The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1860-07-07


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Hs.;rs shsf tkS "a Senate bill was The best that
co.id r ehHninsa fren this Administration, ]
~,sfsinpA Il witA ny vote and voice. Ia this 1
- ~ snoeaino1 BY Senators with whom I am
100000 noli1ioa1ly The HO0ee sustained their
views and ulsinately compsomise was erected
ON an agreement 10 the bill now before us- This
bill 4, q ny oqinion, an Improvement on the
Senate bin, ~ mt oil thas l and my political
friends desired But, - feared, II has been re-
turned by The President with his Objections It
il uou th6-1uty e the Senate to consider his OBJ
iections, and, 1poasible, carry II BY two-thirds
vote.
propose 70 review them with rapidity. And
my opinion. no &c Of them will bear candid
analy1ia
l. His Arst ohjjection Is that Congress has NO
power 70 give away the public lands TO either in
dividuals or 70 Bates But this bill proposes to
cell them to spectators, as heretofore, at rs
per acre, and 70 homestead settlers at IS cents
per acre. Hence NO gift is proposed; it is .
reduction Of psSoo TO the actual settler. It is
true, it grants - the States all lands that have
been exposed TO ale for thirty years. and for i've
years Of that period offered 1t twenty-five cents
per acre. Thiat TOO, Is mot in the nature of .
Gift but IN Abandonment OF property to the
States that has ceased to be of value to the
Government This feature of the bill was de-
tended by the Senator from Alabama (Mr. Claw
With ability. On The ground that, after lands had
been exposed 70 sale for thirty years ut gradua-
ted prices. running down to twenty-five cents pcr
acre. the entire proceeds Of sales would not de-
FRAY the exnannes Of land Offices. Hence il would
ceese TO be Of value to this Government. Ger
tainIv NO oosscan pretend that this Government
has no power 70 abandon worthless property.
2. His second objection is that this bill would
prove unjust and UNEQUAL in its operation among
the actual settlers themselves; that those who
have heretofore settled on and purchased public
W.
duce the price To sixty.two and half cents or
TWENTY-FIVE centa per acre. YOU treat the first pur.
chaser uniustly. and YOU will be required TO re.
fund Ia them Tia difference. Well. sir. such an
arxuuant hardly merits q moments thought. Il
imnliaa the declaration that Congress has no
power 70 reduce the price of public property
without refundin9 to all others who NAV have
houehk n h,aiser rate And that too in the
face Of his own declaration. contained in this
aarne veto meaeaee. that the pr;ce WAS heretofore
reduced from @ to 81. 20; and vet no one has
heard q clamor. or even request to have YOU
refund from the Treasury to the first purchaser
the difference In price of seyenty.6ye cents per
acre
8, His third objection lie that this bill will do
great Injustice 70 the old soldiers who have re-
ceived bounty land warrants, by reducing their
value in the market Now, sir, when these bounty
land warrants we're authorized to be issued they
were not assignable; tits merely grant to the old
soldier of the right to enter piece of land with.
cut nav: It was 9 donation of land to the soldier
The warrants were afterwards made assignable,
for the benefit Of the soldier, who could not or
would not select and enter land. Who ever
dreamed that by this act making land warrants
assionaNe Congress entered into an implied OBJ.
legation to maintain their value in the market,
by withholding lands from market at less than
El,E0
Executive seemed to think so when the gradaa-
ton bill became law.
4. His fourth direction is that this bill would
be unjust to mechanics and other classes of
citizens than agriculturists, requiring them to
change their modes of life. How so! Is it not
broad enough in its proyisions.to embrace ALP
Every head Of family. a citizen of the United
States, or who has declared his intention to be.
come such, may settle ON and occupy his home
stead, whether farmer or mechanic, lawyer or
doctor: none are prohibited If they decline to
do so it Is not the fault of the law; nor does the
bill require auy one to change his calling as Il
prerequisite to settlement.
3. His fifth objection is that the bill would be
unjust to the old States in diminishing the mar
ketable value Of their lands, and holding out q
premium to their children to emigrate to the new
States. This msy be a very good argument
when addressed 70 the State pride of the Repre-
sentatiyes of old States but not very credtable
TO their humanity. Who are the citizens of the
new Statess Your sous aud daughters--the chill
.lren of your people at home And the Presi-
dent of the Republic invites YOU to adopt pol
lev that will retain them around the old home
stead and worn opt lands, to struggle with penu-
nv and W into become the hewers Of wood and
the drawers of water. of hard-hearted landlords
rather than 70 send them to the fertile lands of
the new States, to build I'D for themselves for.
tunes and happy homes.
&. His sixth objection is that "ihis bill will
open one vast 6eid for speculation. Large mum.
bers Of actual settlers viii be carried out by
canital;sts nnnn .oreanents tn rive tbnn half
OF the land for the Improvement of the other
half" This objection viii excite the ridicule OF
every settler in . new State who sees it. How
much would it cost the capitalist to remove fam
ines from the old States to the unoccuped public
lands in the new States and Territories aud
maintain them until they can cultivate pand
live on the proceeds OF their own industry? No
one will pretend that it can be done for less than
Sioo per family. IN what, then, will consist the
Spectators profit lie viii advance 800 or so,
70 transport . family, and keep them on 100
acres OF public land during period OF five years
Tor the privilege OF entering 80 acres OF thcland
at 20 cents per acre, IN pursuance Of secret
parghh mace WIN tna settler IN violation OF law,
ana consequently void. when ne can go direct to |
ths land once and order his SO acres without |
delay ana hazard tor $loo.
Z. his seventh objection Ia the allegation that
the bill discrlmlnates against the native born
eit'zen IN favor Of the foreign born The Sena-
tor from Ohio haA haraeteriznI fh;a oh:act;on 90