Daily gazette and comet. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1856-186?, 1860-06-29
THE HOMESTEAD BfLL.

Dill, whleh became law on tne
land, by action Of Congress just
adjourned !
The two Houses Of Congress were
at q late period of the session which
has Just expired, brought to q com
promise of their differences OH the
homestead, the result of which was
the agreement on bill which has
become q law. The following is a
condensed summary Gifts provisions;
Every citizen Of the United States,
male or female, who IL head Of
family, may enter quarter section
(lG0 acfes) OF less Of vacant aud
uaeppropriated lands, making ali
dsvit before the register that II IL
for settlement and for his own use
aud benefit. and that he has made
M other entry for the benefit Of Tho
act. No payment IL TO be made
for four years; at the expiration Of
that period patent may be issued
on the payment of twenty FIVE cents
per acre, and proof Of the erection
Of dwelling house, and residence
thereon; and cultivation Of The land,
and pon.alienation Of any part Of
II during that period. Lands sub
iect to presumption are excepted
from the operation Of the act, and
hereafter the benefits are to be lin
tied to the sections of public lands
designated by odd numbers.
The lands acquired under this
act are exempted from all liability
for debts until after the issuing OF
the patent.
On proof Of any description in
the affidavit, or that the settler has
abandoned residence on the land
or the cultivation thereof for six
months, OF sold any of his rights
under the entry, the entry shall be
Cancelled and the land be made sub.
iect TO private entry, like other
lands Of the Government. after
having been reported TO the Gener-
al Land Office and advertised for
sale.
In the Territories the entry may
DO made by foreign born residents
who have fled their declaration Of
intention to become citizens, but
they must be citizens before they
are entitled TO the patent.
The act is not to be construed so
az TO alter. in any respect, the ex.
isting donation, presumption or
graduation laws, or TO include any
lands reserved for entry at $2 so
per acre.
The provision in favor of actual
settlers now on the lands of the
United States, under the pre-emp.
ton laws, IL an follows The set.
tier on lands that have not been
offered for sale on filing his claim
as now provided for by the land
laws, is allowed two years from the
date Of his occupation thoreof-or
IL the lands have not been survey
ed, two years from the receipt Of
tho approved plot aud survey
within which 60 make his proofs
and receive his patcut, at the mini.
mum price for public lands. When
the settlement has already been
made, in good faith, the time allow
ed Is two years from the date of
this act. The condition is that there
shall be proof Of three months Of
actual and continuous residence
and cultivation. Persons who have
actual presumption Mt the date Of
the act may receive patents on the
payment Of 02b cents the acre, any
time within two years.
The ninth section allows any per.
son who has made entry, under the
frat clause Of the act, to avail him.
self Of the privileges of the pre-.
emption laws, and get his patent.
after a settlement Of six months,
any time within Eve years, on the
payment Of the minimum price es-
tablished by law. .-
The last section contains a ces-
sion clause: All public lands with.
in the States which have been sub.
ject to sale at private entry for
thirty.five years, and remain unsold,
are to be ceded TO the States in
which they lie--without prejudice,
however, to any pre- emptiou rights
that may be accruing to settlers,
or to validity of sales made by the
United States before the lands are
certified 10 the States bv the Secre-