The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-01-29

AN AMENDMENT TO THE HOMESTEAD
BI.L.--An Altoona friend sends MS the fol-
lowing Petition, with the request that we
give it place in our columns. and as 1t Will
no doubt prove of interest to some of our
readers, we cheerfully accede to the wish Of
the gentleman from whom it was received ::
All Soldiers, Sailors and Marines who
served in the late War against the Reoelllon
are respectfully invited TO cooperate Win
us in this movement If you approve OF the
following resolutions please get AS many
signatures as possible and send it to your
Representative in Congress and also TO the
Member of Assembly after the introduction
of the bill. For further particulars ADDRESS
with stamp to the Soldiers Protective Union
Herbig, Company No. !, of College Polnt,
l.. l.. State of New York If you cannot
attend to this, please hand it to some trust
worthy veteran i'll your vicinity
PETITION.
We, the subscribers petition the Honora-
BILE Members of Congress of the United
States for an Amendment to the II homestead
Bill passed in 1872, SO as to allow all Soldiers
Sailors and Marines, who have served in
the ate War against the Rebellion, to have
the right to select their land now and have
the ssme entered in their names and held
for them, until they or their children are to
settle upon it. An this we ask for the fol-
lowing reasons:
/. AS the Homestead bill reads now, there
is no actual benefit for those who went at
the country's call as volunteers to fight for
the Union. but any foreigner with little
means has the same benefit and right the
day after landing on our shores as we have
3 Many of us have been wounded and
have not been able to follow our former CO.
cupations; again the largest number after
the end of the war or the expiration of their
enistments have gone to work at their
trades, but have not been able 10 save money
enough to take possession of that promised
land and by the time they shall be able TO
take it. those at the east will need small
fortune for travelling expenses TO get where
/ they may find Government land.
g. A great many have families of small
children, who need their schooling, which
we cannot give them in new settlements,
and who also cannot stand the hardsh. ps of
a settlers life, but if we could select our
land now, we could form clubs and those
having no trade or who are otherwise will
ing to settle Immediately could be assisted
by others owning their land in the nelghbor-
hood to settle and cultivate their own and
some of their neighbors' land, and in a very
few years hundreds of farms would he cul-
tivated and honest eads provided for those
now working hard i'll manufactures and nm
profitable trades. This would bring capital
TO the west, which never can reach there
under the present Homestead Bill.
4. After a certain number of acres eff such
land have been cultivated, whether 10y him
self or a lessee, the owner or his legal heirs
not before, as we are entirely against open
ing road for speculation.
g. Those Volunteers having served three
years or more and those who have only
served one year or less, by careful examin-
ton we have come to the CONCLUSION that
they should be compensated in some way.
g. 1t would be noble act on the part of
the Government, if il would pursue the same
course it does in Railroad legislation,
that Is, to advance money, and take mort
cages on the lands, accordingly as they We're
taken up by actual settlers, aud give them a
reasonable time to pay the amount back into
the treasury with interest. This would give
us All opportunity to take Immediate pos
session withou. any risk to the Government
In conclusion, they beg leave to draw the
attention Of the present administration to
the Soldiers to settle on the homesteads
and by SO DUNG the Government will confer
a great favor upon those men who have al
ways upheld and defend the welfare of our
country.