The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-10-24

Hon. Owen LoveJny made spsech at Chl-
cago, on the 18th inst, in which We fod an
admirable exposition of the Homestead Billie.
He commenced his speech ss follows, rs no.
ported for the Chicago Tribune:
CITIZENS CT CHICAGO: To quote the Ian.
guage of one who was interrupted by royal
auditor. "When the lion roars, the beasts Of
the forest tremble !" and feel that when
penusy lvanis, Ohio and Indiana utter their
mighty united voices, individuals might we'll
be silent. Applause. But as it 10 assign
ed to me this evening to address you, al
though every mind is joyous, and well nigh
engrossed with the gratifying intelligence
which has been coming to us for the past
week over the wires and through tho COL
umns of the newspapers, still will endcavor
TO present some OF the political issues and
principles which are now before the Ameri-
can people for their sufrages and decision.
During the long, and we are bound to be-
lieve, doubtful pilgrimage of the nominee OF
the Democracy, the Republican party has
been charged, not once, nor twice, but many
times, with being so engrossed, so absorbed
with what that gentleman is pleased to des-
ignate tsthe interminab.e negro question:"
that we have had no time to give our atten.
ton to or discuss the important subjects OF
legislation before the country. 10 one of
these speeches, counting over upon his I'm.
gers several important matters in which the
patton is interested the Tariff, the Pacific
Railroad, The Pacific Telegraph Line, the
Homestead Bill, he says, in plaintiys Ian
guage, Gentlemen, none of these subjects
can receive the attention which their impor-
tance Demands none of them can be discus
oA hall - nd yasgaH mi n
acts of legislation, and why? Oh the Black
rRepublieans are engrossed with this interim.
nable negro question"
Now, citizens, propose, briefly as needs
must, to call your attention to this fact that
one of these measures mentioned by the Sen.
ator from this State, and one OF the most i'm.
portant measures, except that which relates
to '.the interminable negro, question"--l
mean tho Homestead Bill, was discussed,
was voted upon, and 30 far as Republican
votes could do it, was passed into law; but
did not actually become law, -becauseit was
defeated, not by Republicans Who were oar
red away by s.the interminahls negro ques.
ton" but by the Democratic party IN the
House, in the Senate and in the Executive
Chair. wish now to slate the fact that as
M ember Of the Committee on Public Lands,
~ AeCHHb 0usN w iNPoih sa"t Wal w vase
Heuse; that duty performed to tho best of
nv ability; and remember as though il
were but yesterday thiok- | never shall
forget---thst Immediately upon the motion
beiag made to put that bill upon its passage,
there was evidently q wave OF indignant
emotion that swept over the Democratic side
Of the House. Motions were made To post
pone, TO reoommit, to amend; every motion
was made that 10 known to parliamentary
tactics, 10 delay and defeat the Homestead
Bill. We were called upon TO give the ayes
and noes we occupied the whole OF legis-
lative day i'm saying "Aye" or "No" on I'M
important and incidental points connected
with the Homestead Bill--the ayes and noes
being called for by the Democratic, and not
the Republican sido OF the House. When
the bill was passed ir the House by Republic
can votes, MIR. Barksdalo of Mississippi,
sprang to his feet and said: "Mr. Speaker,
move TO adjourn we have done iniqnity
enough for one day" What iniquity2 We
had passed a broad, liberal, munihcent, just
II homestead bill and that in the estimation
Of the Democratic party 10 iniqutyi
If YOU will bear with me now, before com
Jog upon this .'interminable negro question"
which propose to discuss after few mo-
menss occupied upon this Homestead bill
question, / will present to you in- as brief a
time and in as precise language as | can
command, the leading features of tho Re-
publican and Democratic Homestead bills.
We presented bill that was ful1 OF life--s
living man the Democrats tore away eve
rything except the bare dead skeleton and
called ii a rnan-s Home stead bill. The Re-
publican bill said any person over twenty
one years OF age, a citizen OF the United
States, or who has declared his intention of
becoming a citizen, may enter any OF the IN.
occupied lands, take possession OF quarter
section. cultivate it for Ave years, and, at
the end of that time, if he is then a citizen
OF the United States, by making proof that
he has occupied and cultivated the land for
the exclusive benefit Of himself and his fam
/ ilv, he shall hccome.the owner In fee simple
of that amount of the public lands. Loud
applause That was the proposition OF the
/ Republican party. We cay any person over
twenty-one years Of ago, who desires to mend
4 his fortune, any one who ia determined TO
/ better bis condition in life, can 20 and take
possession of this limited quantity of the
I public lands, and by this process, and by his
4 own process it shall become bis own. We
said any person over twenty one years OF
| age; the Democrats say any head OF FAM
/ ~. Why, my Democratic friends, will
| you not let the young men go and take pos
sion Of these Territories Why DO you OK
| cude themY | will do individual Demo
Gratis the justice to say, that it is not because
| they have any feeling of hostility towards the
young men. That is not it. Why then did
every Democrat, with few exceptions, vote
that none but heads Of families should 20 and
take possession OF the public Lands? They
voted thus because 1T was political necessl-
ty; it was the memorable demand of the
slave power that the young men should pot
go and take possession Of the territories, for
then slavery knew that it could never gain a
fcothold there. lLoui appause.l That
believe is why the Democratic party as
unit voted to exclude the young men of the
country from going to, and taking posses.
zion OF limited portions Of the Public lands