The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-09-26

grant eighty acres Of land to each head
| Of family, under certain conditions, which
was read twice and committed" PC Globe,
vol. 49, p. 562 o ~ 2'.. '-'l
These bills in this state Of progress
slept the sleep which knew no awakening
from lS46 until 1852. Two years of
this time Abraham Lincoln was member
of the House Of Representatives, and
although now-to let his party have their
way-he is1the only embodiment Of the
principle of "free homes for free men," yet
during all that time he was so busy trying
to find q particular spot and attempting
to have the President of the United
States, the Secretary of State and Sec
retary of War appointeda a negro apprais
ing committee, that he forgot the9interests
|'of the honest, industrious freemen and
Epioneers of the West!' Many of the pres
ent leaders of the Black Republican par.
ty were also there, but they were SO busy
about the Mexican war, the negro, or
something else, that they, too, forgot to
dedicate the soil of our Territories to be
the abodes of freemen!"o On the 18th
of May, 1852, this bill Of Mr.. ohpson
being resurrected, passed the House by a
majority of two thirds. This was six
years two months and 6fteen days afterits
introduction. In 1853, Hon. ohm l.
Dawson, of Pennsylvania Democrat, in,
troduced abill into the House of the same
effect. which, also, passed by an over
whelming majority. 1t failed on both
occasionsin the Senate. Douglas scas IN
jacor Of these bills aae
ii And here, again, these same Black Re
publicaDs, now so loud in advocating this
measure, let it sleep from 1853 untillS57,
when it was reserved for Democrat, MIR
Andrew j ohnsou, of Tennessee, to revive
the bill9 The title explains the object of
the bill. 1t was ga bill to grant to every
head of a family. and citizen of the Uni.
ted States, homestead of l60 acres of
land out of the public domain, on con-
dition of occupancy and cultivation Of
the same, for period therein specified. {"
This was introduced December 2 st. 1857
1t was referred to the Committee on Pub
lie Lands This was Democratic COM
mittee In reporting is back, the Chair>
man of the Committee said: Il will
simply remark here that the committee
were unanimous an making the recommem-
dation. Globe, vol. SO, p, 354,
The debate on the bill came up May
10Th, when it was advocated by Messrs
johnson and Pugh Mr. j oh-son spoke
MAY 20)the entire day in favor of its pas
sage. The speech was an able one, and
as reported occupies twenty five columns
of the Globe. TSee vol. SO. pit. 3, p.
2265, ] Not . Republican made speech
Of any length in favor Of the bill. When
on the 9th of May, 1858, it came to o
vote, Douglas voted for It. and Hannibal
Hamhn, Black Republican candidate for
Vice President, coted against it Mr..
johnson. knowing that the bill would not
pass, explained that he would vote against
it, with a view to make a reconsideration.
which by parliamentary law he could not
do, unless he voted with the majority.
The vote stood--for the bill %, against
| it 80. 1t is as follows: G99
In favor of it-Messrs. Bell, Bright
Broderick, Chandler. DouGLAs. Durkee
Fitch. Foote, Hale, Harlan, Jones, King
Pugh. Rice, Seward, Shields, Simmons
SteOart Toombs Trumbull, Wade and
1 Wilson--22. .-.-...-.-.79. m. .l[s.',.-
Against it - Messrs. Allen, Biglcr
Brown, Clay, Clingman, Crittenden, Da
Wis., Dixon, Fessenden, Fitzpatrick, Foster
Green, HAMLlN, Hayne, Houston. Hun
ter, Iverson, johnson, of Arkansas, John
son. Of Tennessee. Kennedy. Mallory
Mason, Pierce, Polk, Reid, Sebastian
Slidell, Thompson, Of Kentucky, Thomp
son, Of New Jersey, and Wright--30.
Those voting for it, not Republicans
in italic This vote defeated the Home
stead bill for the session of 1913.
|aa o. February lst, 1859, the Homestead
bill camelup, and on motion of johnson
of Tennessee, was referred to the Com
. mittee on Public Lands GGlobe. p. 731.
On the I7th of the same month the bill
came UP for passage in the Senate Th'
vote stood % to 90. The Vice Presi
i dent, Breckinridge, gave his casting vot
/ laBatuSt tue Uili, anu ~ Was uSieateu
Douglas again voted in favor OF the bill
with. nine other Democrats. [Globe
1852, p. l016.] Here the bill wa
again defeated. ,.a.s.s,ss,,gl syss ~
AT the last session Of Congress, th,
II Homestead bill was again introduced int,
4 the Senate by Mr.. Johnson, Of Tennessee
and referred to the Com mittee on Publi
Lands. The Democratic Committee, OF
) the Gath of February, 1860, again re
d ported it back, and recommended its pas
, sage.d On the 9th of April, test vot
T was taken on Crows Homestead bill, o
which the Black Republicans have SO mucl
to say. Douglas Uotsd IN favor Of 1t.
! On the 9th of May, the question cam
! up to substitute the House for the Senat
bill Douglas, waving oil the bad com
pany he was in, voted for the substitute
The vote stood 26 for substitute, 3
} against it, : a'4@'- tzs" 81 y 'l9s.
1t was proposed to amend the bill b.
adding. that when the lands shall hay