, 1860-04-23
39rcss Trihtt1te,


MONDAY, APRIL %, 1860.
THE TWO HOMESTEAD BILLS.
We think Senator Wade did Il wise thing
when he moved 10 tako Ut, the House Home
stead bill in place Of A:ircw .Jol.uson's cmas-
culated concern. which originated IN The Sell
ate. The points Of difference between lilo t"o
are briefly these. The House bill provides
that settlers on the public lands sba'l nave
the same privileges OF tho alternate sections
Of lands embraced in railroad grants, as IN
the distant and inaccessible tracts Of the Ter
ritories. the Senate bill wi,hl,olds these lands
for sale nj $3.50 per acre. THO House bill cx~
tends the right Of preemption to American
citizens and to ali who have filed declaration
Of intention to become such; the original Sen
ate bill extende this right only to native born
Or fully naturalized citizens, or those now resi-
dents Of the Territories. Tho House Till e1-
tends the right to heads of Gamilies, malo OF
female, and to all male citizens over twenty
one years Of age; tho Senate bill gives the
privilege only 10 heads ol families. But, most
significant Of all, as affecting the interests Of
the new States and the settlers therein, the
House extends the sa|utsry provisions Of the
Homestead principle TO those who have already
made locatious and filed tl1eir intentions TO
preempt; while the Senate contrivauce ap-
plies only to those vino shall hereafter settle
on the public domain.
It is hardly necessary to point out more par-
ticular]y the striking advantages Of the Re-
publican over the Democratic measure. The
latter is contrived to defeat as far as possible
the ms Of. the real friends Of tho pioneer, but
at the zane time to preserve the color Of lib
erali.y and justice. 1t givcs It's tile remote
shadow without i particle Of the near SUBJ
stance. 1t says to the roor maa who is lock-
ing out for home and q quarter section Of
land, " II you wil 10 far away from tie reach
"of markets, railroads, schools, churches and
"society-if you have never made claim un-
"der III. lrc-emplioa laws. Or if you will con-
"seut to leave it aud 50 farther into the prairie
"cr tue bar:cus--you may have ono hundred
land sixty acres Of land, provided you are the
''head Of n family" I've believe that tho
Senate lill has eccn amended SO as to extend
its rzorisons to persons Of foreign birth who
have declared their intentions 10 become citi-
zens}. The House hill, OH the other hand,
breaks down all the barriers 10 tie settlement
Of the new States and Territories at one stroke.
It opens the doors to young men aul middle
aged alike; and in this connection we cannot
forbcar copying the following brief cxtrac,
from the very able speech or Senator Wilkin-
soo Of Minnesota:
1.-THE men who em;gr.:e in youth to The West
cru Country, TO build up Tor themselves for
to whom the most !itcrAl provisions Of this act
should apply: We need their services. They
are, IN p!uln fact, the vanguard Of civilization
upon this continent. They penetrate the wild
soiitudes, 1ar beyo the safety aud comforts Of
society. They traverse and explore regions iu
which, Tor tie time being, famiiies could not
reside securely. They pitch their tents, build
their houses. break up aud improve the soil.
and open the broad acres 10 occupancy and
culture. They turuisll Il 1nure sure ind perfect
protection Of our Western frontier than can he
given bv nll the armed soldiers along the bor-
States o: the Gnioa, they bring with them a
deep aud permanent attachment to the institu-
lions ut Cur country; mud, as settls snents ad-
vance. they organ;ze municipal governments,
and lay lhe foundation Of future Stntes Such
are boInc Of their lab0rs a1l dungers: such urc
aotnc Of their achievements. Willy. then. iu
the name Of fairnrss md CT cotanuon reuse.
should this clas6 Nt active end en+rCe.ic yn1u,.
men DC entirely is1ored :nd cast aside by the
Senate bi.l?'
Il is worth tho attention of the people q:
Michigan, Wisconsin, iowa, Minnesota, K;.,-
eas, and Nebraska. whether they c:ln afford to
accept Senator ,.1oAasoll's shell in lieu Vi lis
kernel which the Homestead rrincipleis is 1,ys-
larly supposed to captain. It is worth while
for the yaFt army Of settlers already located III
those States anI Territories, with c1iius H.
ready built and moro os less ground already
bEaken and fenced, who are unable 10 nay for
their quarter sections. and are in constant fear
OF Presidential cdict putting their lands in
the ma.aet, to consider whether tllis cau be
called u Homestead bill. Il is well for tho
mass oE tne people IN those States and Terri
tories, who Look to a Homestead bill to till mn
zhe rarant ''si;s Of railroad lands and start
Anew the general prosperity: to consider.
whether they arc not being played with hy
political fharnr5. 1t is we'll for those iu the
older States, whoiook forward to Homestead
bill 10 glyo them home AID a ucw
s:ars in the world, to inquire whether
Their condition is likely 10 he inl-
proved BY this Democratic conlrivance. !, is
well Tor the people Of the whole country 10
jugds whether they atc not being ssyinl!cd.
IN the name Of all tho true friends Of tie
Homestead priuciple-in the na,ne Of tho
Northwest uritealy urging the recognition Of
7ha: principle by Cougress-wc protest
against the thing which has been 1niscallod
Homestead bill and is now being nurscd by
senator .1olpson Of Tennessee