Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-07-26
Iiomea,eads In Ihc South.

- 80 ''- --fft'ss
tiomes,eads in The South.
Mr. Julian has reported and had re.
fcrred to the Reconstruction Committee
the following important bill;
Il BILL further 10 erfcad and apply he
provisions Of he "Act for The disposal Of
Tie public lands for homestead actual
settlement ia hc States Of Alabama, Mis-.
sissippi, Louisiana, Arkaasas and F2ori
d. approved June 2l@, 1866.
BE il enacted BY me Senate aud House
Of Rsprescntohrcs Of The United States or
.Aniaica IN Congress assembled That all
the uusold public lands in the States Of
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and
Florida, which were granted TO said States
in the year eighteen hundred and ffty,six
10 MD them in the construction or railroads
therein, and which grants have now ex.
PRED by Limitation. are hereby declared
forfeited 10 the United States, and shall
henceforward be subject TO homestead
entry and settlement, under the &C. of
Congress approved June twenty.frst,
eighteen hundred and sixty-six, for the
disposal of the public lands for homestead
actual settlement in said States, precisely
rs are other public lands therein under
said act
Sec. Q. And be Il further enacted,
That when the corner posts or field marks
Of the public surveys have been so obliter.
aied rs to make il impossible TO identify
particular tracts of land, It shall be the
duty ol~he Commissioner Of the Freed
mems Bureau to appoint an efficient and
trustworthy deputy surveyor, at u com.
ponsatioi to be Fixed by him, aud which
shall be paid by the United States. who
shall relrace tho llaos Of tho original sur.
vey, and establish them In exact accord
anee with tho field notes Of the public
surveys which have heretofore been exc.
culed under tho authority Of tic United
Slaics; and no other surveyor or torson
shall charge or receive any fees for the
survey Of any land IN any of tho states 10
which the said act OF June twenty. Grst,
eighteen hundred aud sixty six, applies
nor shall my register or receiver In any
ofsaid states charge any claimant of land
under naid act any lccs, or receive the
rame, other than those expressly provided
for In said act. And II Is hereby further
enacted, that no reduction Of tho quantity
Of land Of any claimant shall be cxaetod on
account Of IT, proximity 70 any rplropd,
See 3. Aad Il d further enacted. That
oil The public lands of tho State OF Texas,
which h-ve not been lawfully disposed ofby
said State, are hereby declared forfeited 70
tho United States; by reason of her trei.
eop and rebellion ngainst the spm,; aud
said lands shall be, TO all ialents and pur.
poses. subject 60 the net Of Coupress
aforesaid, IN the same manner rs the pub
lo landa OF The other States herein men.
toned, 20 soon n The Suryeya OF the
uniiod States shall be EXTENDED oyee the
same, and tho machioery of the land de-
par'ueut ol Tho lu,ernment established
Therein. which slnil be doue, ~ soon as
practicable, under tho direction Of the
Secretary Of tho Interior.
Sec 4. dnd BE- Il Jartker enacted. That
all agricultural lands In any of tho States
lately IN rebellion which shall hereafter DO
forfeited and sold by reason of non pay.
meui Of federal taxes, and all such lands In
said States which shall DO sold under pro
cccdinqs in bankruptcy IN pursuance of
The "Act TO establish uniform system of
bankruptcy In tho United States" APP.
proved March second. eighteen hundred
aud sixiy.Soyon, shall be disposed Of only
In lots not less than iweuly acres, nor
more thsn eighty acres.
A Washington correspondent Of the
Shelbyvllc Uaion writes ar follows con.
corning this bill;
II i. hoped that this bill may be con.
sidered at this session. Tho frat section
would open 10 settlement or tilago thlce
or four million ncrcs Of choice lands. now
tied up IN the hand. oil rebel corporations,
the lands having been granted IN 1856 to
aid In the construction OF the Southern
Railroads, and the grants having expired
by limitation. Instead Of building tho
Railroads, the rebels waged war against
the Government, and have now no right
TO further indulgence.
The second section eofreets an oulra.
geous abuse praoIieed by rebel surveyors,
who charge claimants under the Home
stead law as high ~ s32,00 each, for sur,
yeying their tracts, the survey having no
guarantee OF aeeuraey Wien made.
The next two seeliuns open up 10 settle
ment in small farms, several millions Of
acres, and In doing so, make important IA.
roads upon the greateune Of Land Mo-
uopoly In tho South; mud tho bill itself, "
now enacied into u law, would quiet the
great elnmor raging In tie South IN favor
of con- .eaftoo sfves hama IA all hlaeL
and whlc-who need them and power
fully aid In restoring permanent peace
throughout the South, and the country.