Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-12
Homs.tsads for soldier. and Sailors.

In the House Of Representatives, on the Goth
ult., Mr.. Geo. W. Julian, as chairman Of the
Committee on Public Lands, on leave, intro
duced bill to secure to persons in the naval
or military service OF the United States home
steads on con6scated or forfeited estates in
insurrectionary districts, and for other pur-
poses. The bill proposes, after due process OF
law, to have all the conhscated lands turned
over to the Secretary of the Interior, TO be sur
veyed and divided, as near as may be, into
forty acre lots, and incorporated into the pub
lie domain; and that all persons who have
served, or may honorably serve, in the Army
or Navy Of the United States for two years
during the present rebellion, and all persons
who have been or shall be discharged there
from by reason Of wounds received or disease
contracted therein, shall be entitled to enter
eighty acres, or a less quantity OF said unAp-
propriated public lands certified or decided In
conformity with the Homestead law Of 1869 to
secure homesteads TO actual settlers. No dis
tinction is to be made on account Of color or
race; the privileges of the law are to be en-
ioyed equally by all persons entitled to It's ben
efts; and in case of the death Of the person
entering lands under the provisions Of the law,
the required proof and payments may be made
by his executor, administrator, widow, or one
or more of his heirs.
The bill has undergone It's second reading in
the House, referred to the appropriate commit
tee, reported back without amendment, ordered
TO be printed, and recommitted to the Commit
tee on Public Lands.
In the Congress of lS49.50, Mr.. Julian and
Hon. Andrew johnson, were the only members
Of the House who publicly advocated the home
stead policy. Mr.. Julian aided in maturing
the Homestead bill Of 1869. This bill applies
the provisions of the homestead law to the
forfeited and connscated lands of rebels, and
wisely proposes to give them TO our gallant
soldiers and sailors who peril, have psrillOd
their lives 10 conquer them-tho ownerS'of these
lands, however, have period of five years
given them to prove their loyalty and redeem
their estates.
A law Of this character seems opportune
and wise; it will stimulate our soldiers and
sailors in their arduous and fatigulng duties
when they see that the lawmakers of the coun-
try arc doing all they can to reward the patri-
otic labors of our country's defenders. There
seems to US, however, that the proposed law is
susceptible of another section, in which specu-
lAtion in these lands by land-brokers and
sharpers should be prohibited, the violation Of
which should be made a penal offence. Our
experience in appropriatipg lands to soldiers Of
the Mexican war should teach us lesson In
this respect Few, very few, OF the soldiers
Of that war settled upon their lands, but put
their claims into market, and they were bought
up at rulnous prices, and, in some instances,
almost given away by our gallant soldiers,
who did so on account OF the necessities of
their circumstances. The proposition of the
bill ls good, and Mr.. Julian is entitled to the
gratitude of those whom the proposed law is
designed to benefit.