Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-08-16
TERMS OF ADVERTISING.
Extension Of the Homestead Law. = An
important Measure.

\ important Measure.
Mr.. Julian, OF Indianh, has reported
and had referred to the Recopstruction
Committee bill 10 extend and apply the
the provisions Of the act Of Congress of
June 2lst, 1865. providing for homestead
actual settlements on the public lands Of
! the South. We regard this as one Of the
most important measures that has been
brought forward during this or any pre-
eeeding Congress since the beginning Of
the rebellion, and it has the merit Of be-
ing singularly practical in its character.
We crave attention TO its several provisions.
The first section provides that the pub
lic,lands granted by Congress in 1856 10
the States lately In rebellion to aid them
in the construction Of railroads, which
grants have now expired by Limitations, ere
forfeited TO the United Statca, and made
subject to homestead settlement undertho
Act mentioned Instead ofbuildiug their
roads the rebels waged war against the
Government which granted these lands,
and have now. therefore, no claim 10
further indulgence. They have sinned
away their day Of grace. aad what NJ.
Julian's bill asks is that the lands granted.
amounting TO four or Eve millions Of acres,
which to- day are tied up In tho hands OF
rebel corporations shall be opened up 10
settlement and tilage by the landlcss
poor of tho South. This can only DO
done by an act declaring them forfeited.
The second section provides that the
Freedmens Bureau shall employ com.
petent Surveyor, Who shall retrace the
lines of the original survey where they
have become obliieratcd, according TO tho
6eld notes of such survey, aud at the ex-
pense Of the United S.atcs. Under tho
existing law, as we learn, local surveyors
frequently charge each homestead chim-
ant as high as $1,000 for the survey Of
his tract Of SO acres, aud there Is no youch-
or OF the accuracy of the snryey when
made. This Is great hardship, amount.
ing frequently, 10 defeat OF the settler.
Claimants are frequently required, also.
10 pay SO 90 for school purposes, In sddi.
lion 10 tho fees prescribed by the Homes
stead law, and this, also. Is prohibited by
The section under notice.
The hext section provides that oil tho
public lands Of Texas, which have not
been lawfully disposed Of by, the State.
'ro forfeited 10 the united States. by her
reason against the same, and made sub.
cot in like manner 10 homestead settle
ncnt. This would obcn up to the settler
about one hundred millions Of acres OF
and, and much Of II tho richest In tho
country. Ii would, 10 IL true, be- an ex.
ensive and Wholesale conlseation, but II
would not disturb tho private property or
ights Of a single person, and would dedi.
ate INC wfvfo7or RVS uumafn 20 cuttiva
ion aud productive wealth. II would
therefore, be for tho greatest benefit Of
'exas, and ~ the same time source OF
eyenue 10 the General Government, while
applying homes to the multiiudes who
eed them. s
The lastseotion provides that oil lands
GREATER sold FOR non payment Of Federal
'axes, and under proceedings in Bank
uptcy, shall be sold only In tracts OF not
ess than Twenty nor more than Eighty
cres. The titles of many of the great
states Of the South must hereafter pass
nder judicial or tax sales. aud this pro-
isiou would powerfully aid in breaking
p the great curse Of land monopoly In
be regions IL has 80 long blighted. -
TO these sections Mr.. Julion proposes
o add another, covering the swamp lands :
4 the South, the grant Of which was
legislative swindlo In. the beginning, aud
which has been fairly forfeited by treason,
nd compliance with the conditions
imposed by the grant. These several soc-
ions would give the landlcss millions Of
he South an aggregate area OF over two
hundred millions OF acres. The half of IL,
{ arabic, would give a homestead Of Eigh.
y acres each to ,250, 900 heads Of iami-
les and homes aud shelter to O,250,000
,crsons, computing tho families at an av-
rogo Of Eve persons. II would be dli-
alt TO frame a Legislative proposition moro
,inefcont and far.roachipg, or more wor- 2
by Of the earnest aud early action OF
congress. The condition VI the South To-
lay pleads for Il as present aud pressing
necessity. Popular feeling 10 that see
ion has become excited, II not l"namcd,
" tho hope Of conhscation. In soms
gay IL must be quoted The colored
'ooplo Of the South, especially, arc abso.
utoly hungry for land, aud this feeling
) creditablo 10 their sagacity. Coniisca.
ion Of the fec Of rebel lands as War
neasnre In 1862, would have been prneii-
able, aud most advantageous but tho
ime for II has gone by. All intelligent
nen now agree to thls. Bur tho bill Of
ir. Julian, without interfering with pfi-
ate vested rights. would supply homes 10
II, black aud White. who are struggling
or them, would promote the most rapid
development of the great agricultural re'
ources of the South, aud go far TO re-
tore permanent peace 10 that section aud
o the whole country. We are sorry,
therefore,, that the Congress-, at its July
ession was not ready TO enact this or
ONE kindred measure, la addition TO the
Yet amendatory Of the Reconstruction
'ill.--TGreat Republic,
A Dutchman and his wife were travel
ng; they sat down by the roud exceed