Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-04-15
CONGRESS.

The following is the latest intelligence we have
from Washington, touching our Railroad giants.
1t viii be seen that our indefatigable Represent
alive, Mr.. Porter, is at his post, in the faithful
discharge Of Lis duty. We extract from the
correspondence Of the Republican:
IN the House, large number Of reports was
mace from the Committee on Public Lands. OF
this number, was a report and bill for the relief
OF j. W. Campbell, of Pike county, Mo-, as
sgnee Of ]. L. Jackson. The bill was ex-
! plainedby Mr.. Porter, and was then passed.
Mr.. Hem, Of Iowa, then proposed to take up
the bill from the Senate, to grant lands for the
construction of Railroads in Iowa, with q view
/ to putting upon ITS passage He called upon
the friends IF these measures 10 stand by the
bill lie sad it was time for the west and the
south to unie, when the east and the north
were found in opposition to every measure OF
justice to the fTmer States. e
Mr.. Robt. w Johnson, of Arkansas, claimed
that as the friend of the railroad grants had, by
their industry, gos their bills fairly ahead OF
others, they were Untitled TO consideration He
charged upon the moth and the east studied de-
sign and understanding, TO put their bills into
the background, until he House had vote upon
all their most important measures; and it was
time TO resistit. Otheimembers spoke to the
same effect Mr.. Vonade denied ali knowledge
of any such understanding
Before taking the questhn, the Hous wen
into committee Of the whoe,anl took up the Ac,
tual Settlers bill.
Mr.. Porter, Of Missouri, vas entitled to the
! floor, and proceeded to make an earnest, sound
and argunentative speech upon tie duty of tn,
| Government TO promote the interim Of the coun
| try, by appropriations for the Improvement O.
rivers and harbors, and by grants { land to as
sist in the construction of Railroads The speech
was well delivered, and supported y sound anC
unanswerable arguments. As it will be pub
lishod tomorrow, and will be Immediately sen
to you, it will be an act Of justice to hun to cop,
the entire speech,
Speeches upon this bill occupied thtremain
der of the day.
Ibegin to have some fears that the attention
OF Congress has been 50 absorbed IN Aah3,faffs
that the chance Of an appropriation for he re.
movdl OF the distractions to the navigation Of
the Upper Mississippi, at the Rock Rive anC
Des Moines Rapids, is seriously lessened. Tc
the people Of st. Louis, it is a matter q the
greatest importance, that the General Goyrn-
ment should at once undertake 10 improve the
channel at the points indicated It can be hone
This has been demonstrated by the work alfeady
done there, and understand Major Lee has in
a recent letter, again expressed his commissioned
the entire feasibility of the plan of operations
commenced by him there, some ears ago The
channel can be Strengthened and deepened, and
this is all that is wanted to give an uninterp, :
ed navigation of the river at those points, AsePt
when closed by the ice. The Railrao lGn
Dubuque to Keokuk, though imr,rpnt ZONE
section of country through whi'h 1t passes lrs
altogether in Importance wien compared p'h'