Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-03-17


Thus we that In 1895 and 1886 the sales very
llargc-amounting, in 1896 TO than S25 600 co.,
Now, the gentleman snys that this is owing TO the policy
of allowing these grants 10 rail roads the land
would not have sold at oil il it had been for the gans
II is attributable TO no such thing. II Ia attributable TO the
state OF things which existed in The country at the time
these Gales made.
The whole country then wild with the spirit Of spc-
culation. Banks multiplying Everything in which
speculation could be made for gecdy taken up
and earnestly prosecuted and under the influence Of hat
specializing SPIRIT these extraordinary sales OF the public
lands made Look at the state of things now With
In the last years. say that the banking
pa of the country has been doubled perhaps than
doubled taking state with another. believe that has
been in my State and these strong and conclu
sivc indications Ut the specializing spirit which Is abroad in
the country the present time And speculation brou2 hi
this result In 1886 1886 and 1887 why cannot speculation
bring it about in 1851 Will not The same result follow from
the causc Then say that il is Attributable
ths policy al ALL These lands would have been sold from
this spirit of speculation Do you see in proof Of this
position that the gentlemen from these new States are war
ring against specratos here BY amendments 10 the home
stead bill and in all other conceivable modes? They tell
YOU that they do mol 10 into their country
and buy up their public lands What takes them there Is
the belief that they make more money BY invest
Ing these lands than be made by investments In other
speculaions7 Nothing has carried them Into The new States
but the hope OF gain.
Lei me tell the gentlemen from tho one thing that
will grow out OF the policy pursued BY them In reference 10
these land grants You grant them the Stale 10 be sure
but when granted, the land Immediately passes oil. Of
their hunds into The grasp of soulcss corporations What
will be the RESULT These corporations Invested with their
the control OF all these improvements They are TO have the
power Of dsposug OF hem and The result will be that shall
against them the same complaint in regard TO withhold
ing public lands from Market which has been made aganst
the government by gentlemen upon this floor. What
elrictons do they impose In regard the sale Of the ands7
Do they cav that they shall cell them actual settlers or
sell them within given me7 Nothing OF that The
result will be- then that these corporations will become op
preserve They will upon everything that their
path, In order 10 make tho most money by the heart
less abuse Of the power placed in their hands ndscIeey
ae think, by ,hcse legislative acts. And shall be
prised IT, 10 the of very few years do find
of these gentlemen procalmlng doctrine which they
regarded many years ago remarkably doctrine
OF breaking started by MI Dallas of Penusy
The burden will grow nolerabler and they will desire
get rid OF It. And 10 order 10 get rid OF IT, they will ask
epe Of the charter and the charter will have be repeal
ed they get desired relief shall be surprised sch
is no, the result. confidently expec. LII end If The burden
upon any people other Than those who made tine bar
gain do not know but should clap lhe the back and
applaud them for attempting 10 relieve themselves rcm It.
But they have made ;teir bed, and go lei them ic
Now, cir 10 regard 10 this Illinois charter refer to il
again for the purpose of showing that il is somewhat diff
feent charter from the one which s proposed In this ac
the Illinois rail road charter is tor ia Of lands 10 the
State Of Illinois for the constructing OF raj! road from the
terminus of The Illinois and Michigan canal TO
point the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers, with branch OF the same 10 Chicago Lake
Michigan" Sc.
Well now what does this bill proposed "Tha. there be
and il hereby granted 10 the Stale of Wisconsin for the
bose Of aiding in The construction of rail road from p pu,
the boundary of said State OF range thirteen BY way
Of GAINESVILLE In Rock county and Fond du Lac on Lake
WInucbago such point Lake Superior as may be de-
sigua,ed under the authority Of said State and for tho
strucon Of branch rail- road from Janesvi by way Of
Madison" &c.
Now Why does not this road run from Chicago 10 a ter.
minus Lake Superior by the dlrec; lnc2 Is
10 northwest for eighty ninety mles and
then northeast for about the distance and then
and then northwest again 10 Lake SUPERIOR II the road
run straight from Chicago 10 Lake SUPERIOR the dis
would probably be hundred ard Fifty or hun
dred miles less than by the proposed route.
Mr. COBB, (n.sruptng) YER but that route ls perhaps
lnpneleable.