Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-08
A CARD.
A CARD.
To the E:diior Of the abingdon Democrd

To the Editor Of the Atingdon Dsmoerat
WAsntsaros Cry, FEE. 3, 1851.
IJayiny short time since, observed In the Richmond
Examiner critical notice Of my upon tho inoduc.
lion OF Bill in the T1ouse of Representatives proposing
loan n five hundred thousand acres OF land TO Inc virginia
and Tennessee Railruad and recently grave charge
Of inconsistency which has been preferred against mo ny
the Editor of tho Abingdon prg nan, touching this suose
have therefore ask tho favor OF you 10 publish tho BILL
40 that the public may be enabled decide whether nm
Justly obnoxious the criticisms and charges mus pro-
nouuced against me.
10 examine the character Bill and the reasons which
influenced me presenting it, he will withdraw his prema-
ture objections and approve my course.
aIy friend Mr.. Coae o! the frglnan was not content
with charging with Inconsistency but chaTacerzes
The act as an eIectoneeng project The point OF neon.
sis,ency consists in the estimation OF the 'rgnan IN
nayng voted when member OF tho Legislature, against
receiving Virgnias share OF tho prncceds Oh me puo
lands and having asked Of me ueneral m n
the proceeds Of portion oil the puoiic iah"S' 'o ~ ~
of our Southwestern Road.
will be ccoectod the lime Of the passage OF the law
t,s,d tho nert day thereafter law was also passed a
,hor;,in onn of twelve millions Of dollars. then con-
tended as now do, that Congress had no power nndcr Inc
Constitution collect money from the people ana distribute
il among the States; and II was certainly oad pocy 10 He
surh disIrbuon extraordinary loan had to De re-
r,ed 70 within twenty four hours thereafter Both from
principle and policy therefore opposed X. ,ho vtr,;,
md Raond Company required TO reimburse
10 The government in the transmission OF the mails ana ON
rre. pun the whole limo of their road the amount eullzed
nv the sale of the said land Hence it is not gratuy
n.rcrIyed when came TO Congress, that system Oh
log -rDine pracsed by the members OF The western
S,ea and others BY which hr old States were 10 De de-
rved of the benefit Of the sales oil the public ande "ncn
lands belong on the States as States ard determined 10
yise plan by which the old States and more particularly
Vironia should in for PORTION OF said land There
fore | introduced my proposition.
nm free TO confess however that my mind is not alto
erher eared the consttuonalty OF this Bill! even
but occurred to me that those members OF Congress VINO
had constitutional scupes, would be bound as consistent
legislators support my proposton me provisions OF "cl
were SO sonabe and Just must also De borne IN nina
rha, th. great improvement which directly proposes TO con-
meet the States Of Virginia and Tennessee WIN Kewise
he link Of union between the South and the North and
when completed must greatly enhance Inc Vaie ' ue Pu
lie lands in the West and Southwestern States
As To the charge that this bill brought forward iof
"rleconeering purposes" hope If know myself wnna
be incapable of resorting to this or any other
would be incompatible with the dignity OF legislator OF e
honor of gentleman: and therefore trust ha lhe "a
{no doubt uninten,ona Thus done me by the Ea'o VI
the Yirpnian will cunstrain him make me fh repara-
tlon. ,,.L
will thank the Editors hroughoni The D,tft 70 pSS!'sn
this card with the bill. FAY r VIC"
AN ACT 80
Making grant of lands certain condions 10 Inc ~
gnla and Tennessee Railroad Company 10 ala IN 'e con-
sirucion Of that road. ,..;
of the United States of America in Congress asseoen
That in view Of the great importance OF lne haoa
oosed TO be constructed by the said Company, as m "
transport and communication the Allegheny range OF
Mountains between the Eastern and Atlantic sope w 'o
great Mississippi valley and It's tendency erea'f "
the value of he public domain owned oV 'ie
States in and 10 the westward Of that valley INC Ifesuen
of the United States be and he hereby aa
reced so soon after the passage Of this law as may oe
cabe be issued from the , s,S o.
erio In the usual form and delivered 70 tne sa S
and Tennessee Railroad Company, as clarstru pY M
Of Virginia land warrants five hundred thousand acres
Of lands owned by United States, in qanses not ca
ceeina in each separate warrant, SIX hunofea a'u M
acres 10 be entered by the said Company or us essgns,
and TO be available in their hands without o,e' d
or expense than the usual fees 10 ,e sd States
for entry of any public lands, owned oy !he ou me- 80
Which may be subject entry the minimum plce o. one
dollar and twenty-five cents per acre upon Inc a
ers,andng and condition that the said warrants OF Tue
entered bv means OF them be sod soon 1s conveniently
may be with due regard their profitable disposition and
the proceeds thereof after deducting necessary
lions similar 10 those imposed by the charter Of said COM
pany in relation TO employment oils capital IN The CON
and comneon by said company of that portion of said roac
which is to extend from the Eastern base of the Blue Ridge
over md 10 the Western base OF the Allegheny range
mountains. Provided however, that such portion OF the