Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The state Republican. (Eugene City, Or.) 1862-1863 | View Entire Issue (June 28, 1862)
THE STATE REPUBLICAN. "The Strangle of to-day is not altogether for to-day, it i for the Taat future alio' J. XL GALE, Editor. EUGEHE CITY, SATT7SS1T, JTOE 28, 1862. THE HOMESTEAD LAW. In an other column we publish the Ilomestead bill which hat at last become a law. Ten yean ago the first bill passed the House, and it has been from that time argent! pressed upon the atttention of Congress, until, under the present rnagnanimons Congress and Administration, it has received that notice due so great an object Mr. Grow, Speaker of the House of Represent atives, remarks : The bill passed is a complete homestead act. The following is a synopsis of its provisions : All the lands owned by the Government are open to settlement under it in quantities not ex ceeding 160 acres to each person. Any person who is a citizen of the United States, or has declared intention to become such, who is 21 years old, or the head of a family, or has served in the military or naval service during this rebellion, can make the entry on payment of ten dollars, and the fees of the Register and Receiver of the Land Office. That is all the settler has to pay at any time. The act takes effect tbe 1st af January next, and requires a residence and cultivation of five years to perfect the title. Any person can enter, under this act, land on which he has a pre-emption claim. No measure has ever been enacted by our na tional law makers of more vital interest to tho honest and industrious poor than this. And at the same time it provides for the speedy settle ment and consequently enhanced value of all the vacant territory which offers a reward to the la borer. And the tax revenue arising from the settlement and cultivation and increase in value of these lands will in a very short time more than pay to the Government the usual entry price, while it will be furnishing homes to thous ands of industrious families who are not able to pay down a sum of $100 or 1200. This bill would have become a law years ago but for the determined opposition of the slave power which ruled Congress. Southern Sena tors saw in it a barrier to the extension of their bsloved institution into the Territories. It re quired no extraordinary intellect to comprehend the fact, that slavery would not flourish in a country cut up into quarter section tracts, and liable to be settled alike by tho New Englander, the Southerner or the hardy pioneer of the West. It was denounced by tho fire-caters as " offering a premium to Abolition squatters," and opposed by such witling tools of the Southern nabobs as tho imbecile old creature who so long disgraced Oregon in the Halls of Congress, (and whose very name we now propose to disown, since jus tice rules.) The provisions of the law are such that under its bounty our Territories will be sett'ed By a loyal and virtuous people. The new settlements being characterized by a healthy tone of morals in the outset, will in a very short time lead the van of civilization, and make the great West the emporium of true refinement, giving a new im petus to the onward inarch of American prog ress. CALIFORNIA STATE COXYE.TTIOX. The Union Administration State ' Convention, which met at Sacramento on the 17th and ad journed on the 18th inst., did things up in truly loyal style. They nominated for Superintendent of publio Instruction, John Swett, of San Fran eisco, a man of eminent qualifications, and a decen dant of a noble old Revolutionary soldier. In defining his position, he said : I am a Union man. I always have been. I should be recreant to my race if I were not, for my grandfather was a good Union man who shouldered his musket iu defense of the Consti tution and Government under George Washing ton ; his bones would rise up before me if every hber of my body were not Union. Mr. Swett is Principal of tbe Rincon Gram mar School, San Francisco, and has proved him self one of the most eminent Superintendents in that great city. A State Central Committee was elected, con sisting ot four from San Francisco Wm. Sber man, Alfred Barstow, Alex. G. Abell, James De la Montanya, and seventeen others, one from each Judicial District in the, State. The follow ing platform was adopted by unanimous accla mation : 1. Resolved, That we heartily indorse the pres ent National Administration, and hereby pledge ourselves to sustain it in all its efforts to preserve the Union. 2. Resolved. That we are in favor of a vigor ous prosecution of the war, without regard to cost or sacrifice, until the last armed rebel is dis armed and the supremacy of the National Gov ernment acknowledged in every State and Territory of the Union. 3. Resolved, That we have no sympathy with any party or person who advocates a peace on any terms while there is an enemy of the Union in open rebellion against the Government J and that such a peace would prove to be but a hollow truce, leading again to rebellion and war, und THE HOMESTEAD BILL. would be a lasting disgrace to us and to our country. 4. Resolved, That every citizen of the United states owes an allegiance to the National Gov ernment which is paramount to his allegiance to any btate, and that any other doctrine would be repugnant to the Constitution and to every pnu ciple upon which our Government is founded. 5. Resolved, That since the inauguration of the present .National Administration, all issues here tofore dividing the loyal people of the different political parties have been settled, and the only issue now before the country is Union or dis union. G. Resolved, That we call upon all loyal citizens of this State to unite with us in a Union party which shall place California where she of right belongs high in the rank of States, ready to sacrifice all to preserve the rich heritage of lib erty, bequeathed to us by our forefathers. M'Kenzie Wagon Road Letter from Hob. It. E. titration. McKekzib Road. By the kindness of II. M. Ellsworth we are permitted to publish a letter from Hon. R. E. Stratton, which suggests to us that we cannot move too early in the work of opening a road over the mountain on the most direct line to Powder river mines. This is a subject of vital importance to all living in this vicinity, and we hope that the citi zens will lay hold of the work with ready hands and willing hearts until it is accomplished. It is proposed to call a general meeting for the furthering of this object, to be held in the Court House in this place, the 5th of next month. Let all turn out who feel interested in the enterprise, which is one of no little importance. C. II Miller, formerly of Mossman & Miller's Express to Salmon, has now the editorial charge and is also assistant publisher of the Democratic Register. From his salutatory, we don't discov er any material difference in sentiment from that of O'Meara, who used the paper through the past campaign to very little purpose, as one would use a small switch, cutting and slashing at tho supporters of the Government over the shoulder of the H Abolltion'rata." ' Personally we have the best of feelings towards tbe editor, and hope that experience and a careful study of the public sentiment of this community will lead him to improve tbe tone cf the paper, which has not yet been known to give indications of joy at Federal victories or regret at rebel successes. Fourth or J clt. We have not heard of any arrangements being completed for a celebration of that memorable day in this immediate vicin ity. It is proposed, however, to fire the cannon 34 rounds anyhow, and let the folks know that we have not lost all our patriotism. Nelson Luckey is making preparations for a ball that evening, and we anticipate a good time. Wm. Moody will play the violin on the occasion. Let the girls and Salmon widders" all have a chance. No eastern news for the last twelve or fourteen days, the trouble being storms and high water oo tbe Plains. Measures are being adopted which will doubtless put ua in possession of news shortly. Dalles Citr, June 21, 1862. Uear sir : W hen I lelt Eugene there was a movement on foot to open a road through the Cascades to the valley of the Des Chutes. Since 1 arrived in Portland and this place I have seen and heard enough to make it certain the road cannot be opened too soon. Much of the immi gration is again turned in that direction. I have seen large amounts of gold from these mines and there is no longer room to doubt of their rich ncss. Several pack trains have left here in the last few days, loaded by men who have dug the gold, by which their purchases hud been made, in those places. From the character ot the metal there is every reason to believe that the prospeet for a large yield in that quarter is as good or better than in the direction of Salmon river. If so, our citizens cannot be too prompt in opening the route up the McKenzic. Of course, farmers and tradesmen must fully understand its impor tance to Eugene. The stories of failure and disgust of the northern mines I think is much ex aggerated. 1 have met but few who h ive not returned from the mines with substantial evi dence of their richness. There are many return ing, it is true, who have never seen the mining district ; their testimony, of course, is worth nothing. Tbe summer's yield will certainly be larger and demonstrate their wealth. All will not make money, aim who ever saw the mines where they did 1 I drop you a line in hopes that a word in season may serve to stimulate some to push the opening ol the M'Kenzie rood before the summer passes away. Very truly yours, R. E. Stratton. II. M. Ellsworth, Esq., ) Eugene City, Ogn. J Arkansas About to bolt. Governor Rector, of Arkansas, has issued an address to the people of that State, in which he bitterly complains of neglect by the lords of the Southern Confede racy," and intimates in the following language that Arkansas will hoe her own row soon, if she docs not receive better attention ; If the arteries of the Confederate heart do not permeate beyond the east bank of the Mississippi, let Southern Missourittns, Aakansinns, Texnns, and the Great West know it and prepare for the future. Arkansas lost, abandoned, subjugated, is not Arkansas as she entered the Con led e rate Government. Nor will she remain Arkansas a Confederate State, desolated as a wilderness ; her children fleeing from the wrath to come, will build them a new ark and launch it on new wat er, seeking a haven somewhere of equality, safety and rest, Most probably she will setk that haven in Abraham's bosom. For he still declares that, Whil lh temp hold out to bora Th Tilet Mnurr may rrtarn. m tm Thi Washington correspondent of the Sacra mento Union says that the passage of the Pacific Railroad bill in the Senate ia a certain thing, and would have been accomplished some lime ago hot that the Tax bill is ahead of it Tbe following is a correct copy of the Home stead Bill as passed by both Houses ot Congress, and signed by the President : An Act to Secure Homesteads to Actual Settlers on tbe Public Domain, and to Provide a Boun ty for Soldiers in lieu of Grants of the Pub lio Lands. Be it enacted by the Senate and House ot Representa ives ot the United States of Ameri ca, in Congress assembled : That any person who is the bead of a family, or who has arrived at the age of twenty-one years, and is a citizen of the United States, or who shall have filed bis declaration of intention to become such, as re quired by tho naturalization laws of the United States, and who has never borne arms against the United States Government, or given aid and comfort to its enemies, shall, from and after the 1st of January, 1803, bo entitled to one quarter section, or a Jess quantity, of unappropriated publio lands, upon which said person may have hied a pre-emption claim, or which may, at the tune tbe application is made, be subject to pre emption at tl 25, or less, per acre; or eighty acres or less of such unappropriated lands, at 12 50, per acre, to be located in a body, in con funnily to the legal subdivisions of the publio lands, and utter the same shall have been sur- veyed : provided, that any person owning and residing on land may, under tbe provision of this Act, enter other land lying contiguous to bis or her said land, which snail not, with tbe land so owned and occupied, exceed in the aggregate I0O acres. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the person applying for the benefit of this Act shall, upon application to the liegister of the Land Of fice in which she or he is about to make such en try, make affidavit before the said Register or Receiver that he or she is the head of a family, or is twenty-one or more years of age, or shall have perlormed service in the army of the Uni ted Slates, and that he has never borne arms against the Government ot the United Slates or given aid and comfort to its enemies, and that such application is made for his or her exclusive us- and benefit, and that said entry is made for the purpose of actual settlement and cultivation, and not either directly or indirectly for tbe use or benefit of and other person or persons whom soever : and upon filing the said affidavit with the Register or Receiver, and on payment cf $10 he or she shall thereupon be permitted to enter the quantity of land specified ; provided, howev er, that no certificate shall be given or patent issued therefor until the expiration of five years Irom the date ot such entry ; and if, at the expi ration of such time, or at any time within two years thereafter, the person making such entry, or if he be dead, his widow ; or in case of her death, his heirs or devisee ; or in case of a wid ow making such entry, her heirs or devisee in case of her death shall prove by two credible witnesses that be, she, or they .have resided upon or cultivated the same for the term of. five years immediately succeeding the time of filing tbe af fidavit aforesaid, and shall make affidavit that no part of said land has been alienated, and that he has borne true allegiance to the Government of the United States ; then, in such case, he, she or they, il at that time a citizen of the United States, shall be entitled to a patent, as in other cases provided for by law : And provided, fur ther, That in case of the death of both father and mother, leaving an infant child, or children un der twenty-one years of age, the right and fee shall enure to the benefit of said infant child or children; and the executor, administrator, or guardiun may, at any time within two years after the death of the surviving parent, and in accord ance with the laws of the State in which such children for the lime being have their domicil, sell said lands for the benefit of said infant, but for no other purpose ; and the purchaser shall acquire the absolute title by the purchase, and be entitled to a patent from the United States, on payment of the office fees and sum of money herein specified. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the Register of the Land Office shall note all such applications on the tract books and plats of bis office, and keep a register of all such entries, and make a return thereof to the General Land Office, together with the proof npon which they have been toundedv sec. 4. And be it farther enacted, ihat no lands acquired under the provisions of this Act shall in any event become liable to- the satisfac- tion of any debt or debts contracted prior to the issuing of the patent therefor. sec, 5. And be it further enacted, That if, at any time after the filing of the affidavit, as re qured in the section of this Act, and before the expiration of the five years aforesaid, it shall be proven, alter due notice to the settler, to the sat isfaction of the Register of the Land Office, that tbe person having hied such athdavit shall nave actually changed his or her residence, or aban doned the said land, shall have ceased to occupy said land more than six months at any time, then and in that event the land so entered shall revert to the Government. Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That no in dividual shall be permitted to acquire title to more than one quarter section under the provis ions of this Act ; and that the Commissioner of the General Land Office is hereby required to prepare and issue such rules and regulations, consistent with thi Act, as shall be necessary and nroner to carrv its provisions into effect : f I w and that the Registers and Receivers of the sev eral land othces shall be entitled to receive the same compensation fur any lands entered under the provisions of th:s Act that they are now en titled to receive when tbe same Quality of land is entered with money, one-half to be paid by the person making the application at tbe time of so doing, and the other bait on the issue ot the certificate by tbe person to whom it may be is- attained the age of twenty-one years. Sec., 7. And be it further enacted, That the fifth section of the Act entitled : " An Act in ad dition to Act more effectually to provide for tbe punishment of certain crimes against the United states, and for other purposes," approved the 3d of March, in the year 1857, shall extend to all oaths, affirmations and affidavits required or au thorized by this Act. Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That nothing in this Act shall be so construed a to prevent any person w ho has availed him or herself of the benefit of the first section of this Act from pay ing the minirauD price, or the price to which the same may have graduated, for the quantity of land so entered at any time before the expirntion of tbe five years, and obtaining a patent therefor from the Government, as in other cases provided by law, on making proof of settlement and cul tivation as provided by existing laws granting pre-emption rights. Coast Defense. The Washington correspon dent of the Sacramento Union, under date of May 18, writes : The Navy Department has issued specifica tions for the construction of iron clad, shot proof steam floating batteries, to be two hundred feet extreme length, forty -six feet extreme bre. dthof beam, and twelve and a half feet total depth, upon the general plan of the Monitor, ine iron of the turret is to be eleven inches thick instead of eight as on the Monitor, and to be in eleven thicknesses of one inch each. The turret is to be 21 feet in the clear. The engines and boilers are to be of sufficient capacity and power to pro pel the battery at least nine sea miles per hour lor twelve consecutive hours in fair weather, and the coal bunkers to carry coal for seven days steaming at that rate. 1 send you by this mail a copy ot the blank contract, and full specmca tions, by which you will perceive that the Gov ernment proposes to pay for the battery com plctely equipped for service and action, except tbe guns, tuel and ordnance stores, the sum ot $400,000. At the request of .Phelps and Sar gent, the Navy Department halve authorized the specifications to be trasmittedfto' California for bids by our iron men, m the hope that such ves sels as are needed for our coast may be construct ed there at such price as the Government may be willing to pay. It is obviously impossible, as these gentlemen stated at the Department, for a vessel carrying coal for but seven days to be transmitted around the Horn. The vessels will havo to be constructed here and pat up there, or constructed by our Caliiorni mechanics after the materials have been shipped out. No matter how good may be the sea going qualities of such a vessel, the coal question decides the practira bilrtv of its making the voyage. Undonbtedly the Government will increase the pay for the construction California, having reference to the cost of transmission. Our leading mechanics would do well to examine the specifications, and calculate what they can construct such vessels for, sending proposals to the Navy Department. Such vessels we must have for the Pacific, and we shall get the more readily if they can be built at reasonable rates on our own coast. VARIETY OP OPIJtlOJf. sued ; but this shall not be construed to en I; the maximum of compensation now prescribed by law Tor any liegister or IJeceiver. Provided, that nothing contained in this Act shall be so construed as to impair or interfere in any man ner whatever with existing pre-emption rights. And provided further, that all persons who may have tiled their application tor s pre-emption right prior to the passage ot this- Act, shall be entitled to all the privileges of this Act Pro vided further, that no person who has served, or may hereafter serve, for a period of not less than fourteen days in tbe army or navy of the United Suites, either regular or volunteer, tinder the laws thereof, during the existence of an actual war, domestic or foreign, shall The Bread an Batter Arrmngemeat. To the reading and thinking portion of the Union-loving citizens of this and neighboring counties, we propose to put a few practical ques tions. First, Do you desire the continuance of a jour nal in Eugene, which shall fearlessly and candid ly support the general Government, expose and criticise its enemies, and labor for the local and general interests of this country 1 Secondly, From the course which the Stats Republican has pursued are you satisfied that it fills the above requirements, and is conducted with that amount of ability which should com mend itself to the support of all who feel inter ested in the publication of such a paper 1 Thirdly, Are you willing now since the election has been won to the Union cause by the untiring energy, and unsparing liberality of the printer and publisher, to let them go unrewarded for their labor t we have confidence, lellow-citizens, that you do want such a paper, and we have had many assurances from among you, and from influential persons in diflerent parts of the State, that the Republican is such a paper in the understanding of an intelligent community, as the earnest, tho' new labor of the editor in this field, designs to make it. Yet while we freely acknowledge the kindness of many in furnishing the ready means almost unasked for at the time, and of many otb ers who have given us their promise, which is good, we must say that to our personal knowl edge there are many true Union men at heart, who are abundantly able, and whose situations are such that they cannot well afford to do with out the Republican, who from mistaken views of economy, have not yet subscribed. We are also satisfied that the people are too magnanim ous to nave any disposition to see the printer wronged, or to wish the editor to go without his supper, or the publisher to sink his funds in his benevolent efforts for their good ; yet it is dan gerous to us if the people forget Esop's fable of the meal tub. Dr. Franklin wisely said "little strokes fall great oaks," and all persons whose avocation is such that they must depend for re muneration of their labor on the little sums which come in from all quarters know the im portance of tbe littles. Therefore we hope that our friends will give the above well-meant ques tions a second reading and then pass them around. School, We would call attention to tbe fact that the term of the district school closes with this week. Miss Boise proposes to go on with a select school at reasonable rates. She has, so far as we learn, given entire satisfaction, and well merits continued employment ; besides it is And where is the advantage gained by the Government to compensate for this mighty loss of blood and treasure ? Is the South conquered t No, it never will be, never. What ! conqeur an American 1 You had as well try to conquer the waves of the broad Pacific as to conquer an American freeman. Register. The Atlanta Confederacy, of March 30th, re ports a conversation with a certain Dr. Banks of Savannah, who had just returned from Richmond, and who said : We are whipped on all sides everything looks dark and gloomy for us. McCulloch and Price are killed, Columbus and Manassas evacuated, and hell is to pay everywhere I It is not the negro question which is now mooted it Is to know whether the Puritan or Cavalier is to rule this continent. For fifteen years we have been preparing for it, and the Yankees cannot expect to destroy in a day what we have taken so long to prepare. Col. Forney writes from Washington to the Philadelphia Press : Not long ago two ladies called at Wheatland, the safe retreat of the man who assisted treason to arm itself iu the very sanctuaries of freedom, and while there they were thrown into conversa tion with th venerable ex-President. Of course the war was soon introduced. In the course of conversation the battle of Fort Donelson was alluded to, when ho said : " Ladies, you must not suppose that this victory will end the war ) there will be much severe fighting yet, and should our Northern soldiers attempt to go South as the warm season approaches, they will be swept off like rotten sheep ! Besides, ladies, you know that the Southern people have long anticipated this struggle, and have been prepared for it ; they can never be conqnred." Miss replied : " Yes, Mr. Buchanan, we know, and so does the country, that for the last four years, at least, the Southern people have been permitted to do as they pleased with the powers that controlled the Government, and have been allowed to have their own way in everything ; but notwithstand ing all that, it is our opinion that they will be conqured and made to return to the support of the old Constitution." Compromises were offered, but were rejected by the party greedy tor plunder without a hear ing. Register. This no doubt alludes to the Crittenden pre posals which was1 a move to amend the Constitu tion, which the' following Democratic oracle forbids : The first step towards a restoration of ther Union as it was, is to maintain the Constitution as it is. So long as it was maintained in fact, and not threatened with infraction in spirit and in letter, actual or imminent, the Uuion wa unbroken. Then, with the experience before us. we are still admonished that we were right when we op posed the war m the beginning and favored air honorable adjustment of the difficulties by com promise, and, by the grace of God, we will bat tie in this just and righteous cause, for freedom" of speech, freedom of press, for the good of our fellow-citizens und the good of our common1 country, alwavs claiming the riwh in atf-ul thiv vuinmisirauon or arty ot its ottneiiees, wbeneyei they may trespass upon the rishts of anv one of our American citizens, be the position of that citizen high or the most humble among us.-Reg'-ister. Summing op by Wm. G. Brownlow : If I owed a debt to be discharged to ther most revolting and God forsaken wretch that could be culled from the ranks of human society, and I wanted to pay that debt and get rid of it, I would make a tender to his Satanic Majesty of twelve Northern men sympathizing with secession, Tremendous applause. No Northern man otiglit to be tolerated in woiking Broadway who has any sympathy with secession. Cheers.J They should either be for or against the mill dam, and I would make them show their hands. Applause. Why, gentlemen, after the battl of Manassas, they passed through our town on furlough, officers and privotes, going down into Dixie, exulting, and brought with them divers what they called Yankee heads the entire beads of Union troops, some of them with long beards, and they would take them by the hair and shake them out of the window, and say, "A d d Yan kee head !" This is the spirit of secession the spirit of the vile untutored savages of hell and he who apologizes for them is no belter than he who is the perpetrator of the crime. Cheers. HEWS ITEMS. It is said that new and very rich diggings have been struck about fifty miles from Florence city. A great rush from Salmon thence took place recently. Tbe Times reports an Instance of hydrophobia in Portland. The Timet learns of Mr. Strong, the contrae. tor, that the telegraph line is finished from Port land some eight miles above Salem. The Yreka Journal says the line is in working order from Sacramento to Yreka. Good speed to the telegraph. The last trip of the Julia brought down the Columbia $250,000, per Wells Fargo & Co. more especially to the interest of the people to be deprived of. continue the school while they are sure of an ef- the benefit of this Act on account of not having ; fkient teacher. FROM THE NORTH. From th Mountain. Freights. The cars are now running over a portion of the Cascades Railroad, and arrange menu have been made by which some thirty tons of freight passes over daily. With the com menceraent of next week, it is expected that the Railroad will be in full working order, and then freight will be brought through from below as. fast as offered. News from Powder river is still favorable At the moment we go to press, a rumor reaches) us that a large aumber of miners have been massacred by the Klamath Lake Indian, The party, sixty strong, came from Jacksonville. hen near Klamath Lake ther were attacked by Indians, and all bat six of their number peic ished. Thi weather has been unusually chilly and) damp for some days past Considerable rain has fallen, but the sun i again shining out clearly.