The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-02-07
Interesting Correspondence.
Our Washington Correspondence.
WASHING TON, Feb. z, Is52.
The lopa Land Bill.

The lowa Land Bill
TIE Iowa Land bill, pending before the Senate,
10 by far the most important measure pending in
Congress at this time. The bill grants alternate
sections Of land to Iowa to construct certain rail
roads in that State. The old States resist, With
illiberal pertinscity all such dispositions of the
public domain, and insis! that they are entitled to
an equal portien of all the public lands. The new
States, wherein there are government lands, con-
tend that it would be unjust to make any State the
owner Of soil within their bounds, and tend to re-
tard their settlement and progress. Mr.. Under
wood, Of Kentucky, has offered the following
amendment to the Iowa BILL
Be il enacted &c. That there shall be granted to the
States nBmed in this section for purposes Of education
and CT internal Improvement much OF the public do
main specified for eachthst Is to say to the State
Of lame SIS 04o to the State of New Hampshire
scres to the State Of Vermont S13 92o acres
the State OF Massachusetts, 99 $40 acres to the State OF
Rhode Island l4 $40 scres 10 the State Of Connecticut
S7O5so acres to the State OF New York. 369 $50 acres
to the State Of New Jersey 9 $50 asres to the State of
Pennsyv ana, 23l ESQ the state of Delaware
90 $50 to the state If Mary land $50 acres to
the State Of Virginia 23l $50 acres the state az
North Carolina 1853 s0 acres to The State Of South Ca
rolina 6140 acres to tie STATE Of Georgia. 7J3 ESQ
acres to the State of Tennessee 9O656O acres; the
State OF Kentucky S9 800 acres which land granted
ehal be located in parcels confofmsby sectional dyi
sons and Subdivisions Of less than 800
one location, If SO much be had any public land
except such to which right OF presumption may have
attached such may be reserved from eae by any
law OF Congress proclamation OF the President OF the
United States which aid locations may be made at any
time after the lands shall have been according
toeyspg aws And shall be lawful for the Governors
of said States respectively 20 appoint agents
locate ans granted as aforesaid for the State Of
which he s the Governor Such agents. in making their
locations shall be governed by such rules and regula
tons the Secretary Of the Interior from time to
tine prescribe and when the lands for each State have
been located ard selected patents therefor shall be- is
sued to the State entitled to the same.
And be IL further enacted That the lands granted to
the States according to the preceding section shall be
disposed by said states respectively In such
as their respective Legislatures may direct Provided
however That portion OF said lands shall be sold
less than 81 Is per until otherwise authorized by
law Ct the United States and the net proceeds Of the
tales Of said lsl shall faithfully applied 10 objects
Of internal inoroyement to purposes Of education
or to BOTH as the Legislatures Of the States respectively
owning the lands gfared may direct Provided further
That all roads, railways, bridges, canals, and water
courses, which shall be exclusively built constructed
improved BY the funds arising from the disposition Of
said lands sba be free for the portGtion OF the
United States mail and munitions Of war and for the
patsase OF their troops without the payment any toll
whatever
And be it further enacted That it shall Be lawful for
the agents aforesaid any OF them in selecting
lands and making locations for his State TO select and
locate of the alternate sections part thereof
Mhchmay have been may hereafter be reserved from
sole by any act Of Congress granting lands in aid of the
construction Of any railroad or canal whatever Pro.
vded, however, That in locating such section
part Of section the State for whose benefit 1t may be
selected or located shall be charged with and the qusn
hy double the quantity Of contained in the
serTed lection. part of section thus selected end To-
cGted. NGthEg in the last three sections contained
shall authorize the location OF any lands granted By
them, or either OF them within the limits OF The State
CT California, or the territories CT New Mexico, Utah,
ard Oregon.
II it be carried, il will cause the failure of tho
bill. The Senators from the new States, it is IN.
derstood, held CAUCUS to compare notes ard de-
wise concerted action. Upon the iato Of tho Iowa
bill depends all the railroad land bills before Con-
gress.
Various measures arc spoken Of here in relation
to the settlement Of public claim. One is the
establishment Of board Of commissioners here,
but It is believed it cannot pass The late Board Of
Commissioners on Mexican claims; ami their pro-
ceedings has created such want of confden g, and
such great alarm that it is believed no ne board
Of any kind, can be established here. Many CON
tend it would be but Increasing federal patronage
and creating places for worthless political hacks
who, if they kept honest, would be mere treasury
buzZards.