Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1860-04-21
THIRTY-sIxTH CONGREss-Iu session.


SESArE.-Mr. johnson (Tenn.), from the
Committee on Public Lands, reported back
the Homestead bill as modified by the com.
mittee.
Mr.. johnson ARK explained the differ.
presented. The first difference was as to the
class Of persons provided for The original
bill gives lands to the heads of families and
oil persons over twenty.one years Of age.
This is only to the heads of families. The
second difference was the requirement Of the
payment of twenty-five cents per acre. The
original bill gave lands absolutely away.
Twenty-Five cents was the actual cost OF the
lands to the Government. The amended bill
further required five years residence, and
actual title to be given OF the expiration Of
that period, the price fixed being then paid.
The House bill required consecutive resi-.
dence Of five years, but the titles not to be
given Till two years afterwards. Further,
the Senate bill only included the lands open
to private entry, while the House bill opens
all lands subject to pre-emption. The Senate
bill also required the constant settlement Of
the land for five years, and prohibits any sale,
transfer, or abandonment under the penalty Of
o forfeiture. The House bill allowed the
settler to sell it at the end Of five years or to
il.
The House bill further provided that the
homestead is not liable for any debt contrac-
ted prior to seven years of occupancy. The
Senate bill provided that the land shall not be
sold for the debt OF the settler until the Uni.
ted States parts with the title. The Senate
bill further requires an alien to file his decla.
ration Of intention to become citizen before
he could avail himself of the benefits OF the
bill. The effect of this was to restrict the
operation of the act to citizens of the United
States and the heads Of families.
MIR johnson argued at some length in favor Of
the new bill, pointing out its advantages over the
House bill. II gave the settler the right, at any
time during five years, to perfect his title by
Haying the Government price. He read a
statement from the Commissioner at the Land
Office, showing that, under the donation acts
passed in regard to Oregon and Florida over
seventy per cent. of the settlers who nvailed
themselves of the provisions of the Acts, and
remained OIL the land had pettioned Congress to
allow them TO pay the Government price, and
perfect their titles before the expiration Of the
period Of four years; at the end of which time
they might obtain the title withot paying any.
thing. In the case Of Florida, 2l 1860 acres
were seized upon under the grant made by Con-
gress. Ofthese, l3S,400 acres were afterwards
abandoned, and forfeited to the Government. de
called attention to another provision in the
amended bill, not embraced in the House bill,
which compels the sale of surveyed public lands
two years after the surveys made. The last
provision Of the amended bill, was, that lands in
any State remaining unsold after thirty. five years
should be ceded to the State in which they lie.
Mr.. Gwin (Cal) offered an amendment, le-
galizing the occupancy~of the mineral lands in
California and Oregon by citizens of the United
States or persons who have declared their inten
lion to become citizens.
Mr.. Mason (Ya.) wanted to know if the miners
on the Government lands had been troubled by
any ono.
Mr.. Gwin answered, No.
Mr.. Mason thought it would be better to ad
rest remain at rest"
Mr.. Gwin further avowed that the object of hi,
amendment was to drive out the Cooie labo
from the mines and confne it to agriculture.