Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1852-03-11
Missouri Railroads.


sideration of the motion to refer to the COM
mittec of the whole on the State of the I'm
ion the bill granting the right of way and a
portion of the public lands 10 aid in the con-
struction of certain railroads in the State of
Missouri, Mr.. Miller took the floor, and
ably defended the interests of his State.-
His remarks, though confined to a few
words, will be found to abound in interest
ing statements, and to exhibit an impregna-
bic barrier to all the attacks which local in
terests elsewhere can bring against the mo-
ton.
Mr. Moore, of Louisiana, also defended
the measure, and in the course of his re-
marks gave some personal "reminiscences in
regard to the commerce of the Mississippi.
The observations Of the eloquent gentleman
will be found subioined. This magnificent
Valley is becoming the wonder, not only of
our own country, but of the world. While
men live among us, and some take part in
our national councils, who hoated on the
Father Of Waters when the steamboat was
unknown, and when the population of this
immense region was but few thousand of
hardy pioneers, and who now compare the
past with the present from date drawn from
their own observation and experience, &C.
customed as we may be to unequalled pro-
gress, we involuntarily find ourselves mus
ing on the strange metamorphoses, and
doubling even the evidences which surround
us. Congress can hardly refuse to grant
some portion of the public domain for the
construction of the works deemed necessary
for the commercial and agricultural develop
mcnts Of this valley.
The public domain has been rendered
valuable alone heretofore by individual en-
terprise and industry; and now, when in
ratio beyond the means of combined or CO.
operative means, or even State powers,
works Of improvement, national in their
character, as well as local, are absolutely
called for, it would indeed be policy of most
suicidal import, as well as of manifest in
justice to withhold the great and strong arm
of the Government. The national treasury
can lose nothing by national libcrality in this
way, if with an enlightened discrimination
the peoples representatives are enabled to
vote for such measures as are apparent and
requisite:
"Mr. Miller addressed the House, and
among other things, adverted to the fact that
since the first acquisition of territory by this
Government TO The present day, the ques-
ton of the disposition Of the public lands
has elected much discussion in the halls of
Congress, in which the strongest intellect
has been exercised, and brighter pages add
ed to the political history Of our country
While, however, statesmen have differed.
grants of land have been made for purposes
similar 10 those contemplated by Tie bill
Although the State which he has in part the
honor to represent has been somewhat tar
DIV in the commencement Of such works,
vet she has never involved her credit, nor
surrounded herself with embarrassments
by engaging in wild schemes Of internal i'm
provements. She does not now come for
ward asking for aid to promote local inter-
ests, but, under consciousness of the just
ice of her claim, for great national work,
in which every section of the Union is inter-
ested. She claims that justice, which has
been meted out to others, shall be awarded
to her.
He stated that one of the roads COM
menccs at Hannibal and is TO terminate at
St. Joseph; and that the other commences at
st. Louis and extends to the western line of
the State of Missouri; and explained their
connection with other lines of railroads,
which would connect the Great West with
the Atlantic States, thus opening up mar
kets advantageous to both sections, and to
the Union. That from St. Louis was COM
menced on the fourth of July last, and will
cost six millions of dollars. OF this amount
four millions are available, or two-thirds of
the entire sum necessary for the purpose of
constructing the road, forty miles of which
are under contract at twenty thousand dol
lars mile, and which will be completed on
the first of January next. And Missouri
now asks a portion of the public domain
within her limits to aid in these great works
of Improvement. Out Of domain of four
teen hundred millions of acres, Missouri
has cnly received five hundred thousand for