The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-06-09

in 1862 Petitions for and against it
were raised, public sentiment was thor
oughly reused. 1t was understood that
without question it would cause an en-
tire change in the settlement laws. In
stead of the public lands being sold for
cash, for profit, or being taken, first,
under the presumption system, which
eventuated into cash purchases, they
would be given to actual settlers who
would occupy, improve and cultivate
them for term of years, and then re-
ceive a patent free of acreage charges,
with fees paid by the homesteader sufi-
cient to cover cost of survey and trans
fer of title.''
Everybody took Sides Political econ
omists pointed to the evils that had re-
suited in the past in the purchase OF
large holdings-the usual result was the
bankruptcy of the holder
"A bill to secure homesteads to act
nal settlers in the public domain" was
before the house in 1859, but was voted
down. In 1861 homestead bill passed
both houses, but was vetoed by Presi-
dent Buchanan; among the objections
cited were the following: That the
government had no right to "give
away" such a magnificent gift as the
public domain; that it would prove I'M
just in it's operation among the actual
settlers themselves, especially be unjust
to those early ones that had paid $1.25
for their holdings; it would work in
justice to the old soldiers who had re-
ceiyed land warrants, reducing the mar
ket value of their warrants; it was un-
equal, confined to one class of people, the
cultivator of the soil; unjust to the old
field Of speculation.
The bill failed, lacking the requisite
two-thirds vote to pass it over the Veto
In 1861, another bill was introduced, and
after undergoing various vicissitudes in
the two houses, was finally passed; and
on May 20, 1862, Abraham Lincoln ap-
| proved and signed IAN act to secure
homesteads to actual settlers on the pub
lie domain"
|, President Johnson, who was one OF
the original promoters of the homestead
act, said concerning it in his annual
message of 1865: The homestead pol
icy was established only after long and
earnest resistance. Experience proves
it's wisdom. The lands in the hands of
Industrious settlers, whose labor creates
wealth and contributes to the public
resources, are worth more to the United
States than if they had been reserved as
a solitude for future purchasers
The original homestead act has been
amended a number of times, an extern
sion of privileges being an important
change. In 1872, the soldiers and sail
ors' homestead act made provision that
honorably discharged soldiers and sail
ors from the army and navy of the
United States might have the five years
time required of the homesteader re-
duced, the time of actual residence for
these citizens being put as low as one
year. Thomas Donaldson, in THE Pub
lie Domain, Its History" says (writing
in 1889 the homestead act is now the
approved and preferred method of &C
curing titles to the public lands. It
has stood the test of Is years, and was
the outgrowth of system extending
through nearly 80 years, and now, with
in circle of hundred years since the
United States acquired the first of fer
: public lands, the homestead act stands
as the concentrated wisdom of legisla-
ton for settlement of the public lands.
1t protects the government, it fills the
states with homes, it builds up commu-
mites and lessons the chances OF social
and civil disorder, by giving ownership
Of the soil, in small tracts, to occupants
thereon. 1t was copied from no other
nations system. 1t was originally and
distinctly American, and. remains 8
monument to its originators:
CHRISTOPHER WEBSTER.