The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-03-02

five Of the States have received grants of alter.
nate sections of public lands for the construction
OF railroads within their limits, grants to three of
these States having passed during the last Con-
gress, and two during the present Congress, one
OF which only became a law few weeks since.
Ihe past as we'll "a the present Congress, then,
have fully sanctioned the principles of these bills
by large majorites. The FIRST grants have gone
into effects the roads are being rapidly construct
ed, and the Commissioner of the General Land
Once reports their beneficial effect to the Govern
ment in the rapid sale of their reserved sections
double the minimum price. 81
The Government in this way alone receives a
full equivalent, as well as large additional sums
In having the mail; troops, munitions of war, &c.,
carried forever upon its own terms these roads.
So IN the large duties which it receives on the inn
ported railroad iron used in their construction,
and In the augmented revenue derived from in
creased EXPORTS and the corresponding increase of
Imports generally, and consequently of duties
Our internal trade s also immensely benefited.
The railroads and canals Of the old States, con-
nected with the new, carry more freight and pas
sengers the merchant transacts more business !;
the domestic manufacturer sells more goods the
farmer and planter pay diminished freights BY the
substitution of railroads for the ordinary mode of
TRANSFORMATION; the mechanic has more employ
mcnt but, most important of ALL there is an in
creased demand for labor, and it receives Ri her
wages.
Yet of the twelve new States Ave only have re-
ceIved these grants whilst it is refused to the 9TH
ers with equally important routes, against the as
certained will of both Houses of the present Con-
gress. This is shown not only by the bills which
have passed both Houses, but by the action of the
House several bills which passed the Senate by
large majorites, and which would have passed
the House but for the consumption of time in call
ing the ayes and noes on motions for cali of the
House, motions to adjourn, renewed again and
again, and the operation of rules by which the will
of the majority is rendered imperative and pow
erless.
Thus it is, Congress is about adjourning, with
the ascertained will of MAJORITY OF BOTH HOUSES
defeated on this subject, resulting in partial legs
lation for the benefit of some of the new States,
whilst these benefits are refused to others If these
lands would remain in nearly the same condition
until Congress- at its next session, could remedy
these evils, this delay would be less material. But
the evidence seems clear, that If these lands, on
these railroad routes, neither granted
newed during the present session, they will be
swept away before Congress meets again, by land
warrants now being purchased In immense masses
by SPECTATORS, for location both sides Of these
routes, during the approaching long recess of Con-
gress. These locations have already commenced
to some extent, and unless some remedy is now
applied by Congress- we are threatened with
renewal Of the scenes of 1886, when twenty four
single year, as they now will be again by land
warrants, chiefly along these routes, unless Con-
gress interferes before it's adjournment. Surely
there is ample scope for the location of these
rants without permitting them to invade the i'm
mediate routes of railroads at dollar an acre.
thus awaiting themselves Of the labor and capital
of others, whilst contributing nothing to the
struction of these great public works. and indeed
greatly retarding their completion, by postponing
for years the settlement and cultivation of these
lands.
Now, then, if nothing better can be done before
the close of the session, instead of granting the
lands now, as done in the FIVE other cases, not
only for six miles on each side of the routes, bat
if necessary fifteen miles, it is asked, tDhout COM
mitting Congress TO any future policy, that they
will reserve these lands at present from sale, to
the extent of six miles only each side of these
several routes running through the public domain,
that Congress at its next session, after full
discussion before the people Of all the States, may
decide whether they will apply to these lands,
thus asked to be reserved, the Bennett bill, the
Homestead bill, the Alternate Section BILL the Pa
c6c Railroad bill, or make such other disposition
of them as Congress may deem proper.
Many Of these roads connect the old States with
the new, and with the projected Pacific Railroad,
which project would be deeply injured, if not de-
feated, if the lands these routes swept away,
before Congress meets again, by Spectators in
land warrants. Thus If the southern route through
Texas ia adopted, the routes which the reserva-
tons asked in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkan-
sas Alabama, and Florida, connecting those routes
and Southern Southwestern Virginia roads, woul,
be cut off from the Pacific connerion. So, also, if
the central or northern route to the Pacific is
adopted, would the routes asked to be reserved as
now proposed, connecting the Missouri, Iowa, Wis
consn, Michigan Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana roads,
be cut off from their connection with the Kentucky,
Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New
York, and New England roads to the Pacific.
In truth, the failure to make these reservations
now, leaving the lands these routes to be mo-
nopolzed IN the mean time by spectators in land
warrants, would cut the Pacific railroad in two,
and aim deadly blow, not only at the prosperity
of the country, but perhaps even leopard the in.
tegrity of the Union, by separating our empires
the Atlantic and Pacific. As, then, the reserv-
Ing these lands now would commit Congress to no
future policy; as making the reservation would
ipiure one; a5 both Houses of the present Con
gress, after full discussion, have adopted the
principle involved in these reservations, and the
tended with most disastrous consequences, it ia
hoped that the proposition made will be carried
into effect before the adjournment.
N. P. TALLMA DGE.
CoaRUPrIoN OF MUNICIPAL CouNcILs IN New
YoRK.-The grand jury of the city and county of
New York have presented certain members of the
Board Of Aldermen of that city for bribery and
other manifestations of office, and two of the alder
men have been indicted for misdemeanor. In no
ticing the grand jury's presentation, the papers of
New York are loud in their condemnation of the
corrupt practices of the aldermen. The CONNER
eiGL Advertiser says:
'sIf the reader will turn to the document in ques
ton ne will find revelations concerning aldermen
which make blush for the city government
Two persons, now members of the Board of Alder.
men, are, on the concurrent testimony of reliable
and sworn witnesses, indicted for receiving brides
in the shape of large sums of money, in their Off
eal capacity Similar testimony is given against
another member of the same board; and it Is sol
EMMY declared that the grand jury obtained
knowledge of corruption by bribery upon vastly
larger scale, but were defeated in their attempt to
take action thereupoh by the refusal of witnesses
to testify, and the voluntary absence of others.
With this declaration on record, and with the
knowledge that the contumacy Of the witnesses was
protected by Aldermen Brisley and Doherty over
ruling the City Judge, We are left to the unavoida
Bile conclusion that the members of the Common
Council have taken brides to extent, and with a
systematic frequency, far beyond what the grand
jury have been enabled to prove, Notwithstanding
the industry and fidelity with which they have
discharged their duty"
DIED,
On Monday evening, 18th ultimo, at 8 O'Clock
MARY, daughter of the late GREENBURY
GATHER, after illness of several months
throughout which she manifested that submissive
md perie cod