Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-03-11
sPEECH
HON. JOHN G. MILLER, OF MIS-
SOURI,,

HON. JOHN G. MILLER, OF MIS-
SOURI,, ,r
In the House of.Representatives, February l9,
1862, on the Bill granting TO the State of Mis-
souri, the right of way and portion Of the
Public Domain to aid in the construction Of
certain Railroads therein.
The House having taken up FOR consideration
the bill, the Speaker aid the gentleman from
Missouri Mr.. Miller] was entitled to the
floor.
Mr.. MILLER said:1 sE 2&T
Mr.. Speaker, before the vote is taken upon
the motion which has been made by the honor
able gentleman from Tennessee, Mr.. Jones'
to refer the bill, which reported by the
chairman Of the committee on Public Lands,
IMr. Hall, my colleague, together with the l.
mendments which have been offered to that bill,
desire to submit few remarks to the House.
| am fully aware that the subject of the dispo-
sition Of the public lands has been ably dis
cussed by some Of our wisest statesmen; and
they have shed upon il the bright light Of their
own brilliant intellects. They have so clearly
pointed out the true policy OF this Government
with regard to granting lands to the States for
internal improvements through cur public do
main, that but little is left for me to say. But,
J sly, xhls Shis sah;caS ssy {s wsEtiRg in novel;
| ty TO attract and secure the attention of this
| House, we have attained far more in the entire
and complete success of no longer doubtful ex-
pertinent. The wisdom Of the policy has been
pointed out and fully established by the grants
Of public lands heretofore made for works Of
this character. Since the first acquisition Of
territory by this Government, down to the pres
ent day, the question Of the disposition of the
public lands has elected much debate in the halls
Of Congress--debate in which the strongest in
, tellects have met in fierce confiict-debate in
which many polished shaft has been shivered,
but by which brighter page has been added to
; the political history Of our country. Such, sir,
was the debate-without referring to others
in the other end of this Capitol in the year $780,
{ upon the celebrated resolutions Of Mr.. Foot.
But while this subject has been thus discussed,
, while men and statesmen have differed upon the
/ best disposition which should be made Of these
lands, believe there has been very general
concurrence of sentiment among men Of all par
ties, and from every section of the nation, in re-
gard to this policy of apprOpriating or granting
: the public lands for works of internal improve
ment, in opening roads and cutting canals through
, the public domain.
here beg leave, before passing to the merits
of this bill, to state, that though my own State,
mencemen: of these great works Of internal i'm
provement, she has never surrounded herself
with endorsements and difficulties by enga-
: ging in wild schemes Of internal improvement.
} And she does not now come to ask as a charity
2 your aid in the construction of work Of local
interest; but she comes TO you with a cons cious-
ness Of the justice OF her claim for great ma
0 tional work, in which every section Of the ma
5 ton is interested. She comes TO you and asks
3 that that justice which you have melted out TO
y others, may be awarded to her.
8 Mr.. Speaker this bill, which presume has
o been laid upon the table Of every member of the
House, proposes grant of lands to two roads
y within the limits of the State of Missouri One
Of these roads commences at the city of Hanni-
/ bal, upon the Mississippi river, about one hun
9 dred and thirty miles above the great city of ST.
= Louis, and near to the city Of Quincy, in the
q State G. illinois. From that point the road has
6 been surveyed to the city of st. Joseph, upon
A the Missouri river, about five hundred, or five
. hundred and fifty miles above st. Louis 1t will
= be seen from this statement that this road is
Il intended to connect the upper waters of the
3 Missouri river with the better navigable stream
! Of the upper Mississippi. This road by actual
. survey upon a straight line is one hundred and
n seventy-eight miles in length, but it may be
4 found upon the location Of the road, to be about
Q two hundred miles in length. It will be found,
y further, if gentlemen will take the trouble to
refer to the map of the United States, that this
8 road is upon the parallel of latitude which en-
braces the capitals of some Of the States east Of
Missouri. 1t is hear the latitude of Spring.
field, indianapolis, Columbus, and of Philadel-
phia; and by the continuation Of the road from
the city of Quincy, which I understand is alrea-
dy in process of construction, this road will
connect with the road at Columbus, in the State
$ OF Ohio, thence connecting with the road to
Pittsburgh, thence with the road to Cleveland,
n and thence on to the great city of New York.
= The other road commences at the city Of 81.
o Louis, point one hundred and thirty niles
south from the beginning point Of the Hsnnital
. rOed. 1t will be found by gentlemen who will
= refer to the map of the country, that the bsgin-
ming point of this road 10 in the saAe latitude Of
% of other great and important cities ami towns
5 and in the latitude Of other roads which have
. been completed, or which are in progress Of