In an article on what seems to be a campaign website for the Green Party
candidate for U.S.Senate from NYS in the 2000 campaign – named Mark Dunau --
at http://www.ruralparty.com/antirent.htm

the following statement is made.


"The first Homestead Act was sponsored by a Congressman from the Catskills.
The opening of western public lands to farmers, and not land speculators,
was a direct result of the Anti-Rent War and the national political
attention it received."

Can someone please tell me to whom he may have been referring? (that sponsor
of the Homestead Act)