Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-02-01
CONGRESS.
FRIDAY, JANUARY "a, 1851.
in SENATE.

FRIDAY, JANUARY "a, 1851.
IN SENATE.
GRANTS OF LANDS FOR RAILROADS. I
On the motion of Mr.. SHIELDS the Senate proceeded ,
consider nsCommee Of the Whole the bill granting n
right OF way and making grant of land to the States
Louisiana and Mississippi in aid of the construction of rail
road from Madsonvle in the State Of Louisiana TO Jack
son. in the State of Mississippi
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. wish to offer an amendment /
that BILL During the last session of Congress great man
bills passed granting lands 10 Illinois, Indiana, and,
believe to Ohio for the purpose of aiding In the construction
of railroads. Now, there is railroad project for which
bill is before Congress- TO connect Louisville with ST. Louis
It goes through Indiana and Illinois the whole distance bu
is road which would be highly beneficial to Of th.
adjoining saveboldng Satesto State that has public
lands That BILL although has hitherto been before Con
gress, for other acted upon.
do perceive why should have received the same
favorable attention Of the Senate that the bills for the con-
sruc,ion OF roads lying north of the Ohio river and further
the Interior received. Now, of all the roads which could
which would be more beneficial to the people that represents
than the road from Louisville, through Indiana and Illinois,
st. Louis Upon that road, chartered by the State of Hill
nos there has already been expended three hun
ded thousand dollars in that State As am informed there
has teen expenditure in Indiana Of Mount Carmel
cannot, however, positively state this as q fact.
The amendment which propose to this bill is simply
make the grant the States of Indiana and Illinois 10
aid IN the construction OF this road from Louisville St
Louis that has heretofore been made for the construction OF
other roads through the interior Of Indiana, Inos, and
Ohio. base this application upon the ground that this
road would be essentially beneficial the State Of Kentucky
and the State of Missouri If this road shall be constructed
will enable merchants and travellers TO spend something
like twenty -four hours in Louisville and st. Louis than
they Then they go this road if they wish
the intersection of the Chicago and Cairo railroad and on
that road to the mouth Of the Ohio and there join the boats
descending the Mississippi river This would be an ncalcu
liable advantage
the West No road which can be constructed will SO eec.
lively promote this object the Of the people residing
west OF the Allegheny mountains the which propose
will not the time Of the Senate by commenting
the advantages which would result from the construction
of this direct line of communication from Louisville to ST.
Louis ntersecng it would the great road from Chicago
to Cairo. Every who will look the geography Of the
country, every who will look at the map the country
must see the immense advantages that result from the
completion of such road look upon il as the most ad-
vanageous road that possibly constructed out of the
public means It is infinitely useful to The great
of the American people than many roads for which grants
have already been made.
have taken the bill which offered the last session
and modified it somewhat and offer it amendment to
this bill, as follows
Sec That there be granted to the States
Indiana and Illinois, in the aid Of the construction Of railroad
from Louisville in the State of Kentucky by New Albany
diana and Mount Carmel the Wabash Alton. with
branch to point the Mississippi river opposite ST. Louis
Missouri alternate section Of land designated by
numbers for width on each side of said roads
and any portion OF said lands may been sold by
the United States right Of preempton may have attach
ed thereto previous the time of selecton the States
aforesaid select from the lands Of the United States
contiguous the tier of sections aforesaid much land
alternate sections aforesaid will make the whole grant
equal in quantity to half of sections width on each
side of said road Provded That the alternate sections
hereby granted to said Sae and their proceeds shall be a
whatsoever
Sec s. 4nd6e further enacted, That the sections and
parts Of sections of land which, by such grant, shall
the IInsfad Qfotos L.
shall not be sold for less than double the minimum price
the public lands when sold.
BY granted to the said State shall be subject the disposal
Of the Legislature thereof for the aforesaid and no
other and the said railroad shall be and public
highway the of the Government the United States
free from toll other charge upon the transportation any
property or troops Of the United States
Sec TO- find be further enacted That if the said railroad
be bound pay United States the amount which may
be received upon the sale OF any part Of said lands said
said sale remaining vad and tie title to The residue Of said
lands shall reinye the United States have and hold the
same in the If this act hadnot been passed
pectve be and hereby authorized to survey and mark
through the public lands OF he United States the route Of
said railroads lying within its territory, and that
et OF said lands each side Of the middle Of the
track OF said roads, be reserved from sale the part of the
United States and the thereof forever in the State
aforesaid and none other.
sec la And be further enacted That the United States
mall shall at all times be transported said railroads under
the direction OF the Post Office Department. reasonable
price and in of disagreement between the State and
the fo Oce Department the matter in difference shall be
eerred to the United States district Judge for the district of
Illinois. s7.' 80 -
Mr. DAVIS, of Mississippi Ihope my friend from Ken
tueky will bring in bill which will embrace his object in
stead of ncumberng the proposition which now before the
Senate with an amendment giving rise debate and perhaps
destroying the BILL which had hoped would pass without
diGusson he proposition of the Senator from Kentucky
is much broader than the original to which is attached
the bill ITSELF hope his amendment may be allowed to stand
upon Its own merits and be the subject Of separate bill SO
that we may 60 with the before without any in
cumbrance.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. deprecate discussion as much az
any Senator and am willing that the Senate should vote on
At once my object is shown be reasonable one
by the few remarks have made with design to commend
il and my proposition shall be rejected will take the course
recommended BY the Senator from Mississippi begged the
Senate to consider it now because wish to support both
objects If however, my proposition should fail believe It
will be hopeless case for Kentucky for by the time we can
reach it again there will be public lands be granted
this proposition should be acted upon or not and did NOT
wish to debate the bill now before us but as believe that
the proposed by the Senator from Kentucky would
necessarily lead to debate asked him to withdraw it. IF
be presses it to vote now, shall against il as it now
stands because do not sufficiently understand it. prefer
not to do so.
Mr.. DAWSON. do not design to discuss this question,
but shah vote In favor Of the amendment have before
said that the old thirteen States stood but very little chance
Of getting any portion Of the public lands Now as Ken
lucky is OF the very Oldest Of the new States If we can
her associated with the company Of the younger States Of
the Union will be getting step nearer to the rights Of
the old States and the very next will be 10 oe in