The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-07-03
u. S. SENATE, June 10, 1856,

file less, Us to the number of acres than that mad
for Illinois. We were inclined to believe tina
the two united would be as apt to pass us ethe
separately, and not require but half the time ant
discussion thot two distinct bills would. w,
were informed, too, that the Committee on Pub
lie Lands of the House were, and perhaps nov
are, intending to connect another branch to the
bill from Terre- Haute, Indiana. Ifear that sucl
a connexion would somewhat endanger the pass
age of the bill, it would greatly increase the
quantity of land to be donated.
feel sanguine that our bill will become law
if the time-consuming and agitat,ng question Of
the Compromise Bill does not prevent-fo,
which bill my colleague, in an able and efficient
manner, and | in an humble one, earnestly gave
our support-we hope and doubt not, with the
general appreciation of our constituents.
Your obi serv't with respect,
DR.. Holt, Editor Express.
Here follows the bill referred to- We have in
another column noticed this subject, and Civ
en- the debate on the second reading of the bill.
Senate Bill-No. 20,
Granting the right of way, and making a
grant of land to the State of Iowa, in aid of the
construction of certain Railroads in said State.
Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House of Rep
resentatircs Of the United States Of america in
Congress assembled, That the right of way
through the public lands be, and the same is
hereby granted to the State of Iowa for the con-
struction of railroads from the city Of Dubuque
to keokuk, and from Davenport on the Missis-
sippi river in said State as may be designated
by the authority of said State, and to such point
as said authority shall select on the Missouri
river, which authority shall also fix and deter
mine the route of each of said railroads, and
shall have the right also, to take necessary ma
terials of earth, stones, timber, etc. for the con-
struction thereof from the public lands of the
United States adjacent to said railroads. Proof
dcd, That the right of way shall not exceed one
hundred feet on eac.. ode of the length thereof,
and copy of the survey of said roads made uni
der the direction of the Legislature, shall be for
warded to the proper local land offices respec-
lively, and to the General Land Office at Wash
ngton City, within ninety days after the com
pletion of the same
Sec. =. ind DC 1t further enacted, That there
be, and is hereby granted to the State of Iowa
tor the purpose of aiding in making the railroads
aforesaid, every alternate section Of land desig-
mated by even numbers, for six sections in width
on each side of said roads; but in case it shall
appear that the United States have, when the
lines or routes of said roads are definitely fixed
by the authority of the State aforesaid.
sold any part of any section hereby granted, or
that the right of pre-emption has attached to the
same, then it shall be lawful for any agent or A.
gents to be appointed by the Governor of said
state, to select, subject to the approval afore-
said, from the lands of the United States most
contiguous to the tier Of sections above specif-
ed, so much land in alternate sections or parts
of sections, as shall be equal to such lands as
the United States have sold, or to which the
right of presumption has attached as aforesaid
which lands being equal in quantity to one half
of six sections in width on each side of said
roads, the State Of Iowa shall have and hold to
and tor the use and purpose aforesaid: Pro-
rtdcd, That the lands to be so located, shall in
no case DO further than fifteen miles from the
line Of the road in each case: .4nd provided fur
tier, That the construction of said railroads
shall be commenced at each terminus of each of
said railroads on the Mississippi river simultane-
ously, and continued from each of said points
until completed, according to the survey and
location thereof: Proridcd, further, That the
lands hereby granted shall be applied in the con-
'truction of said roads respectively, in quaint
les corresponding with the grant for each, and
shall be disposed of only as the work progress
IS in each case, and shall be applied to no 9TH
r purpose whatsoever: find proridcd further,
That any and all lands heretofore reserved to the
United States by any act of Congress for the
purpose of aiding in any object of internal i'm
or for any other purpose whatsoever,
'e, and the same are hereby reserved to the U.
lited States from the operations of this act, ex-
;ep: SO far as may be found necessary to locate
he routes OF the said railroads through such
:eserved lands.
Sec. 3. find be it further enacted, That the
sections and parts of sections of land which, by
such grant, shall remain to the United States,
within six miles on each side of each OF said
roads, shall not be sold for less than double the
minimum price of public lands when Sold
Sec. 4. find be 1t further enacted, That the
said lands hereby granted to the said State sha..
De subject to the disposal of the Legislature
hereof, for the purposes aforesaid and no other;
md the said railroads shall be and remain pub
ic highway, for the use Of the Government of
he United States, free from toll or other charge,
lpon the transportation of any property OF troops
If the United States.
Sec. 3. Ind be 1t further enacted, That ifthe
'aid railroads shall not be completed within ten
1ears, the said State of Iowa shall be bound to
Jay to the United States the amount which NAV
&c received upon the sale of any part of said
ands by said State, the title to the purchasers
lnder said State remaining valid; and the title
% the residue of said lands shall reinvest in the
United States, to have and hold the same in the
same manner as ifthis act had not been passed
Sec. 6. find be 1t further enacted, That the
Uuited States mail shall at all times be transpor
ed on said railroads, under the direction of the
Post Office Department, at such price as the
Congress NAV by law diract
!Ye The people of N. Hampshire have deci-
led to revise their constitution. The present
constitution of that State has many odious fea-
ures which were fastened upon it by the bigo-
Try and prejudice of religious intolerance.
New Hampshire is one of the few States in
which perfect religious liberty is not tolerated,
and in which Christians of all denominations are
not guaranteed equal political rights. 1t is re-
move these excresenccs that the people have de-
cided on calling convention. .-.
GEN. LOPEZ has been arrested at New Or
leans for violating the treaty laws Of the United
States, and held to bail in the sum of two thou
sand dollars. .s..-.st 49,. .... ..
WISCONSIN FARMER.-We have been fur