Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1860-03-22

the homestead bill in the house last
Congress, out OF 130 Democrats but
81 voted for it; and in the Senate, on
the test vote between taking up the
homestead bill, after it had passed the
house, and only required the vote of
the Senate to make it law, SO far as
Congress was concerned, or to take up
the bill for the purchase of Cuba, but
one Democrrt voted for the homestead
and only six at any time, while every
Republican in the Senate, and every
one in the House, with single excep-
ton, was for the homestead. OF all
the Representatives of the Slave States
but three in the House voted for 1t.
and but two at any time in the Senate.
SO the Democratic party, as a party,
arrayed itself in opposition to this be-
nefcent policy. The Republican party,
on the other hand. is committed to this
measure by its votes in Congress. by
its resolves in State Conventions,
and by its devotion to the great cen
trail idea of its existence-the rights
and interests of free labor.
Early in this session | introduced a
bill which now awaits the action of
the House. providing that any person
who is 2l years or more old, or who
is the head of family, may enter 100
acres of any land subject to preemp-
ton, or upon which he may have a
preemption claim, and, by cultivating
the same for five years, shall be enti-
tied to patent from the Government
on the payment of the usual fees OF
the land office, and ten dollars to COW
er the cost of surveying and manag-
ing.
The land policy, as now conducted,
permits the President, in his discre-
ton. to expose to public sale, by proc
lamation, any or all the public lands
after the same are surveyed. Every
person settled on the lands so adver.
tised for sale, must, before the day
fixed in the proclamation of the Pres
, i9ent. pay Cor his lands, or they are
liable to be sold to any bidder whe
offers S1.25, or more, per acre. Dur
ing the days of sale fixed by the Pres
, ident, any one can purchase, at S1.2,
per acre, as many acres of land, no
before preempted, as he desires. Sc
lecting his own location. The lands
that remain unsold at the expiration
of the days of sale fixed by the Pres
ident, are subject to private entry; tha
f is. any person can enter at the lan'
office any or all of the lands. that ar
f at that time unsold, at Sl.25 per acre
if the same have not been offered 70
: sale more than ten years; if for lon
j, ger period. then at a less price. accord
i ing to the length Of time they may hav
s been in market. Thus, under the ex
! isting policy, there is no restraint o1
: the land monopoly. The Rothschilds
!, Barings. or any other of the world
n millionaircs. may become the owner
Il of untold acres of our public domain
). TO be resold to the settler, or to b
e held as an investment for future spec
a ulation.
o Congress, as the trustee of tn
l. whole people, as vested. by the COZ
J. dition Of the grants from the State
r and by the Constitution itself, wit
is the sole discretionary power of dispo'
! inc of these lands. But, in the exeI
n else of a sound discretion. it become
h its duty to dispose of them in the wa
r that will best promote the greatne'
10 and glory OF the Republic. And no
J, can that be accomplished so well
D. by a policy that will secure them
70 limited quantities as to the actual Gu
to tivator, at the least possible cost. Nh
h thus prevent the evils of system
ID land monopoly-cne ofthc direst dea'
SIS liest curses that ever paralyzed the el
ergies of nation or palsied the ar
as of industry 7? 1t needs no length
he dissertation to portray its evils. l
he history in the Old World is written
X sighs and tears. Under its inhucn
o. you behold there the proudcst al
on most splendid aristocracies side
" side with the most abject and Gebas'
al people; vast manors hemmed In
"a hedges as a sporting ground for t
er, nobility. while men are dying besi
OF the inclosure for the want of land
nd till. Under its blighting iniiuen
OF you behold industry in rage and
p thence in despair. Such are some
nd the fruits of land monopoly in
'u- Old World !; and shall we permit
'ur seeds to vegetate in the virgin soil
in the New? Our present system is ST
is. iect to like evils. not so great in ma
es, nitude perhaps. but similar in kind.
hts OF the SIS. 1858. 1926 acres of la
red disposed of by the Government