The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-07-02
senator HarIaM IN nUcnAnanss
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Veto.
II will be hardly necessary 70 call atten-
ton to Senator llarlan's sble review Of old
Buohanan's messass vetoing the Homestead
bill. We give tho speech herewith, and will
only add that We may all rejoice that Buch-
apan will be tho last Of line Of Presidents
whose unjust disregard OF the Peoples vel
fare is equalsd only by their pasillaninous
servility 10 the Slave Power.
Mr.. Harlan, OF Iowa, also addressed the
Senate nj some length in opposition TO the
veto. We have the following report OF his
remarks:
MIR. President, NJ q member of the Com
mittee on Public Lands, / NAV be supposed
to represent the, views OF Senators on this
side Of the chamber. Before the vote 10 ta-
ken, therefore ask leave TO say few words.
Representing State, in part, deeply in
terested ia the passage OF : Homestead bill,
and believing that the old Senate bill was
the best that could be obtained from this Ad-
ministration, sustained il with my vote and
voice. In this was not sustained by Sena-
tors with whom ! am associated politically.
The House sustained their views; and uiti-
mately oompro mise was effected on On
agreement TO the bill now before US. This
bill is, in my opinion, an improvement on
the Senate bill, but not ell that and my po-
litcal friends desired. But, a. i feared, il
has been returned By the President with his
objections. II 10 now the duty Of the Senate
to consider his objeetions, and, ii possible.
carry ID by two-thirds vote.
propose to review them with rapidity.-
In NV opinion, not one OF them will bear Q
candid analysis.
l. His first objection IL that Congress has
no power TO give away the public lands to
either individuals or to States. But this bill
proposes TO sell them to speculators, O. here
tofore, at 81 rs per acre, and to homestead
settlers at twenty ave cents per acre. Hence
no gift is proposed il is . reduction OF
price to tho actual settler. II 10 true, il
grants to the State oil lands that have been
exposed 10 sale for thirty years, and for ave
years of that period offered ct twenty-five
cents per acre. This, too, is not in the ma
ture OF q Gift, but an abandonment OF prop
erty to the States that has ceased TO be OF
value TO the government, This feature Of
the bill was defen led BY the Senator from
Alabama (Mr. Clay) with ability, on the
ground that, after lands had been exposed to
sale for thirty years at graduated prices,
running down to twenty FIVE cents per acre,
the entire proceeds of sales would not defray
the expenses of the land Offices. Hence il
| would cease to be OF value TO this Govern
ment. Certainly no one can pretend that
this Government has no power to abandon
/ worthless property.
/ 3. His second objection 10 that this bill
would prove unjust and unequal 10 its ope-
ration among the actual settlers themselves
that thoss who have heretofore settled on
and pun chased public lands have paid 81 rs
per acre IL you now reduce the price to elk
ty-two and . half cents or twenty Eve cents
per acre, you trent the first purchasers IN
justly, and you will be required 60 refund to
them the difference. Well, sir. such an ar
gument hardly merits . moments thought.
II implies the dec aration that Congress hes
no power 10 reduce the price OF public prop
crty without refunding to all others who may
have bought at higher rate And that
too, in the face Of his own declaration, CON.
tanned in this same veto message, that tha
price was heretofore reduced from 81 Il
81 rs and yet no one has heard q olamor
or even a request TO have you refund from
the Treasury to the first purchaser the dif.
ference in price of seventy-hvs cents pei
acre.
8. His third obi cotton il that this bill viii
do great injustice to the old soldiers whit
have received bounty land warrants, by re.
ducing their value in the market. Now, sir
when these bounty land warrants were au
thorzed to be issued they were not assign
able; il is merely grant to the old soldie
OF the right to enter piece OF land withou
pay it was donation Of land to the sold
Ter. The warrants were afterwards mad,
~. r. Al L. H. a. = Il
could not or would not select and enter land
Who ever dreamed that by this act MAXIM
land warrants assignable Congress entere,
into an implied obligation TO maintain thei
value In tho market, by Withholding land
from market at less than 81 rs per acre.
Neither the Congress ner the Executive
seemed to think 30 when the graduation bill
became a law.
!, 4. His fourth objection is that this bill
would be unjust to mechanics and othe
classes OF otixens than agriculsurists, requi
ring thsm to change their modes OF life.--
How so 2 liz it not broad enough 10 its pro
vlsions TO embrace alp Every head of
family, citizen OF the United States, or VII
has declared his intention to become such
! may settle on and occupy his homestead
whether farmer or mechanic, lawyer or doc
tor; mona are inhibited. If they decline &
do 80 IL 10 not the fault OF the Law nor doe
; the bill require any one TO change his callin
as prerequisite to settlement.
! 5. His fifth objsction 10 that the bill woul
be unjust to tho old States, in diminishing
tho marketable value Of their land, and hold
ing out a premium to their oitixens to emi
crate to the new States. This may be
very good argument when addressed TO th
State pride Of the Representatives Of the oil
States, bat not very creditAble to their hu
mainly. Who nre the citisens OF the ne,
States Your sons and dAug hters--the chill
dren and grandchildren Of your people .
home! And the President Of the Republi
invites you to adopt policy that will retail
them around the old homestead, and wor
out lapds, to struggle with penury ard wan