It is my understanding that the Homestead Act was established in 1861. This was passed when the U.S. was already a Corporation. Hence this act is Corporate Public Policy and does not necessarily fall under common law. This is why people were required to SUBMIT an APPLICATION in order to participate in this program. Afterwards, the participants were required to file their land site (meats and bounds) with the Corporation in order to receive a title for their(?) property. However, the filing of lands with the corporation subjected these supposed "owners" to be subject to land tax. Essentially, the corporate government is the ultimate owner and those that think they are the "owner of property" are really "tenants", as this is what is on each of the titles that were sent to them.