, 1860-06-11

THE TWO HOMESTEAD BILLS.
Tno Homestead Bill may be considered as
dead for this session Ct Congress- Tho Com
mi,tco Of Conference cannot agree. The Pro-
Slavery Democratic Senate refuses to accept
the excellent bill which passed the Republican
H~uso by two-tli.ds vote, but insists upon
the enactment offs abortion. The Democrats
in the Senate, will tTo or three exceptions,
are hostile to the principle Of tho Homestead
measure. Their objection rests upon the
grounds that it would have q tendency to
bsne fit the white latoriDg classes, and assist
in converting the Territories into Free States.
The Homestead Bill which passed the Sen.
Ate, is comparatively worthless, mud was made
50 for the cypress purpose Of being rejected by the
Republicans IF the Hoase. Poor as it is, it
would not hare received lie support Of tue
Democrats Of The Senate, hnd they supposed
tue House would have accepted the lame and
impotcEt thing. The main points Of differ
snce between the Republican House, aud Dem
ocratic Senate bills, may be briefly stated,
thus:
l. The House bill provides that all Govern
ment lands shall be Withdrawn from market,
aud no longer exposed for sale to specu1ators
and no1-resldents; but shall be consecrated
~ homes far actual ec,tlera without mon
ey or price, save the trining fec for surveying.
-~---a:. +. on.l rataut
The hate bill continues to leave tho pupuc
lands open to spectators aud land monopo-
lists, 10 sort out and secura tho choice quar-
tors and sections, and hold them out Ct mar
ket unit! :he hardy, 1oilscme pioneer has i'm
proved the country and filled it up with habi-
1a!ions and villages and thereby rendered al
the unoccupied lands valuable. This single
baneful provision Of the Democratic bill, de-
faats ia great degree, tie very eesence Of the
homestead measure, which il, to put IN end to
laud monopoly and absenlocism-the curse Of
nil Le" States, as Iowa, Wisconsin and Min
oesoia can testify.
II. The House bill permits any head Of a
family OF sirgle man. 81 years Of age, to select
a.d scttle upon quarter section Of public
lani
The Senate bill cuts of all unmarried men,
mad confines the privilege to heads Of ami-
lies. There is no good reason for this dis
cFinaiuatian. The tendency Of the House bill
would be, 10 induce unemployed, single men,
doy~1aborers, tr=mping jours aud other loose
foarsd, unsettled persons, to strike bee-linc
Tor tile West, squat on quarter section Of
publ. land, put up cabin, fence in 4 garden,
plant out a crop, and then send for, or 70 at.
ter the girl he left bahiud him. and bring her
back with him to help improve, possess and
enjoy lis 1C0 broad acres Of free soil. The
men, in the senats bill, was to reduce the
number Of possible bcueGciari:s, md narrow
doSn the benefits that might accrue TO the
white laboring classes.
Ill. The House bill allows emigrapt for
eizneJs who hare declared tEeir intentions in
Courl under oath, to Eecome American citi.
@ens, 10 enter u quarter SECTION Of land; and
aft:r residing OF it for five years continuously,
and having b.come raturalized, to obtain from
The Governme. j; Il patent.
Ghe S.na.o bill confines the entry Of land
10 nn.iye born and natHrali=ed citizens
THIS object being 10 discourage emigra~
ton, snub tie foreign born md please the
Know.Net.ings. As few Democratic Irish
become farmers. the blow was aimed at the
Germars and Scandinavians, who arc mostly
Republicans.
". The House bil permits prc-emptors
to enjoy the benefits Of the Homestead mca-
sure, snd to keep the lands on which they
live, without paying the Government $500
therefor. -
ne,scnato biu excludes pro.cmptors, and
cenp:ls them either ,v abandon their claims
or pay ille full 6 vorrment price. The House
bill would send relief and joy to tens Of thou
sauds Of poor Western pioneers, who are
soreiy pressed to procure the money to pay
for their la3de. TIE Democratic bill Of the
Senate elnps them in Tie face, and tells them
to pay the uttarEost farlhing or suffer tie
rigors Of ejectmeht. How the Democratic
uaoobs lotc lhe poor man
2. Tic House bill provides TINT tho alter
nate sections of the reserved Railroad lands
now hs!d at double price (Se.5o) shall he open
to Homestead entry and settlement in quanti-
ties Of so acres to each person.
The Senats hill excludes those lands from
the cm:grant Of sranty *mcans, and reserves
them for the speculat!ng lind grabber. There
are millions Of acres Of those lands in the
west:1n States, which, # taken up and itn-
proved By bnna ido em:srants, rs would be the
case under the operation Of the House bill
would crnble the railroad companies to far
uore speedily build their respective land grant
roads. What railroads most require is porn-
latisz, farmers and mechanics along their lines
to give them business and furnish them with
freight and passengers.
There arc other points Of difference be
tween the House and Senate bills; but
the foregoing arc the main ones. It
will bs seen that the Democratic bill is a
xhsst1y skeleton without flesh On it's bones
1s's a humbug and cheat and should be
secuted and repudiated by every ono who
wants something better than husks On the
contrary, the Republican bin is manly, bens8-
cent measure, calculated 10 confer immense
benefits on tue laborirg classes, and to pro-
rnots Tho general prosperity Of the nation.
But ths everlastiug Niger stands In tho way
Of ite paasags. Mike 1t q Law, md not only
would the la13oripx classes, hated and despi1sd