The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1860-10-06
The Homestead Law.

The Homestead Law.
The Ottawa Republican and other papers
of that color keep standing at the head OF
their columns what they call MIR. Douglas
record against the Homestead bill We
make few extracts to show how the Re
publican papers will publish and stick to
a lie:
ION the Eth Of February, 1859, (App.
Cong Globe. part ., page lO14) Mr. ads
moved to postpone prior orders ana TAX
up the House Homestead bill. On the
motion, Mr. iIanllin voted yea, and Doug
las lodged
Douglas was absent u. -
again on. the same day, when q vote
was taken TO keep the homestead bill be
! fore the Senate, page i0I6) Mr.. Hamlin
voted aye, Douglas lodged.
I Mr. Douglas name appears a.Hong those
who voted to continue the homestead bill
! before the Senate.
a. gain on the same day, when vote
was taken to keep the homestead bill be-
fore the Senate, (pass 1879 Mr.. Hamln
| voted yea, Douglas lodged.
| That also is a mistake The name Of
Mr. Douglas is found with those of the
! friend. of the measure.
con tho 18th Of February, page ll43,)
on motion TO take up the homestead bill,
Hamlin voted yea Douglas lodged"
On the 10Th vote was taken in relation
to taking up the bill and Mr.. Douglas was
absent
"Acain on the 9th Of February (page
1892 MIR Doolit.ie moved 10 postpone
the bill for the acquision of Cuba, and take
up the homestead bill, and upon this mo
ton Mr. Uamlin voted yea, Douglas voted
nay, preterring 'niggers TO the niggerless,
TO land for the iandless.
On the 18th Of February. motion was
made by Slidell to suspend all prior or
ders, and take up the bill for the purchase
OF Cuba Mr. Doolittle resisted it that he
might move to take up tho homestead
bill The names of Doolittle, DoUGl.As and
Hamiin appear among the nays, all voting
in such 4 manner as to favor the taking uD
of the homestead bill
con the final yote-that of passing the
bill over the Presidents veto-Hanalin yo-
ted aye, Douglas lodged.
! paired of with Mr.. Clay, of Alabama, and
was absent in consequence Of sickness and
! death in his family. Our authority for
the facts stated above, is Greeley Text
Book, which, although no: in very good
reputo among Democrats, should pass with
out contradiction with Republicans.
In this connection, We ask the reader 70
refer to the remarks Of Mr. Douglas on the
Homestead bill in another column, ex-
planning his true position on thatquestion.
While the record Of Mr.. Douglas is thus
clear, let Us see how Dir. Lincoln and Mr
Hamlin stand On the same question:
Mr. Lincoln was member Of Congress
two years-IStS, $50. During all that
time a. homestead bill, introduced by Daw.
son, democrat Of Pennsylvania, sept up,
on The table Of tho House The wings
were so busy in opposing measures for
winding up the war with Mexico, and :oI
meeting obi cations incurred through it
that they could give no thought to the
Homestead bill Mr. Lincoln had tx
! Ie.- the least interest IL the measure
could have called It up any day, and a
last recorded his vote in lis favor. II
never opened his head on the subject
There was, however, while NJ. Lincoli
was member, q bill passed through Con
gress, which involved the pginciple. Tha
was the granting $50 acres OF land for
homestead 70 the soldiers in the Mex
can war LINCOLN VOTED AGAINST TIA
ELL
Haml.n has been member oe the t
s. Senate i years During that tim
four or five different Homestead bile hav
been before that body. lie uniformly an
perSistasf'y go:ed c7oiHst ere-y oce Ct them, III
Ill at the last session, when the repubi
cans undertook, 20 make party eapit.i on
Of the question, lie reluctantly voted Re
the House bill, knowing it could not po
siblv pass the Senate III the shape it cam
from the House, ard opposing evor
amendment designed 10 make it accept
Die to the Senate and is passage possibl
How do the records Of Lincoln an
UamliE on the homestead question cor
pare with that OF Douglas: