The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-28

$50 miles.
9Th. Road from Saginaw, on the east side Of
Michigan, northerly along Lake Huron 10 the
Sault Ste. Marie, at the mouth Of Lake Superior,
thence along the south shore Of that lake to near
its western extremity at Montreal river-only
about 500 miles.
9th. Road from Helena on the Mississippiriyer
midway of the State Of Arkansas, to Fort Smith,
on the west line Of that State, crossing the State
from east TO west-2f5 miles
10th. Road from the M ssssipRi river, opposite
Memphis, Tennessee, in southwesierly direction
across the State of Arkansas, TO the Texas line
about $50 miles.
llih. Road from Selma, in the southerly half
of Alabama, north through that State to the Ten
nessee rlver--about lis miles.
18th. Road from Girard, on the line between
the States of Alabama and Georgia, southwesterly
across to the southwest corner Of Mobile-250
miles
18th. Road from Milwaukee, on Lake Michi-
gan, on the east side of Wisconsin, westward
across the State 10 the Mississippi river, on "the
most eligible roule"--200 miles.
l4th. Road from the north line of Illinois, north
through Wisconsin to Lake Superior, varying
according TO route-from $50 10 400 miles.
18th. Road from Manlorie, (the land of spirits,)
on Lake Michigan in Wisconsin, westwardly.
across the State to the mississippi rver--250
miles rs tau
18th. Road from Milwaukee, on the east line of
on the west line of the State, on the Mississippi
river-250 mites.
l7h. Road from Fond du Lac, on Winnebago
Lake, in Wisconsin, ssutherly TO Janesville Zoo
miles
18Th Road from Green Bay, in Wisconsin,
north wesiwardly to Lake Superior--250 miles.
18th. Road from Shawneetown, Illinois, on tho
Ohio river, westwardy to the Mississippi river
$50 miles.
Goth. Road from Warsaw, Illinois, on the Mis-
sisspp river, ENTHUSIASTICALLY to Peoria--l50
miles. gaa. l .aat r,
2lst Road from Warsaw to Rockford, near the
line of Illinois---225 miles.
22d. Road from Oakland, near Detroit, north
westerly the State Of Michigan, to the
mouth of Grand riyer--about 200 miles.
23d. Road from Lafayette, Indiana, westerly
across the States of Illinois and Iowa Missouri,
TO the Missouri river--about 600 miles.
Oath. Road from Springfield, Illinois, south
westerly TO Alton--l50 miles.
25th. Road from Pensacola, Florida, northeriy
to Montgomery, in Alabama--l $50 miles.
Goth. Road from Brandon, Mississippi, eas,ery
to the line Of the State 100 miles.
9th. Road from the Falls OF the st. Louis
river, at the western end Of Lake Superior in the
Territory of Minnesota. southerly to the Falls Of
St Anthony, on the Mississippi river-200 miles.
2oth. Road from New Albany, Indiana, oppo-
site Louisville, Kentucky, westerly throsgh Ind-
ana and Illinois, to Alton, opposite St. Louis
325 miles. .1s. gsA
29th. Road from New Orleans to Jackson, Mis-
sissippi--200 miles.
30th. Road from Toledo, on Lake Erie, in the
State of Ohio, southwesterly to Springfield, Illi-
nois--400 miles.
3lst Road from St. Charles, Missouri, near st.
Louis, northwesterly to the river Des MONIES, in
lowa-about 200 miles.
Various other petitions have been presented for
other roads, both in the old and new States, plank
roads, improvement OF rivers--all asking dona-
tons of land
Bills, on most Of the above-named petitions,
have been presented to the House, and many of
them have passed the Senate. The arguments in
favor of either of the nbove-named projects would
apply to all. They are urged upon the ground,
mostly, Of the alternate sections being doubled in
price to the purchaser from the Government price.
The applications will measure more than 5000
miles, requiring donations of more than 40,Os0000
of acres
We have announced upon this floor the decar-
alton of gentlemen to vote against all measures,
whether public or local, affecting the old States,
until what is termed by them justice shall be done
to Western interests. We hear the same doc
trins promulgated by grave Senators, standing in
their places in the Senate chamber. We hear also
the warning voice of Representatives from the
West that the new States will soon wrest these
lands from the Government.
will quote from the speech of Mr.. FIcKLrs, of
Illinois, on the Missouri railroad bill, who said
"There is a settled conviction ia the new States
that they have not been treated fairly in regard to
the public lands, and it need not surprise any one
that as soon as they shall acquire that numerical
strength which viii enable them 10 redress their
wrongs, they will do SO, by declaring their iuris-
dction over and title to, the public lands within
their limits, and maintaining their declaration.n
Sir, admire the frankness Of this declaration
coming, as 1t does, from the Representative OF a
State that had sliced out Of the publ domain at the
last session of Congress 2, 700,000 acres of land
for single railroad and having had donated to the
State prior to that 1854, $50 acres; making
amount of 1854 l67 acres of domain, which, prior
to its severance and transmission Of title, belonged
to the people Of all the States.
admire the boIdness Of the declaration. | have
no doubt the gentleman speaks the sentiments Of
the people.
What are the wrongs this State, which the gen
tleman in part represents, have had perpetrated
upon it by the General Government ! can point
the gentleman to a wrong which he does not per-
haps reflect upon. IL was wrong for this q ,vern-
ment to sever and transmit the title to 2, 100 900
acres Of public domain, and permit the State of
Illinois to vest the title Of il in the Illinois Central
Railroad Company, giving the company power to
hold 1t for an indefinite period without taxation;
giving to a corporation the monopoly Of the soil
OF our country in such immense bodies-a power
dangerous in It's tendencies, and which may be
used TO oversbsdow the rights OF the people. This,
SIR, ~ one OF the beauties OF system OF special
Legislation by Congress for railroads.. In this |
am not mistaken. hold in my hand The act Of
incorporation Of this company by the State of ILL
nois, conveying to this company all the lands do
mated by Congress. A portion Of the twenty.
second section OF That act of incorporation reads
follows:
"The lands selected under said act Of Congress,
and hereby authorized 10 be conveyed, shall be
exempt from all taxation under the inos If This
State, until sold Conveyed BY said corporation
trustees and the Stock property, and tGsets Of said
company shall be in hike manner exempt from
taxation for the term Of six years from the passage
Of this act"
The time and manner Of dsposing Of this i'm
meuso tract Of land may be seen from the follow
ing extracts from the proceedings Of the directors
Financial plan Of the company, submitted 10 the d.
rsetor,, aprh %, 1851, and BY them adopted.
alt would be inJudieio,s at present to submit an
estimate Of the probable coat Of the whole road
and branches, and your attention will be particu-
sry devoted to the plans to be adopted for the
best Of the lands and properties which have
been given to the company for the purposes pro-
roafA bv he