The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-01-05
OUR RAILROADS.


columns Of our last evenings issue, from the Sc
Nor editor, whose business as State printer
makes his presence at the capital necessary,
seems 10 place the old rail road policy OF the
State completely on the shelf.
How far the new is to be successful, mus,
remain for time to determine. We think how
eyer that our delegation in the Congress of tho
United States, will cut sorry figure in pre-
sentng TO the consideration of that body, the
instructions of the Iowa Legislature in favor of
the new policy. With how much reason may
ii not be said, 10 our delgaton,-Why, gen.
tlemen, the instructions of your Legislature do
not amount to anything as guide to US. When
your railroad policy was under discussion last
winter in these same halls, you presented TO us
the thrice declared instructions Of your Legisla-
ture in favor of policy, different in whole and
IN part from the one you now submit. How and
why is this The former Legislatures of your
State must have been stupidity dolIish or the
present certainly is. From the strikirgly oppo
site character of the policy which you now pro-
pose, and that which you and your Legislature,
and your people in convention have 80 frequent
ly recommended to and urged upon this body,
we are almost al a loss to know how 10 direct
our course and what weight to give to the re-
commentators of your Legislature One thing
however is certain, that your present demand
is most unreasonable and exorbi,ant The idea
ofgranting to yourState, government lands OF a
sufficient quantum to construct three great lea
ding roads from river TO river, is preposterous &
savors more ofinsanity than sound legislative
judgment or well balanced political forecast.
Such it appears to us,would be our own reas-
onlng upon the case in point, and the reas-
oning of every man who has an eye, single to
the general interests of the State, and views
with appropriate disregard the chafings Of local
agtators. We have no objection to the roads EN-.
braccd in what may now be considered the adop
ted policy Of the State far as the latest legis-
alive action can make it so,-we have no OBJ
Jcction to these roads as such, but only to the
policy of asking for them at the hands of the
general government. We believe that the ex.
travagance Of our demand cannot otherwise
than prove fatal to all our hopes.
We cannot see upon what principle members
are acting, when they undertake to recommend
or approve policy like that which is now before
our Legislature, unless it be principle which
recognizes the qualification of local and section
al feeling and nteres's,as Of paramount impor-
lance TO The interest and well being of the whole
commonwealth. Members seem 10 have no
other object in view but that Of seeking to please
and fattcr their immediate constituents, even
though it should be ut the sacrifice OF the public
veal.
Such a course, however popular in its inclp-
iency, is sure to CORY with it its own antedote,
in the ultimate ascertainment Of its impocy
and folly, and the consequent denunciation of
its advocates, as unworthy Of the public conf
dence, and as incompetent to discern the true
interests Of the people.
But if we can get the sire qua non from
Uncle Sam. then We say go ahead get all we
can. There is no objection upon the ground of
a possibility that we may get too much, but only
that by asking too much, we may not get any
thing at all. In this our greatest danger lies
a danger which forbids US to entertain the most
remote hope of government aid, if the policy
adopted, is the one that is to be persisted in.