The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1883-11-24
THE PUBLIC LANDS.

in connection with the important
matter of public lands corresponds
with the beneiicent record in great
national matters. The Democratic
party when it had full sway Of the
powerof the country, was thoroughly
hostile to the distribution oflands to
actual settlers. 1t would not permit
the broad lands of the territories of
the Northwest to be thrown open
for settlement and Improvement.
The liberal development of the
public domain by actual settlers was
finally secured by the Republican
party despite the continued and
bitter opposition of its Democratic
enemy. Under the policy of the
latter party, when lands were sold
they were allowed to be purchased
i'll large grants by spectators, and
those who wished to buy sufficient for
homesteads were defeated in their
object and unjustly deprived of a
right and privilege.
On this account in the Congress
sional session of1S59 go, Mr.. Galusha
A. Grow, Of Pennsylvania, sugges-
ted on amendment to a bill, which
had been offered in reference to pre-
emptions, providing that there
should be no sale of public land by
a proclamation until it had been
surveyed, and a return Of survey
filed in the Land Office ten years
prior to sale. This would of ena
bled settlers to pre- empt farms and
raise crops from them sufficient to
afford the means of purchasing them
when the sale should occur. All
without loss to the government.
For this bill and amendment
every Republican voted and every
Democrate4cept q few Douglass men
were against it. Soon after, and at
the same session, the Republicans
presented bill allowing homesteads
to actual settlers, in substance the
law in existence for the past twenty
years. This bill passed the House
mainly by the votes of the Republi-
cans, and, as before. most of the
Northern Douglass Democrats. In
the Senate the bill was bitterly
opposed by the Democrats, they
antagonizing it with the bill for the
purchaseofCuba. James M. Mason
of Virginia, denounced the bill in
the most acrid terms.
Senator Wade, of Ohio, who adj.
vocated the bill, said that the ques-
ton between it and the Cuba bill,
was simply whether the country
would provide Island for the land.
less, or niggers for the niggerless."
The bill was finally defeated in the
senate, Andrew johnson, of Ten
nesse, being the only Democrat
voting for it. In the last House of
Representatives but one, a bill was
by the Committee on Public
Lands, and as there was a Republi-
can majoIity,-was passed.
The Democratic majority of the
Senate then passed a substitute for
the House bill, more to antagonize
it than anything else. After a con
ference, the Republicans thinking
1t best to take what they could get
rather than have nothing, accepted
the Senate bill with a few amend
ments. The bill went to the Presi-
dent--thelast Democratic President
known in history as James Blu
chanan--and9h he, after an elaborate
argumentagainstit, vetoed it. Such
is an outline of the action of the
Democratic party when in power, in
with the public lands.
We need not add that with the
Inauguration of the Republican
President, the party of the principles
ofTrue Democracy was naugurated,
a liberal and progressive policy was
adopted and thousands upon thop<
sands OF people who will in "
time be oneof the best and stroM pl
elements in the great and gHu. 90
of our country,I be
ably benefited. Me-
AT our an
We are pleased to s6ceptor's ov,
I'D time friend ayfavorable va'
lame is mentioned 4 cont.n,no GU