Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-04-19
Congressional.

y. .. CAPIIOL, w NAoaAHufON, hpfu l.
SEsArE.-Mr.Mason, Of yi1ginn, offer,
ed a resolution which he said be would call
up to-morrow, for The adjeurnneuto OF both
houses of Congress, from the 18Th 10 the
The homsstea bill sss ,taksn 90: q
Mr.. johnson, Of Tennessee, replied to
to Mr.. Masons remarks of yesterday. He
thought it singular that the Tennessee
Senator should be singled out as objects
Of atlack. k.saTe Ssnator from Virginia
seemed to think that the Senator from
| Wisconsin had thrown flood Of light ON
the subject yesterday. Our stomaehs are
sick to nausea Of this eternal agitation Of
the slavery question. He Thought there was
no connection between the homestead bill
and the slavery question. The homestead
bill was a great benefcient, philanthropic,
and Christian measure, rising above party.
He believed if the ten commandments or
the Lords Prayer were under conside-
ration the negro would be introduced some
where. The country, North and Souih b,
are becoming tired Of this eternal aeita-
ton of the slarvery question. The home.
stead principle was introduced in 1901, un-
der the administration of General Wash
ington, who, he believed, was from the
.OId Dominion, and be signed the BILL
He believed that he (Washington) was as
great man as any Of the modern lights
and he preferred following his guidance. =
Mr.. Jefferson also endorsed the, principle,
and be preferred being associated with
Washington and Jefferson that with those
who now represented Virginia.
Mr.. johnson was quite caustic in his al
lusions to the Senator from Virginia, and
defended the homestead principle at consid-
cradle length. In the course of his re-
marks, he pointed out that this principle
had been frequently adopted in bills which
had passed during the term of the Senator
from Virginia, and yet be had not protested
against them.- This argued want of fideI-
ityonhis part, and should disqualify him in
the eyes of his constituents. He also read
Mr.. .Mason's votes in pas tyears to show that
be voted for the same principle as contain
ed in the bill now under consideration.
Tennessee did not stand here to be rebuked
by the Senator from any State. Now, as
heretofore, she could take care of herself
either in the field or in the council cham
Der. The Republican party, being short
of capital, had seized upon the homestead
measure because it was popular, but it Or
iginated before the Republican party existed,
and was of Democratic origin. He re-
piled to Mr.. Wigfall's remark that poverty
was crime, and said if this was so the
country was full of criminals. sa5
Mr.. johnson discussed a large variety
of topics and 10 the course of his remarks
said that Mr.. Calhoun was more of politi-
sian than statesman. He had not the cast
of mind 10 found a great party, and had
only established a sect. 5...;lsssgyy 5.,.l 1.
Mr.. Mason replied that be was surprised
that the Senator had poured out the vials
of his wrath upon him. He had suppo-
sed that they were On the same side of the
channel, and united by a common interest.
He had no intention to take the State
of Tennessee into, his keeping. He sup
posed that they would act together upon
the measures brought forward by the Re-
publican organization for the avowed pur-
pose of breaking down Southern institu-
tions.5 He defended himself from the
tauut that be had been silent while bills
embcdying this principle had passed the
Senate He denied that the principle of
the homestead bill was contained in the
legislation of 1850. The policy recon-
mended by the earlier Presidents, and car
ried into effect in 1850, was entirely differ
ent from that embodied in the homestead
bill. One was designed to reclaim the
wilderness, andsinvite population in the dis
tant Territories. The latter proposes to
give away land for no such purpose. He
defended his votes on the graduation bill,
and showed that it did not contain. the
principle of the homestead BILL. He con-
tended that the necessary effect of the lat
ter would beto transplant the people from
the non-slaveholding States to preoccupy
hepublic lands, TO the exclusion of the
people of the Southern States. He was
opposed to the whole principle of giving
aWayathe public lands, and should vote
against it. sf.s ss s.s1r SKIS .al..zlss..sis.s sz
Mr.. Wigfall, of Texas, further discussed
the subject. He said be was tired of this
twaddle about the people. He denied
that the homestead bill was Democratic
measure, and asked when il became part
Of the platform. 1t had been adopted by
the Republicans. Anybody who denied
that this Government was simply a com
pact between the States was no Democrat
He reiterated that the homestead bill con-
stituted a part of the Republican platform.
Mr.. Pugh of Ohio. Where do you find
it in the Republican platforms s g
Mr.. Wigfall, (pointing to Mr.. Seward and
Lord Lyons, who were talking together on
one of the sofas-there it is, talking to Lord
Lyons. The British minister aud the Re-
publican platform are together. --.zzo
Mr.. Pugh. deny that the .Republi
can platform says anything about the home
stead bill. They have only taken it up
according to their habit of picking up
whatever they find lying about loose.
Mr.. Wigfll then apolgized for referring
to the gentlemen by name, and continued
his remarks, which were Of q very ldiscur-
sive character. He denied. that there was
any propriety or necessity Of settling the
Territories and cheating The new States.
Mr.. Brown, of Mississippi, moved to
nostnone the subiect till Tuesday next. as