The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-26
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

eRANTs OF LANDs ToR RAILROAD PUaPJsEs.
The House resumed the consideration Of the bill
giving the right II way and donation OF portion
Of the public lands 10 Missouri, to aid IN the con
struction Of certain railroads; one from St Josephs
10 Hannibal, and the other from st. Louis 20 the
western boundary Of that State
Mr. WEIGH, Of Ohio, being entitled 70 the hoor,
said that he WAS not aware, when he offered his
amendment yesterday, that there was pending be
fore the Committee on Public Lands bill granting
n portion Of the public domain TO aid IN the con-
structiou Of a railroad from ST. Lpuis 10 Cincin-
naG Certainly, il would be more appropriate 10
offer the amendment 20 that bill, 20 that the line
NAV be extended eastward, 10 connect With tho
RaItimorc and OaIJ Railroad Company. However,
10 y,o,lJ now prprced 20 make remarks, not az TO
that particular amendment, but the principle IN
,,!vrd ia IT, d. bic opinion, Congress should grant
nut. LANDS 90 aid in the cOnstrucuOn Of railroads,
at,pcye- il car be done without detractng from the
ag,eate value Of The public lands This the prin
chic on which the Missouri bill has been advocated
Nv ia fricnds The Government holds these lands in
,r,,s, Tor the public rood. We have fourteen nun
arrd millions Of acres Of them The bill before the
House asks for donation Of one million and nail
Of acres aid IN the construcuon OF those two ran
roads in Missouri; and the amendment winch ne
had caused to be read asks Tor grant OF about
,tr,e r,tIliops and a half The public lands con-
st,tute fund for the benefit Of the public, and
ttcir appropriation for internal improvement pur
-oss- carries out in the most appropriate manner,
and 70 the fulcst extent the trust oonhded TO Con
800 ybs,, the public s,bds were placed IN their
ebarge Out Of these fourteen hundred millions Of
scres. one and hall million would be bat small
fraction. and i'm 40, iton to this he asked, by has
rrosrscd amendment, three and halt miilions,
making five millions Of acres leaving To INC Gov
eminent thirteen hundred aud ninety hive nllhons
Of acres Of public lauds. Sev"nty-hve per cent OF
This amount would lie dead for an indCnnite mum
Der Of yearg--ten or fifteen yesrs, az least Hens
no doubt that after giving these hive millions, tue
,fmaindcr of the public lands VIII be rendered
,,,,yc valuable thau the entire fourteen hundred
,,,I,irns Of ncres now are. Tie replied 70 the re.
r,a,ks of Mr. RASrOuL on the subject 81 the tafih
Mr. PENNETT II New York. remarked that
te vas not one Of those who believe that grants OF
land for internal improvements, such as roads ahd
csnale are UNCONVENTIONAL jms - not on open
question: il has been settled by every Congress
and by all the courts II e not known, generally,
h. said, the amount q public lands which has been
rraptrJ Bya statement which hc procured az
tbe Land Otlicc, il appcou that twelve new States
and Territories ~ which public lands lie, have re-.
r,ved over eighty four millions oiacres, Or wilnin
..vtcrp millions 81 the entire amount which has
tg,,.,IJ New York coded her public lands Ia
tte tni.cd States iu 1881, to pay the common eS-
pcnsta Of The revolutionary war ana virginia
North Carolina South Carolina, ana 1coiBiai Hau'
emil,r Ccssi8ns; the proceeds 20 TO made use OF o'
the common bcuoh Of al the Staies lie was ~
f,yor sf the principles Of tbis bill However We
LayA bot one Constitution; all the Stat's are eqOai
,,d the.c lands are the common property OF al tu'
gt.tet. auG he wished to know how one or more %
tl nco States arc entitled to grants Of iahbs 10 t'
.g,jusI,u oI thr Oh. he vac proceeding TO an
,gef tbc argument VII, h bad been advanced lha'