The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-10
The Public Domains Grants for Purposes
of Public InproV ement.

4
| Not few journals Of high character and
merted influence in the eastern cities dwell
with earnestness on the erroneous principle and
mischievous result which are supposed to at
tach to the schemes now before Congress for
appropriations of public lands. Differing in
their party associations, we find the writers
united in their hostility to all these plans,
which are represented as unjust to the older
members Of the Confederacy. and as mere con-
trivances for misapplying and squandering our
magnificent domain. The new States are, in
fact. charged with combining for purposes of
extoriion; and a readiness TO connlve at in
justice is imputed to politicians not con
nected with the West, who happen to show
favor to one or another of the plans under
consideration. As coming in many in
stances from contemporaries that have won
honor in the Wing cause, we are at loss to
discover the ground on which this hostility is
based. From the old school Democrats, oppo-
siiion is natural enough, and perhaps consist
ent; but how are we to reconcile resistance TO
large internal Improvements with the general
principles of the Wing party2
SO far as we know, the Iowa Railway bill,
and the other bills of a similar class already
before Congress, are advocated on the ground
that they are intended TO promote national in
terests. We have given them support on that
ground, and none other. They are put forward
with that as their plea; and they are ienable
only 50 long as it can be maintained by fair
appeals to fact and probability. The Iowa
railway. for example, seems to us part of
great national work. link in a chain of com
muncation necessary to bind together dis
tant States, and to render available yet re
moter parts Of our vast territory. In brief
space Of time the iron horse will traverse the prai-
ries Of Illinois from Lake Michigan to the Mis-
sissippi, bringing Rock Island into close con-
nexon with New York and Boston, opening TO
the East fresh fields for the employment Of skill
and capital, and affording TO the West outlets
| for the want Of which it now languishes. Iowa,
unsurpassed in agricultural and mineral re.
sources, submits claims for a continuation Of
the improvement Her population point to
what they have achieved in the tiers Of coun-
ties nearest to the Mississippi, and remind US Of
the circumstance that three -fourths Of the whole
Stale are and will for years remain unavailable
to the mass Of settlers, unless facilities of tran
sit be afforded by the General Government.
They urge-we think rightly-that the ser
vice they have rendered to the country
as pioneers entities them to remembrance f;
and, more than this, they show that the
country will consult it's own interests. as
proprietor Of by far the larger portion Of the
State, by opening it for settlement. Still fur
Their, il is argued that, in the event of frontier
difficulties. rapid communication with Council
Bluff, would be Of primary importance in a
military point Of view; while 1t is certain that
that station is at all times entitled 10 consider
alton as the common rendezvous and resting
place Of emgrants bound 10 Oregon or Califor-
MIA. For both local and national reasons, then
Iowa appears to be entitled to the aid necessary
To the completion Of the undertaking. We
know that Dubuque and Burlington, both places
Of weight in the State, clamor for assistance to
construct lines to Fort des MONIES, there
to Join the central line; but with these Con
gress can properly have nothing to do. They
are local concerns, and must be provided
for locally. One line from east to wes
is all that can be regarded as national, AND
the State having fixed upon Davenport as
the eastern terminus. we accept that as tn,
most proper place. VI engineers can show
that that is not the best point for crossing tho
Mississippi, or for securing good grade, Con
gress will be bound to amend the bill in tina
respect; but we are not aware that such an OBJ
lection has been advanced with any show o
engineering authority.
We write specifically Of the Iowa railway
/ because the grant in its favor came first before
the Senate this session. and II has formed tht
subject Of argument in relation TO the principle
involved. But every thing advanced in sup
port Of the Iowa grant, may be advanced will