The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-03-20
EdIsortaf Correspond ence.
WASHINGTON, March Is.
rHF uonrsrgAp BILL.

THR HOMESTEAD BILL.
The Homestead bill passed the House yes
terday, by a vote Of lis to Go. Whether it
will pass the Senate or not is uncertain. ]
am inclined to think that it will, if fair
vote can be had on it. But it will not be
fought openly in that body, If it can be
strangled by any sort of parliamentary leg
erdemain. And there is one feature in con-
nection with il that ought to attract the
thoughtful attention Of every man favorable
to free industry and who is disposed in every
legitimate manner to promote the interests
of the toiliDg, producing masses Of his
countrymen and make their path to comfort
and independence as smooth and easy as pos
sble il 10 the sectional and political charac-
ter Of the vote given on the bill in the House,
the nature of the only opposition that will
be waged against it in the Senate, and the
cause which prompts the opposition with
which it meets. Every Republican in the
House present voted for it. Every vote
cast against ii was cast by Democrat or
South American. Every vote cast against it
was from the slave States, with the solitary
exception Of Montgomery, Administration
Democrat from Pennsylvania. Every Re-
publican in the Senate stands ready to vote
for it, II 1t fails in that body, ii will fail
simply because Of the opposition slavehold-
ing Democracy. The Democracy, with few
EXCEPTIONS in beth heascs, sro opposed TO IL.
They are opposed to it because they are un-
der the guidance and control of those who
represent the interests Of Slavery, and whose
ed with that institution, and the slave holding
Democratic managers are opposed to it
why? Because, and solely because the in
terests Of the free laboripg classes Of every
section whom this bill seeks to benefit. con.
fict with the interests of the slayeh gliding
class and slave labor. Can there be any
other reasonf Is there any other reason :
Readers If You were with me, would oper
q door and take you to Southern members
nearly every one Of whom would tell yot
that scas the reason, and for that reason h,
was bound to fight it to the death. liz ther,
not conflict Of interest between free ant
slave labor, an 50 irrepressible, J" unavoidabl,
conflict, inherent in the nature of the tw,
systems2 And is not the Democratic part,
under the control Of the representatives O
the siaveholding interest, arrayed as il j
IN hostility to free labor on this importan
question, and the sole obstacle OF it's sue
cess,-is not that party the party of oppres
sion, OF degradation, the representatives o
the great lords Of soil who opn their labor
ers, and therefore the natural enemy of th
free laboring classes Ii any man so big
oted AZ not TO acknowledge so plain fact
liz that party one which commends itself /
the support OF the struggling, laboring mass
es, whose only hope Of daily bread, Of edu
cation for their children, OF relief in sick
ness and ease in declining years lie the fruit {
their handsi IL that party the friend of tho.
who are extending the area Of civilixatio,
be resources and power CT the countr,
driving back the savage and the wild bsa
and dotting the wilderness with millions ,
free homes ? 10 that party the friend
him WHO WORKS Tor weekly wages by Il
smoky forge ?-of bin whose household 60
are gathered in a rude western cabin p
any one Of that mighty multitude Of humb
laborers whe are signing and struggling +
some spot of earth that they can call the
own, and from which, no matter what d
vicissitudes OF trade or fortune, thew y
can produce their bread, and On which tn
can live in peacef No this party is q
their friend and sympashlzer. II 10 not 1
party OF the free laborer, looking up to a,
aspiring after something better and bright
than the mere tread mill round Of life, or
least asking that all the opportunities 90
sistent with the rights Of free people m
be afforded him to earn his own food and Z
Joy the fruits Of hls own industry. II ist