The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-02-04
THE SOUTHERN HOMESTEAD LAW.


Letter from Hon. G.. W. Julian.
THE EFFORT TO REPEAL rT-A MEASURE on
LOBBYISTS sPECULAToRs WATCHING
THEIR OPPORTUNITY THE AMENDED
HoMEsTEAD BILL.
Editor of the New York Tribune:
Sy-Let me ask the attention OF your
readers to the attempt recently made in
the House OF Representatives to repeal
the Southern Homestead act Of 1866.
Mr.. Morey In reporting from the Com
mfttee on Public Lands his bill for that
purpose, declared 1t to be the unanimous
opinion Of the committee that no good
reason had ever existed for such an en-
actment. am greatly surprised at
this statement. At the close of
the late war there we're forty-six
millions Of acres of surveyed, un-
sold public lands in the States Of Ala
bama, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana.
and Arkansas. These lands had been
once offered for sale, and therefore, lust
so soon as the machinery Of the land
department could be restored in those
States they would be liable to be COB
bled up in large quantities by the sharks
who were known to be lying IN wait to
pounce upon them, while the homeless
poor Of the South, white and colored.
would thus be hopelessly deprived
OF the opportunity otherwise open
to them OF acquiring homesteads. It
was TO avert this great mis-
chief that the act OF 1863 was passed, and
the necessity for its passage was 40 clear
and imperative as it's policy was wise
and beneficent. II this is not known to
the House Committee on Public Lands,
| think 1t is quite generally understood
by the country at large. The act has
been vindicated by time, and has been
q continuing rock Of offense to the spec
ulators and monopolists who for years
past have been seeking It's repeal, in order
that they might buy up the lands in
large tracts at private entry, and to this
extent hinder the settlement and deyel.
Opment OF these States.
The pretenses on which the proposed
repeal isnOught to be justified are ex-
ceedingly. transparent. It is said that
some OF these lands are worthless for
agriculture and valuable only for their
timber, and that this Is being DESTROYED
by pretended settlers. But this mischief
would find no remedy In the repeal OF
the law, for tho General Homestead law
would be In force, under which the same
spoliation would be committed. It is
further urged that the act should be re-
pealed in order to make our legislation
general and uniform throughout the
country. But the repeal of the act
would not accomplish this. At all
events, it's effect would not harmonize
with our general policy. These South
ern lands would still be in an exoep-
tional condition, because. having been
once offered, they would fall at once
into the grasp Of the speculator, and
cut off the right Of homestead, which
right 10 preserved In every other portion
Of the Union, unless the President shall
make further proclamation Of sale.
Under the law as it now stands, the ex-
ceptional fact about these lands Is that
the President has no power to interfere
with their absolute dedication to actual
settlement only.
This ought to be the law as to the en-
tire public domain; and the true way to
make our land policy general, therefore,
act, but to extend and apply its policy
everywhere. As to lands which are unfit
for agriculture, let them be excepted
and specially provided for; but as to all
lands fit for settlement and tillage, 1t
should be enacted, once for all, that they
shall hereafter be disposed OF to settlers
only, In quantities not greater than 1870
acres to one purchaser.
In the debate in the House on the
proposed repeal / find nothing what
ever to releaye the measure Of It's some
what suspicious and left-handed look
No great interests are suffering under
this Homestead law for the South, or
urging it's repeal. III any measure is
,,rr,an< 4 ie tho rouioirv, - <s,,r horne
stead and presumption laws in the ip-
terest OF actual settlers, making general
the very act sought to be repealed. The
members OF the Land Committee say
they have such general measure under
favorable consideration, and have no
need to be instructed by the House re-
specting IT, One member Of the House
declares part from his own know
ledge-that organizations Of capital
lists have already made their ex-
plorations and estimates and are await
ing the proposed repeal, upon the ac-
complishment Of which they expect to
absorb large portions Of these lands.
His statement was not denied Itwould
the existing law than to annul 1t, and 1t
would, as have shown, be the true way
to make our land policy general. On
the other hand it's repeal would throw
these lands at once into the clutches of
spectators, and make any subsequent
amendment of the homestead and
presumption laws perfectly nu-
gatOry as to the five States
named. And yet we find the House
Committee on. Public Lands putting the
cart before the horse by urging the
measure, while repelling the imputa-
tion of unfriendIiness to the rights OF
settlers / do not doubt their sincerity
or the perfect honesty Of their purposes,
but I doubt Just as little that they are
beQuiled by the arts OF the mercenary
lobby which Is striving to use them for
it's own purposes. think this Is quite
evident, In the light Of the facts I have
mentioned.
A word in conclusion respecting the
amended Homestead bill which passed
the House during the last Congress, and
the re-enactment OF which, ss hear, is
to be pressed at the present session. 1t
embodies some wholesome provisions,
but It repeals the Southern Homestead
law. and contains no provision recurring
agricultural lands to be sold to settlers
only In limited quantities. Without this
provision our Homestead law must
continue to be what It has been
in the pasta halting, halfway
measure. What justice demands and
the people have been earnestly pleading
for for years Is that the policy Of land
speculation shall be cut up, root and
branch. This can only be done by posi-.
+iva louia1afion II wiIl prA do ft aa u