How we cite our quotes: (Section)
Quote #4
And be it further enacted, That if[…]before the expiration of the five years aforesaid, it shall be proven[…]that the person having filed such affidavit shall have actually changed his or her residence, or abandoned the said land for more than six months at any time, then and in that event the land so entered shall revert to the government. (Section 5)
Even with Manifest Destiny and the rise of the hardy and adventurous American spirit, Congress had to get real and acknowledge that not everybody was going to be able to cope with the trials of homesteading. Being the government, of course, this just meant a redo on the filing fees.
Hey, at least they didn’t penalize the losing team.
Having this section pretty far down in the document kind of suggests Congress had more faith in the American people than you’d expect. Of course, not even half the claims actually made it to handing over the deed, but considering the nearly four million claims made, that’s a lot of people who tried their hand at homesteading.
Quote #5
And be it further enacted, That nothing in this act shall be construed as to prevent any person who has availed him or herself of the benefits of the first section of this act, from paying the minimum price, or the price to which the same may have graduated, for the quantity of land so entered at any time before the expiration of the five years, and obtaining a patent therefor from the government, as in other cases provided by law, on making proof of settlement and cultivation as provided by existing laws granting preemption rights. (Section 8)
Okay, so Congress did put in a loophole for folks who just couldn’t hack it. Provided, of course, that they could scrape up the dough. But they still had to show proof that they had worked the land, so the shortcut actually ended up costing more unless they had a buyer waiting in the wings for the deed. So there may have been an escape hatch written into the law, but the majority of homesteaders went in with grit and a desire to make good on their claim.
Yay for the American spirit.