Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-10-25
The Homestead and the Negro
Qaests0n.

Question.
In his Columbus speech, Mr.. Douglas
stated that when be was member Of the
House Of Representative (some fifteen
years since be introduced a Homestead
Bill, and has faithfully advocated Home
stead Bills in the Senate but has never got
satisfactory one, because the negro ques-
tion occupied all the time."
Mr.. Douglas, then, wishes the people to
understand that he has done all be could,
IN the House and in the Senate to- get a
Homestead Bill passed, and failed through
out. Taking for granted that this story is
true, which it is not, it makes a very poor
showing of that gentleman's influence with
his party, as it also does of Democratic
friendship for the Homestead measure. In
the l6, to II years that Mr.. Douglas has
been in Congress, he has not been atle, with
his party in power three fourths of the time,
10 get this so called Democratic measure
through that body-what reason is there
to suppose that he can do any better af-
ter be has left it? The very fact stated BY
him, if fact, would show that if the
friends of the Homestead policy are 10
succeed, it must be through other aid than
his. We think seventeen years long
enough to leave that great measure in his
hands. He has shown himself either un-
fit for the trust, or unworthy of confidence.
But what shall be said of the Democratic
party, under this showingf We are told
that the Homestead is favorite measure
of the Democracy, and that its friends
must look TO the party for its adoption;
while Mr.. Douglas tells US that he has not
been able, in II years earnest effort, to get
it through Congress, although the party bas
had the Senate all, and the House most of
the time. Is it worth while for the support
ers of that policy to look longer to that
source for helpa
Mr.. Douglas accounts for his poor sue
cess in advocating the Homestead bill, on
the ground that 'tbe negro question occu-
pied all the time" All, indeed Con
gress has not been free from the agitation
of that question at any time in the last 25
years, as it from 1850 to 1854. Where
were Mr.. Douglas and his Homestead bills
then? Did be introduce or advocate any {?
Not q bill. In all The four years Of peace
and freedom from the "negro question"
no efforts worthy of name were made BY
him to get such law enacted; but il is
conspicuous part of the history Of the coun-
try, that the "era of good feeling" aud
quiet reliedupon was suddenly and ruthless
ly broken, and not only Congress, but the
entire nation plunged into the most bitter
and protracted agitation of the "negro
question" the country ever knew, by the act
IF this same Stephen A. Douglas, in bring
ing the iniquitious Kansas Nebraka bill
upon Congress. To that mad act alone is
lue to the controversy over the "negro
question" which has SO disturbed the ma
ion for the last six years. Had the meas
are thus precipitated upon Congress been
me of the Homestead bills which Mr..
Douglas did not introduce, and been urged
With half the earDestnees that be gave to
;cheme of evil, the "negro questions might
nave been in allegiance, the country at rest
md the vast domains of the West opened
% the free occupacy and improvement of
he laboring poor men of the country.
1t is no wonder that mans voice fails
him in uteriug such hypocrisy as Mr.. Doug
does in regard to the negro question" =
Toledo Blade.