The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-03-15

citizen to appropriate and occupy any quarter
section OF the Public Lands which is open to
private entry At the minimum price Of 81, Is per
acre, without payment therefor TO the Treasury
and without fear Of being ousted BY a specula-
tor or creditor. No topic was ever more thor
oughly debated, and on none has the judgment
Of intelligent, rejecting citizens been more
nearly unanimous than in favor Of this benefi-
cent Land Reform. The bill thus favored is q
moderate and cautious one, divesting no man
of what he now possesses nor destroying the
market value even OF the lands now held on
speculation, but 30 modifying the influence OF
monopoly as to render all Wild lands more ac-
cessible and attanable than hitherto. The
thrifty, fore-handed citizen would doubtless
continue to prefer and purchase lands already
somewhat improved and convenient to mills,
stores, schools, &c., while the rugged and needy
laborer, with the bankrupt and desperate in
fortune, would push beyond him into the will
derness and fasten upon quarter section that
is profered without money and without price,
and from which no gripping creditor could thrust
his suffering family. We believe the passage
of this bill would add tens of thousands imme-
distely, and hundreds Of thousands ultimately,
to the number of our producers Of wealth, sub
tracing from the number Of our paupers and
the famishing crowd vainly struggling for en-
ployment in the great cities. There is not
merchant, q manufacturer, an owner Of city
property, who would not ultimately share in the
signal and enduring benefits which the pas
sage Of the Homestead bill would secure to the
Free Laboring Class of our whole country
Thousands who will never see the National do
main would find their fortunes frightened by
the gradual drawing off of the surplus popula-
ton of the seaboard to fill up the waste places
Of the Great West and cause the wilderness to
blossom as the rose.
The Homestead bill passed the House by the
emphatic vote OF l2Oto 66-about the heaviest
majority ever given for any great and good
measure in that body. 1t is to be beaten-for
the third time, we believe-in the Senate; and,
even if it should pass that trying ordeal, the
President is understood to hold himself in read
mess to veto OF pocket it-at all events, to
strangle it. Why?
The motion to take up this bill in the Senate
on Monday was made by Mr.. Pugh OF Ohio-a
Democrat who, not without some qualms, but
still effectively, supported even the Lecompton
Constitution. 1t was beaten by vote of 26 to
20. How beaten?
For taking up the bill, there were just tpo
votes from the Slave States-those of Messrs.
Bell and johnson, of Tennessee. From the
Democratic party, there we're just nine votes
for the mot,on-those of Messrs Broderck,
Douglas and Stuart, of Michigan (who all OPP
posed the Lecompton fraud, and OF whom only
Stuart has been heartily forgiven for that bolt),
and Messrs. Gwin, of California, Johnson, Of
Tennessee, Jones, of Iowa. Pugh, of Ohio, and
Rice and Shields, OF Minnesota. General
Shields is known as not friendly to the Lee
compton scheme, and his fidelity to " Democra-
cy," in its present phase, is not implicitly re-
lied on.)
On the other side, twenty-three of the TWEEN
ty-nine votes against taking up the bill, come
from the Slave States, all but one OF them (Gen.
Houston's) those of professed Democrats. From
the Free States, six votes were cast against
taking up the bill-those of Messrs. Allen of
r. l., eBigler of Pa, Bright and Fitch Of Ind,
aud Thomson and Wright OF M. (The Ore
gonians were conveniently absent. The India
ma (bOgus) Senators alone might have voted SO
as to take up and probably to pass the BILL
Why they did not, we think the People OF In
diana will seek to know. No single vote
against taking up the bill was cast by any SEN
ator from Free State who is not in the fullest
communion with the "National Democracy.
Ii there be any one not yet convinced that
Gov. Seward was correct in affirming an ire
pressible conflict" in this country between the
Free Labor and Slave Labor systems-their
genius, instincts, purposes and policy respective
ly-we beg him to study closely the history oi
the struggle for Land Reform That struggle,
be assured, is not ended: it is Just fairly begun
Were Indiana represented by her legally chosen
Senators, the Homestead bill would have passed
Congress ere this-passed to be stopped by a
Veto. The year 1860, We Confidently trust
will remove that obstacle. So, batting no jot OF
heart or hope, We press onward in faith that
the day is at hand when no man will be preclu
ded from occupying and improving patch oi
NJ Il hpt tha faof hnh
no money wherewlth to buy ia fact which
only demonstrates more clearly his need and
right to have it.-[N. Y. Tribune.
Our national Capitol stands in our affairs like
some irettul crater, which, boiling and seethine
forever within, every now and then shakes tht
land with some terrible eruption, and belche.
forth its furious contents. Bad as the border
States are, and unrestraned as are the passion.
OF men who herd together there, it can scarcely
be said that morals and conduct are so debasee
and brutal as at Washington.
We do not doubt that the resident population
not connected with the Government, present
worthy contrast to the mere sojourners there
But thither flock, every session, Thousands o
men whom no principle controls, no shame re-
strains, no fear daunts. They are corrupt, ant
forever seeking corruption. Nor are the.
| in all large cities. Rosues are sent there oI
public errsnds. Men are there by official com
missions who have eluded courts and cheate,
jails.
That this Sodom has many more Lots than it
prototype we firmly believe; but that old Sod
| ON and Gomorrah had, for their day, as man
men as bad, and, compared with the civllize
condition OF the community, half NJ bad, we d
not believe. Corruption and corruptibility
bribery aud venality, brutal passions and auda
eious violence, in the street, in the halls OF Lee
islation, in offices, in every post and passage Q
Government, are known to exist. We do nc
believe that ever before was there SO little sci
slbility to charges of most ruinons wickednes'
Not only is there the most depraved wIckednes
but there seems very little sensibility to it whe
exposed. The extremity OF the evil, We behev'
will work remedy. We hope that We are nea
the bottom, and that any change will be for th
better.
When jobs are 50 many and lucrative; whe
the Treasury is assaabe on every side, an
boring avariee may grow rich by scarcely dis
guised robbery; when just claims are withhe
aud public debts dishonorably deferred for
creditors whole lifetime, but money is poure
out like water upon managing rogues and unco
victed political felons; it car scarcely be b
that crowds of evil men will haunt the purlie
OF national legislation and batten upon plunde
When before did rumor, almost without per
phrasis or innuendo, but by open threat, char
home upon the highest members OF Governme
!, the disgrace of personal corruption and ofici
yenalty IN. Y. Independent
. ACCIDENT AND NARROW EscAPE.-The NJ,
} Coach from this place to Abba, Thursday NOR
} ing, met with serious accident at Mile
! Creek, about three miles from this place. Il
: stream was deeper, and the current strong
than the diver supposed. The horses We
lifted from their feet and swept down sties
taking the Coach with them which came u
= coupled. There were five passengers in I
= coach At the time, Mr.. J!Philps and W. y. e
lins, of Abba, and . Mr.. Shannon and t
j others, re. idence unknown.
The passengers all escaped with their hv
Il Mr.. Collins aad the driver came near drownlr
i and we're rescued by the others who had 6
r out, and man who happened to be near by
n the timber. The team struggled down the c
}. rent for some distance, but finally drowned
" They were taken out all attached in tb
Q places.
y The mail was lost, also some carpet sacks a