Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-08-03
AltRI)ol(0 EnQulrcr,
BY RTCuIE, DUSNAyAST, TYLER < WISE.
FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST 3, 1850
MIR. BELL Supports the Homestead Bill.

tNAAShih, DO-NNANaNIi iLLh u VICE.
FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST 3, 1850.
Mr. Bell Supports the Homestead Bill.
IN the progress Of our investigations We come
to examine the Homs~',"i BiH. ol which the
Whie says:
We may remind the enquirer" that it is
also supporting man for the Vice Presidency,
who voted for the detestable and damnabie
homestead BILL the most comprehensive" 0nd
infamous d60ition measure that has ever been
proposed since the foundation Gf the Govern.
ment.'
Vie Sh4ll not now enter into any defence OF
>! Gene. u fanes vote for he Homestead BILL on
ly promising that his vote was given under the
positive Instructions Of his State. But not so
with Mr.. Bell, he not only voted for the Home
stead bill, but was the author of an amendment
which, if adopted, would have made it indeed
the "detestab.e," "talunahlc," comprehen.
sire" and "iniamolls Abolition measure" the
"Whig" pronounres it to be-
Mr.. Bells amendment read as follows:
"Scc -. And be it further enacted, That
every free white citizen Of the United States,
who is the head Of Il family, and who is not
lreeholdcr, nor the owner Of a lcasc-hold estate
Of the value of $500 and who may not desire
to elnigatc, or have The lncanS Of removing his
or her family to any Of the States or Terrific
rieS, shall be entitled to Il certificate, TO he is.
sued by the Commissioner of the General Land
Iticc, under such regulations rs may be eslab-
liAicd by the Secretary Of the Interior, Of his
or her right to occupy one quarter section Of
| tn. public lands, according to the terms and
conditions Of this act, which said certificate
shall be aSsignable, or transferable, in the man
ner provided for the transfer Of land scrip, is
sued under the act OF Congress, authorizing
the issue Of the Salne to the soldiers Of the late
war With Mexico
Thus it will bc seen that the slip shol' de-
rluncistion Of the "Whig" falls hardest upon
Mr.. Bsil--and It's curses have COME home to
roost upon the head III lis OWN candidate. Of
all the Homestead Bills. the above amendment
by Joha Bell was the Inost niquitous ever Of
fcrrtl The Bill gave "ii0mcS" to the home
, less, i; is true, hut Mr. Bell gave every New
:, Englant AhUltionisl claim upun lhr public
lands "lSSgnable and transferable; the effect
OF which would have been To render vauelcsS
the bourtv Of the old soldiers. This amend
j Ment was the most wholesale robbery ever at
tempted % l,c made Of the pubc lands, and
shows Mr. Bell in the light OF L reckless and
: nnprinciplcI squandcrcr Of public trcaSnrc.-
t 1t was an amendment calculated t" do immense
Injustice To- the small landholler of the old
!. States and especially /" those Of Virginia and
the South 1t gave ''0Ee-rliIartcr section 'to
every head of family who is not lrcchodcr
nor the owner Of :. e:.Se-hold estate Of the value
OF $500 and excluded from its benefits every
"frechollrr ui the Union. The public lands
of the United States belong rs much to nnc
citizen us to another the small as well H. the
!. argc landhodcr, have equal rights. an" ""'h
.-~, 80. .i.e same footing, with those who are
not "rcch0ldcrS' But Mr. Bell, in the true
:. spirit Of al ayrariau, would deprive the indus
trioIls and thriving snail Iandloldcr of the
I JrntHt~ that he proiuSeiy SquandcrS among
=. the prodigal and lazy .AholitioniSts Of the
North. The amendment was rejcctcd--yea::
-, nays 81. But, Notwithstanding its recc-
ton Mr lscll Is liable 10 all the dcnunciatlnus of
: the "Whig.
The ''Whig" thus sees AIr. Bell elevated by
the pclard il had 81 ingcniouSy set for Mr.. Lane.
.. Now, if the Democratic candidate for the Vice
, Presidency is liable To such bitter delrunciation,
what has the "Whg' To say Of It's candidate
t for the PRESIDENCY srppoilim."a more iniqni-
tou' lnrasu:r
If there is "'rt single public act nl John Bells
political i!c that peculiarly recommends him
TO the Wings cf Virginia it is not to be found
in tne records nG Congressional proceedings !;
nor has it yet been pointed ont lay the press
that supports him 81 far rs we know, he
!, hears an unblenishc,l private character, hut as
q pnjc man, as :. statesman, competent 10 dis.
charge the executive functions OF the govern
lncnl III 4 great people, he has exhibited neither
talents nor abilities il any eminent degree.
As to the iiatorm upon which he has been
placed, in whit dues it differ lroTn the prof's-
r sionS OF the Republican, party s--"Th Consti-
tuition, the UGiot and the Law. Do not the
" Republicans IroirSs an intention to preserve
the Constitution, to maintain the | Mon and to
. enforce the law,: Amidst the various readings
and cGnStrurians of the Constitution that OBJ.
tain in every S.ction, hos are The people OF the
E Srnth l." know the meaning AMI intention ol
r the Brl! ai,d Evcrril party:
h We close this investigation I"r the present,
: content To awai: It's rrGutaii"n by the friends OF
Bell and Everett. It wc have made any error,
, let il br p"iItrd ont. and when satisfied that
We ;.rr ,.iam~, We shall immediately :orrrf! II.
The Last Mares Nes1.
o In the "WhiS'' Of Yesterday, copied from
the Nashville Patriot" may hr lonmd As much
nonSct,.c IS five rpnlnns rI r;,,icni and unload.
cd matter ,yrr contained 'ih "i'ali"t has
discovered ''" 't,hhic,H .':'!'''"'g. FIRST
. and lurc!r,>l ai.un. .in:>, "i,rh"!rM con-
spiraturS iSHtnry i. i'>t. ''n HIS humber
, Gov. Wise sa> evidently ore, says this Sapicnt
t. diScOrcrvr ci THE CoTs:lH.'r :" hfea& up tie
e i'aio~ =: Il, pIo: n"d ;;x developments: m%r'
ecidthrr - It Settiel purpose I" 'efo'"f'"h':e
= TIE Eorrr"mehL" Now, this cannot he said
:. to be putin. 10" line Il point upon it. Int 1t
b. rnay lac said la he running r"orinrh> into
tar yrouu Tie "PaIrio:" asks, " How
STANDS Nh. l:#E,'kI>EI!".i.: When last "e
: heard Of !rk ,"Mi;og. he waS on his feet
!, speaking w;,r!% Of ''.ohcrnc>S and truth" to
:ui.uiisr ill.a.,G. q liz ..itiZcns u Kentucky.