The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-03-11

"a
in 1862 Petitions for and against is
were raised. public sentiment was thor
oughly reused. It 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, Cor profit, or being taken. first,
under the preemption system. which
eventuated into cash purchases, they
would be given to actual settlers who
would occupy. improve and cultivate
them for a term Of years, and then re-
ceive patent free OF acreage charges,
with fees paid by the homesteader sutIi-
cient to cover cost of survey and trans.
fer of title. :
Everybody took sides. Political econ
onlists pointed to the evils that had re-
suited in the Tast in the purchase Of
large holdings-7&he usual result was the
bankruptcy of the holder. 1t appeared
a new system was urgent, the settlers
demands became incessant; but the
homestead act did not pass congress for
several years.
a bill to secure homesteads to act-
ual settlers in the public domain was
before the house in 1859, but was voted
down. In 1860 a 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; tEat it would prove un-
just in its operation among the actual
settlers themselves, especially be unjust
to those early ones that had paid SIPS
for their holdings; it would work in
justice to the old soldiers who had re-
ceiVed land warrants, reducing the mar
kat value of their warrants; It was un-
equal. confined to one class OF people. the
culttvators of the soil; unjust to the old
er states; the bill would open one vast
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 Yicfssitudes 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 hepub-
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
ley was established only after long and
| earnest resistance. Experience proves
| IS 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 2
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
9rs' homestead act made provision that
honorab1y 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, It's History says writing
in 1889 the homestead act is now the
| approved and preferred method Of az
! curing titles to the public la1A
i has stood the test Of IS
| the outgroWth of a -
through nearly So
| in a circle g.