The Democratic press. (Eaton, Preble County, Ohio) 1860-1865, 1860-08-30
From the Galena Qll9 Courier.
THE HOMESTEADBILL.
Mr. Douglas Record.

IL CllC CUuIttf VIII ptNNuSC CuS
record showing any speech or vote
of Judge Douglas in favor of the
homestead bill, we will publish it
But until that is done, I've deny
that he has done anythins for that
measure 4dsegtiseg, -,...ssl
WScpropose to protticS Il portion
of Mr.. Douglas record on the
homestead bill, and to show that
he has been an ardent supporter o.
that measure. E
On the 10th of May (see Congrrs.
siOnal Globe,) the Senate homestead
bill being under consideration, Mr.
Douglas offered an amendment ex.
tending the provisions 'ofIthe bill
which applied only to land
that had been surveyed and was
subject private entry-to all lands
subject to pre-emption. During the
discussion, Mr.. Douglas said
/ shall move to amendJhe bill by
striking out the words asubjeet to
pre-emption," so that it will then
apply to all lands subject to 8pre-
emption, whether they be so sub
ject hereafter Or have been hereto
fore, SO that it shall be n general
principle a permanent policy look.
ing to the future.
Mr.. Collamer-ifit is arranged in
that manner, what will become Of
those who have gone on the lands
in Minnesota, for example? Will
the Senators amendment reach
those people and enable them to
take the land at a quarter Of a dol
lar, as well as those who may go
hereafter?
Mr.. glas-Precisely. What
| desire is, that every man now Oh
the public lands that have been sur
veyed, and that are liable to the
provisions ofthis bill, and also all
that have gone on to land not sur.
vcyed, may take it under this bill
as soon as it becomes surveyed ;and
also that all persons who, shall here
-aftcP.goaen theAaidsstiFgt ssstslIe 9 4
under this bill as soon as it shall be
surveyed. That is what | desire
to see in the bill.
Mr.. Wade-I believe thatis right
Let us have vote. = | believe thai
the proposition ofthe Senator from
Illinois is right, and | want a vote
Mr.. Douglas-I will stop righr
here if we can get a vote.
In reply to Mr.. Davis objections
to the proposed amendment, Mr.
Douglas said:
l have listened with interest and
pleasure to the very clear exposi
tion of the land system, given by
the Senator from Mississippi. It'll
true that this amendment to thi
bill will make n radical change
The change is simply this; as th'
land system now stands. the specu
lator and the actual settler are OF
terms of entire equality, taking tn,
land at 81 25 an acre; but, accord
ing to the proposed change, tn,
speculator will be required to pa,
81 Is an acre, and the settler onl,
25 cents an acre. The legal efec
will be to make, one dollar an acr'
difference between the man wht
buys for speculation without settle
ment, and the man who settles up
on the land and makes it hishom
and that is my object in the amend
ment.
Mr.. Wade-All right, Mr.. Presi
dent; let us have a vote.
In reply to Mr., Pugh, Mrf Doug
las, after showing the beneficial eft
fects of the pre-emption system
and the advantage it gave the set
ler over the speculator, said:
The effect of this amendment is
that there shall be one dollar an a
ere difference between the speculate
and the settler; that the actual set
Ter may take land at twenty-fv
cents, and that the speculator shall
pay 81 25. But the Senator iron
Ohio says the speculator will sen,
in advance his agent to goland ge
a claim under the homestead. Sil
do you think that, in orderfto re
duce a track ofland from 81 rs al
acre to twenty-five cents, the spec
ulator will send his agent there t.
hold the land five years and pa,
five years salary, in order to saw
$1O0? No, sir. You protect tn
settler agains the speculator, by re
curing five years residence unde
this bill, and cultivation upon tn
land. The speculator cannot bea
the expenseof keeping settler 70
1 FIVE years in order to reduce til
j price Itwould cost him three time
as much as he would gain by it,
This bill, therefore, furnishes th
only efficient preventive agains
this systemsoffraud and specula
] ton that / have seen devised. la
/ am aware that the effect of thi
bill, with my amendment, will b
to make theIpubic lands cease t
Ibe a large source of revenue. / d
mot think the country will suffer b
withdrawing that source Of reyen