The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-10-07
The Homestead Bill.
From the Mankato Record.

Senators Shields and Rice for defeating the
homestead bill in the last Congress, when,
on the 25th OF February, at quarter past
nine at night, and after continuous session
of ten hours, they voted against taking up
the homestead bill. To making these charges,
our friends merely read the votes on the
motion, but carefully and unfairly neglect to
read the remarks of northern Senators in
explanation of their votes. We ask the
people to read these remarks-the protesta-
lions of johnson, Douglas, Lane, Clark, and
Rice-and then determine who are respon-
sible for its defeat. TO make political CAPT
tai for the present campaign, Republican
members sought to force the homestead bill
upon the consideration of the Senate, know
ing that some of its Democratic friends
would oppose their action. We quote from
Congressional Globe, End session, 35th Con-
gress, page 1852. MIR. Lane, of Oregon, q
Democrat, said:
l only want to say that this bill offers q
premium to those who will stop this side Of
Oregon and Washington and our Pacific
coast, and thus tends to prevent the settle
ment of that country. shall, therefore,
vote against taking up, and vote against the
passage of this bill with its present provis-
ions, because it is offering premium to
those who will not 90 to Oregon.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, (Democrat.)
l wish to call the attention of the Senator
from Wisconsin to single point. He
knows that have been the early and con-
sistent friend of the homestead proposition.
1 advocated that measure when it had but
few friends: 1 have advocated it since it
has had many friends. We struggled with
it through one branch of Congress, and we
have it no before the Senate for action. I
wish merely to suggest, in this connection,
that while / am for it, and intend to vote
for it, and speak for it until am really
satisfied that it is either to be postponed
finally, or to become the law, l hope the
Senator, in the present state Of affairs, with
another question before the Senate, and
Senators willing to speak upon it, and all
prepared to vote upon it, will withdraw his
motion. 1t is not worth while to antagonize
with the impending question, when it actu.
ally weakens the proposition, and certainly
cannot advance it. l am as much for the
measure as the Senator from Wisconsin can
be, and l was almost going to say that l am
more for it than he can be. l hope he will
withdraw his proposition; and let US have &C.
tion upon the subject now before the Senate.
The course which he is taking cannot
strengthen the homestead measure. 1t will
give it no votes, and in the present state of
affairs and business before the Senate, l am
satisfied that there are many Senators who
are in favor of the homestead bill who will
vote against postponing this bill at the
present time. l trust, then, he will with
draw his motion, and let it be understood
that so soon as the Cuba question is dis
posed of, we shall make one common and
united effort to bring up the homestead bill
and procure the action ofthe Senate upon it..
Mr.. DOUGLAS, (Democrat.) 1 had only a
word to Say, and the Senator from Tennes-
see has said that in about the form that l
should have done. l think it is unwise in
the friends of the homestead bill to occupy
time by crossing motions in this way and
thus defeating the bill, when if we will con-
slider one question at time, we shall have
ample opportunity to dispose of both. The
right way now to pass the homestead bill,
and the only chance it has, is to stand by
the Cuba bill until we get through with it,,
then take up the homestead bill, and 60 on
with that until we get through with it, and
then take up the appropriation bills and get
through with them. Let US take up one
measure at time, as we reach it. voted
to give the homestead bill priority over
the Cuba bill but this being up, as friend
of the homestead measure, think the surest
way to pass it is to stand by this bill until
we dispose of it, and then take up the
homestead bill.
Mr.. CLARK, (Republcan) AS friend
of tie homestead bill do not want to lose
any votes for it by pressing it at an unsea-
sonahle hour. think this is an unseason.
able hour to press that or any other meas
ure, fifteen minutes past nine o'clock. l
therefore move that the Senate adjourn,
and on that motion l ask for the yeas and
nays.
This motion to adjourn was Debated
yeas II, nays 30. The question recurring
on the motion to lay aside the Cuba bill to
take up the homestead bill, Mr.. Rice
DemocraD said:
If there is any one measure before the
Senate that desire to pass, it is the home
stead bill but believe that every effort
made by those who advocated it, to call it
up on an occasion like this, will but weaken
the measure. 1t is certain that it cannot
be brought up now it had not the votes
here to do it; and the tendency of every
effort which is made. and which results in a
failure, is to weaken the measure. l hope,
therefore, the Senator from Wisconsin will
withdraw his motion. | ask this as friend
of the measure and believing him to be a
friend of it, 1 ask him to withdraw bis mo-
ton.
Mr.. Brown, Democrat) There is no
necessary antagonism between these two
measures. The Cuba question is now be-
fore the Senate, and its friends mean to
press it to vote. There ought not to be,
therefore, any purpose on the part of the
friends of the homestead bill to thrust it in
at this stage of proceedings. l shall not
vote for the homestead bill, though l am
not particularly unfriendly to it. l will say
to nv friend from Wisconsin, that if he will
now withdraw his motion, will, so soon as
the Cuba bill is disposed of, vote with him
to take up the homestead bill. l want to
get along with one thing at time. l am
willing to bring it before the Senate on
proper occasion, and let the Senate dispose
Of it as they may determine. l hope the
friends of that measure will not press it new
nor fritter away our time by making one
measure clash with another.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, Democrat
make an appeal to the Senator from Wis