New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-02-23
WASHINGTON.
Gen. Lanes mileage In the senate-Mr. H.
derived and MIR. Sumnsr-Sauanderins "a.
Public Demain, &c.

Gen. Lanes mileage In she senase-nar. u
derwesd and MIR. Sumner-Squ anderins "a.
Public Dsmnin, &c.
Correspondence OF The N Y Tribune.
wAsHIseros, Thursday, Feb. 10. lisa
A smart attempt was made to-day in ths
Senate, by MI BRreHr. to race through the bin ,,.
ing the Delegate from Oregon his 1900 nilea,.
and as he declared the subject needed no coasas,,
tion whstevsr-that it had mol even two sides IA H.,
he desired and expected tina, the bill would be passes
forthwith. But its passage was arrested ana,
short discussion, on the request OF Mr. MAsorx thar
he wanted little time to consider and undsrss.ad
the question, which was at last reluctantly sivsn
1t is astonishing to see with what eagernsss thIr
grab is made upon the Treasury. One would alnoss
infer that there WAS to DO prof. division OF The
plumber that Gen. Lanes name and case is used To-
obtain.
The Public Land question has been under di,eur-
sion in both branches. In the Senate, Mr. USpx.
WOOD completed his smashing assault upon M,
SUMMERS arguments. 1t was eninently close tAo.
rough and effective, and excited great intern
among those who listened to its delivery. Asa q,
gument addressed to the overthrow of adversav,.
positions, it was reckoned overwhelmingly conclu-
tive. We shall see with what power Mr.. suxxss
can come back. 1t is impossible for him to torsifv
his original argument AZ to give it the Isas.
stren 9Th with any man possessing a thimblefull Of
brains for 1t is utterly unsound from top to bottom
but he may gather up the pieces into which il Aas
bsen scattered by Mr.. UNDERWOOD, and cobbe ups
respectable looking fallacy out Of the remains. n
were nothing to readust a sound argument damaged
by an adversary, but it will require great skill - ~
store the good appearance OF one utterly sssk
and fIai after having been stove to pieces % D.
tiently and thoroughly as SIR. UNDERWOOD has ac-
eomplishcd his task.
This question OF grants Of the public lands q IN
crossing and is likely to engross much OF the time
of the Session. 1t is in fact the great leading topic
of interest There 10 project after project forcing
its way upon the attention Of Congress. There ere
some twelve or fifteen bills already before the two
branches in aid of railroads in the West providing
for the giving away of immense tracts TO the Como
rations which are suitors for this GovsrRmsas
bounty. 1t seems impossible but that vast fortunes
must be made by many stockholders Of these pro-
jectsd works. We have reason to believe that
heavy capitalists Of our Atlantic cities are deeply
interested in procuring these grants for the puposs
OF sugmenting their already overgrown fortunes.
These grants for alternate sections Of the public
lands lying along the line Of the projected roads,
taken in connection with the making of the Bounty
Land Warrants assignable, will enable the specula.
tors and capitalists connected WITH these eaterpsnss
to seize upon the most points future
towns and villages, and by covering Uaeis Save o.
ternate sections with the Warrants, and holding hsir
own under grant, to make just as great fortunes 20
they please. This being plain that these nov ishnt
corporations laying the foundations for being The
most gigantic and overshadowing monopolies the
country has ever seen. And yet our snti-monopo-
lists OF Massachusetts, like ROBERT RAsroUL, for
example, preaching their detestable hereses
and humbuss of British Free Trade, and gullins
the people with their pretended honor and monopo-
les, are the most ardent champions Of all these
schemes, schemes tending, ii may be, to tho public
advantage, but tending undeniaby to the creation Of
a host of these very Corporations and MOuopolss,
far more powerful and threatening to the future To-
terests of untold millions Of people that will here
after occupy the great valley, than any against
which they have launched their anathemas at home,
or indeed any which 1t has ever entered into .Aer
Imagination to depic But If we TO eIimissls
from the elements which go to compose &st-Ssie
specimen of a modern Democratic Liberty man and
patriot these three things, namely, demagogueim,
humbug and the influences Of the almighty dollar
what should we have left Not enough to bait Q
shark hook. y.sR