Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-08-07

W
at some future time get il in the price of
bis land, which is keptid at the nstion's
expense, and to the cruel wrong ofnulti-
tudes who long for homes. We convert
him into a land jobher, and conspire with
him against the productive industry of
the country. We set aside the homestead
law as 20 more than one fourth Of the
tilIsble portion Of the public domain by
excluding from il the poor who would coin
their labor into national wealth extend
the borders Of our civilizations, and realize
the blessings Of Independence. II is said,
1 know, that we sre not able to pey the
soaier his bounty in money, and that We
have nothing else but land with nhich to
satisfy him. This | deny. Tie patton
is able to do justice 10 its heroic defn-
ders, and can not honorably plead poverty
rs an excuse. R-t If that plea is 70 be
accepted, then reply that We are. still
less able TO dedicate to solitude from one
hundred TO one hundred and fifty millions
Of acres of land, which else might be
carved up into small homesteads. to be
titled by their owners aud made the basis
Of revenue aud OF national wealth. The
country, with alLits great resources, is TOO
poor thus to cut of its supplies by whole
sale prostitution OF its means and its op-
portunites, and il could far better afford
to pay the soldier reasonable bounty
in money. Not one acre Of land which
any poor man needs for cultivation should
be denied him in the interest of those
who would grasp il for mere speculation
A member Of this House from Illinois
informs me that ia the western border OF
that State George Peabody, years ago,
purchased thousands Of acres Of wild
lands. which he holds to-day. Settlers
have established themselves around these
lands, built their houses, planted their
orchards, and created wealth. The grain
aud other products OF their farms which
are annually shipped to market. on the
railways made necessary by the settlement
Of the country, 20 to make up the sum oi
our national wealth. These settlers arc
every day adding TO the value Of Mr..
Peabody's lauds, while other settlers, who
would long since have made them pro-
ductive, have been driven further West in
search Of homes The Government thus
es,ered into partnership with Peabody In
cheating our pioneer producers out OF the
homes to which they were entitled on
these lands, and 10 staying the industrial
development Of the West; for the bene6,
Of nobody In the world but a single
monopollst, whose home Is on the other
sidc Of the Atlantic. l do not brand
George Peabody as robber, for he il
known as sn honorable, patriotic, and
liberal man. The Government OF the
United States licensed him TO do these
thing, as IL has licensed other land specu.
lators, aud has been Itself the plunderer
of lie eiiizsns ssa il4pf.fse''sal ,>tss. Of
national progress But these <fils are
multiplied aud compounded by the bill |
am now discussing, for instead of few
thousands OF acres II grasps many millions,
aud although the owners are multiplied
the Loneluss poor Of the country are
equally excluded FROM this immense area
WHICH the naiion pledged to them by its
pfeemption aud homestead laws.
Mr.. Chairman, | have discussed this
measure on the supposition that the
bounty II proposes Is to 20 TO the soldiers
only, or his heirs, aud that the certificates
OF Indebtedness are never TO be made
assignable. have thus given the propo-
siIion its best possible face. aud have
shown, think, the utter impoliey II not
vicIousuess Of the project, speak Of
oourse OF the measure itself. aud not Of
the motives Of It's friends, which doubt
not are patriotic. But the truth Ii that
sha..lI Ia l.. h. a
Indebtedness Douid be made assigbuble.
On this subject beg leave to quote from
recent lelter Of the Commissioners of the
General Land Office, IN which he speaks
OF this bill IN the light Of actual facts.
lie spys:
I'll have examined the inoosed bin III.
X. No 94U) 10 equaize bountes of sold
iers, sailors, aud marines who served in
the late war Tor the Union, which | bad
the honor to receive from you with the re-
quest Tor statement as 10 the probable
effect 0l the measure IN the light oil the
experience OF this Office.
III hud the bill proyides for the issue to
soldiers, sailors, and marines of interest.
bearing certificates, to be used by them or
their heirs 10 payment for public land
which they may hereafter purchase from
the Government; that such certificates are
In no wise transferable, aud that the in.
terost may continue to accrue without
limitation until the recipient may see ht
to purchase land herewith
"rhe act OF September 2s, 1850, grant
ing bounty hnds 10 soldiers who had
served in any OF tho wars In which the
United States had been engaged, contain.
edra provision that the warrants thereby
authorized TO be Issued should be located
by the soldier or his heirs, thus prevent.
ing their assignment and sale. This pro-
vision gave such general dissatisfaction
that Congress passed the act Of March %,
1882, authorizing the tronsier of any war.
rant then issued or TO DO issued.
"The files and records Of this oflic, show
that not one In fye hundred Of the .snd
warrants issued and placed in the hands
Of the soldiers or their heirs have been
located by them. or for their use and bcno'
!. III; aud further that although tho said act
Of March %. 1882, made such warrants
assigDable, IL Is safe 10 assume that not TO
exceed ten per cent. Of them have been
used by preemptors as assignees 10 pay.
ment for actual settlements, the most
part having been used by persous 10 nc.
qulre title to the public lands for spseula.
two purposes. flf
"Should the bill under consideration
haooma law and hv Gttnta lao; LA t,ao ha