New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-29
THE SOUTHERN HOMESTEAD Law.

LETTER FROM THE HON. G. ". JULIAN.
THE EFFORT 10 REPEAL TIA MEASURE OF LOBBY
IsTs-sPECULAToRs WATCHING THEIR oPPoRTU-
EITY-THE AMENDED HOMESTEAD Bill.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Let me ask the attention of your
readers attempt recently made ia the House Of
Representatives peal the Southern Homestead act of
1866 Mr. MOrey, in reporting from the Committee on
Public Lands his bill for that purpose declared ii To be
the unanimous opinion Of the Committee that good
reason had ever existed for such enactment am
greatly surprised this the close Of tho
late there 46 100000 OF OF surveyed
sold public lands in the states Of Alabama Florida, Mis-
sissppi. louisiana and Arkansas These lands had
been offered for sale and therefore just the
machinery of the land department could be restored In
those States they would be liable to be gobbe upin
quantities by the sharks who known De lying in
wait pounce upon them, while the homeless poor OF
the South white and coOreG would thus De- hopccssy
deprived of the opportunity otherwise open them II
acquiring homesteads. 1t Ia avert this mis-
chief that the S66 passed and the necessity
for Is passage clear and imperative ~ its policy
was wise and bencfcent II this is known 10 tue
House Committee Public Lands, think il Is quite
generally understood by the county large. The
has been vindlcoted by time and has been continuing
rock OF oense to the spectators and monopolss who
years past have been seeking repeal in order that
they might buy mp the lands in large tracts at private
entry, ana extent hinder the settlement ana de-
velopnent OF these States.
The pretenses which the proposed repeal IL sought TO
be justified exceedingly transparent 1t il said that
OF these lands worthless for agriculture and
valuable only for their timber, and that this Is being
destroyed by pretended settlers But this mischief would
find remedy in the repeal Of the law, for the General
Homestead law would be IN force under which the
spOlatiOn would be committed II is further urged that
the act should be repealed in order TO make egsa-
tion general nd uniform throu country
tho repeal ~ the act would accomplish this. AT all
events, ts effect would not harmonic with our general
policy. These Southern lands would still be In an
cep;iona condition. because having been once offered.
they would fall 1T into the grasp of the specuator,
and cut of the right of homestead which right Is pre-
served In every o1hcr portion Of tho Union, unless the
President shall make further proclamation Of sale Under
the law It stands the exceptional fact about these
lands is that the President has no power to interfere
with their absolute dedication to actual settlement only
This ought bo the law the entire public domn
and the true way make land policy general there
FORE repeal the Southern Homestead act but TO
extend and apply its policy everywhere As TO lands which
are unfit for agriculture, let them be excepted and spec
ally provided for; but 10 all lands lit FOR settle
and uage, IL should be enacted, for all, that
they shall hereafter be disposed OF 10 settlers only, in
quantities greater than 100 To purchaser
In the debate in the House the proposed repeal
hnd nothing whatever relieve the measure Of ts
ests suffering under this Homestead law for the SOUTH
urging repeal. II any measure il urgent. It Is tho
revision homestead and presumption laws In the
Of actual settlers. making general the very act
sought be repealed. The members OF the Land Com
mittee say they have such general measure under
favorable consideration, and have need 10 be in
stru ted by House respecting IT, One member Of tho
House declarcs-in part nom his own lmoUcdee-thas
organizations OF capitalists have already made their
ploraous and estimates and awaiting the proposed
repeal upon the accomplishment ~ which they eSpec
to absorb large portions OF these lands His staeeDs
was denied 1t would take longer for Congress 10
end the existing law than 10 annu II, aud would a.
have shown he the true way 70 make land polrY
general On the other hand. lis repeal you'd thTos
these lands once into the clutch, ot sccuators and
make any subsequent amendment 81 TIE Homestead and
pre-. mptlOn perfectly nugatory A. Ia the I've states
named And yet we fnd the House Committee on Public
Lands putting the cart before the hor by urging the
measure, while repelling the imputaton of unirient
Illness to the rights OF settlers! 30 not doubt their sin
ccrty or the perfect honesty OF their purposes but
just little that they arc bsuled by the arts OF
the mercenary lobby which is striving 70 Use them for ia
Own purposes. think this is quite evident Ia the light
Of the facts have mentioned.
A word in conclusion respecting the amended Home
stead bill which passed the House during the last Con
erc7s aud the recnactment Of Which, helr is 10 Dc
pressed TIE pres nj session. II emboes some wboe
some provisions hut il repeats the southern Homestead
law and contains provision requiring Agricultural
lands To sold o. settlers only In limited quantlies
without this provision Homestead law must continue
he what !, has been in the pasta hating hafS way
measure. What justice dema Dis and the peope ba's
been earnestly Pleading for for years Il that :e police
Of land speculation shall be cut up. root and branch
This only be done Oy positive Legislation 1t viii no
do TO say that more lands can b. i'll to specnlaoIt
unless the President shall issue his proclamation az pub
lie sale aud that such public sales have been pro-
claimed for years past, or arr likely To be. ms 10
begging the question. We live under a govern.
ment law, and of OF discretion. Its theory
!. ,g.tp ,I.rs gl IN an
need Ia be hegcd about by restrictions and prohibitions
To Say that the President having the power 10 throw TIC
public lands into the grasp OF Spectators ana monopo
lists MANY Of his predecessors hive doe, WIZ n0t
exercise that power Is 80 say that be IL proof Ssalst
temptation aud beyond the reach OF oHbes and rings ~
all sorts. think will say anything 50 eNtrava.
CANT who has paid any attention 10 the ciy service OF
tho Government, the general course ~ the present
Administration since IL came into power COusrrs' ara
Congress alone has the power 10 define and establish me
land policy OF the nation, and its il" t. enact he
vital provision has been fearful stuublg-Ooca
I'm the way Of the country's prosperity, and CRUEL
mockery OF the people who have 50 long demlnded IL
Very respectfully, Gko w JULIAN
Irringon Ind, Jan. 25, 1876.