time a
citizen of the United States, shall, on pay
ment OF ten dollars, be entitled to patent,
as in other cases provided for BY law And
provided, further, In case OF the death Of
both father and mother, leaving an infant
child or children under twenty one years Of
| age, the right and the fee shall inure to the
benefit of said infant child or children, and
the executor, administrator, or guardian may,
at any time within two years after the death
Of the surviving parent, and In accordance
with the laws of the State in which such
children for the time being have their domi-
Gil, sell said land for the benefit OF said in
fants, but for no other purpose and the pnr-
chaeer shall acquire the absolute title by the
purchase, and be entitled to . patent from
the United States.
4 Sec. 8. The register Of the land Office shall
note all such applications on the tract books
and plats Of his Office, and keep register Of
oil such entries, and make return thereof to
the General Land Office, together with the
proof upon which they have been founded.
II Sec. 4. All lands acquired under the pro-
visions Of this act shall in no event beoom Q
liable to the satisfaction Of any debt or debts
contracted prior to the issuing the patent
therefor.
Sec. 5. IL, at any time after fling the Aft
davit, as required in the second section Of
this act, and before the expiration Of the FIVE
years aforesaid, it shall be proven, after due
notice to the settler, to the satifaction Of the
} register of the land Office, that the person
having filed such affidavit shall have actually
changed his or her residence, or aband oned
the said entry for more than six mouths at
any time, then, and in that event, the land O
entered shall revert back to the Government.