The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-15
CONGRESSI0NA Al.
prrcu OF HON. JOHN LETcHER,
or VIRGINIA,

-
or VIRGINIA.
o ia public lands duties on railroad iron and custom
houses deyered in the House Of Representatives a''
rs, 1854 .#-
The House being in Committee Of the Whole on the s'as
Of The Union
Mr. CHAIRMAS had particular desire 70 aaSIsss tu
committee tonight but as the gentleman rom MisIou m @
T TNnrpyl has seen fit to the attacks whlch nave
t s ,eouently made in this house Of late upon the
Staa rom which came and he has INDUCED IN very
e comments upon what he Is pleased 10 characterize as
Eyirginia distractions and upon the eohauc' ~ uea
esentatiyes ia resisting land schemes have ielt called
unon 10 say something in defence OF lhe state "hch
have the honor in part 10 represent upon TINS oo anu ~
yndicaton OF the action OF her representatives upon w
subject ILL, -, rnaot
edy charged with berality in their opposition 70 ano
schemes which have been brought before TINS house 'o
the benefit not only OF the Nest but OF other sections o
tbe country The representatives from Virginia believe
that Congress power 20 appropriate diecuy OF IN
directly the proceeds Of the sales OF the puoc lands 70 he
n,rnoae o internal Improvement They consider that the
as we're ceded the general government for the pur-
e being sold and that the proceeds arising from their
as should so into the treasury for the purpose OF meet
;a the common expenses of the several States of this
n;on in the general costs and charges And whenever
these propositions up in accordance with the princ
ps which State has professed and upon which
her representatives have ever acted they VIII De ound IN
opposition to them.
However unpleasant may be to place themselves in OPP
poon TO the friends of such schemes the representatives
hereafter 0unQ precisely WDefe lney
have heretofore been found They viii always be found
zealous warmly advocating the doctrine that the public
lands can be egimatey appropriated to no object for
which Congress might not legally appropriate money d
property Of the Union the money in the treasury The
essos and purchases of them much for the bene
fit Of the collection of the money The constitution,
as well sense TO be to recognise differ
enoe and If the money only be appropriated peci
fed objects IL follows that the land only be appro
pated Virginia has been consistent upon this subject
Her representatives now are advocating the doctrines which
their predecessors have uniformly advocated THIS floor
and elsewhere. ...#a
As the representatives Of the gallant old State OF yr
gnia State that has always been true the principles
Of the democratic party do not come here to beg yors
al the hands Of the federal government We do not come
here asking that alternate sections Of the public lands shall
be given to as that distribution Of their proceeds shall
De decreed to aid in the construction of railroads
other works Of internal improvements but here
demanding that the government shall do what it obl-
gated itself to do when the deeds of cesson made
when she became the common trustee and bound herself
TO execute those deeds Of cesson rly and justly and
honestly in accordance with their spirit and letter
In the present condition Of public affairs, at home and
abroad wisdom and sound policy it to me, would
dictate the duty and proprty of outstanding the public
lands The signs Of the times indicate general
abroad and II not improbable that may become in
voved in it, and if such should be the result our COM
must be affected in greater less degree The
arising from imports must be diminished and
shall then be compelled to look to the public lands
other source for the of supplying the def
Geney The veto of the insane bill comes most oppor-
tuney and furnishes evidence to the country justify the
conclusion that the President will permit the public
lands to be squandered in future they have been for
some years past
But sir the gentlemen who arc seeking these grants are
not content TO take alternate sections of the public lands
In addition to the advantage which these alternate sections
give them in the construction of their various railroads
they asking that shall 60 further and shall
init all duty railroad iron for their benefit This was
Of the subjects which designed say something,
and to which viii now address portion Of my remarks
before which
anime more at length.
has become very fashionable in these last days Of i'm
provement TO hire agents and organize committees TO be
charged with the particular business Of boring Congress
aud engineering railroad and other schemes through this
House Laughter The grants Of alternate sections OF
Land 10 aid in constructing their railroads 10 have
had other effect than to excite desire for further ayors
They have see, under the direction Of gentleman who
bears the euphonous of Azariah Booty daughter
land who understand, elected member OF this Con-
gress but, having better speculation In hand resigned
organized committee engineer through Congress bin
for the remission or suspension Of duties railroad iron
This gentleman II seems, Is largely interested in the
Wabash Valley road Is contractor TO the amount OF
some S600000 Ss000O00 learn from the newspa-
pers and as he has TO construct large portion Of this
road and has 10 The iron necessary lay the track
W. Azsah Boody has Come TO the wise conclusion that ii
be can succeed in getting the duty railroad iron remit
ted, H viii be that much in his pocket when the Job
Is done Laughtcr Hence II Is that Mr.. Aznriah Boody
cncwed laughter and numerous railroad friends with
whom he Is associated In the great State o. New York and
elsewhere have recently held meeting devise the ways
and meRns necessary 70 accomplish their obccts Their
plan Of operations Is forth in this resolution which will
inform the people OF the mode by which legislation IN Con-
sress Is sought 70 he controlled
"Reoved, That this company win cooperate with the
committee appointed by the meeting Of railroad companies
hed in the city OF New York the 2jth day Of February
1854 consisting Of Samuel T. Ylnon Noah s. Wilson John
Suyker George Asbmun, and Henry v Poor, in their cf
ori 10 obtain remission and repeal Of the duty railroad
ron heretofore 70 be imported, suspension for lin
tied time Of said duty; and that the President remit said
committee hundred dollars; and that IN the Of
repeal o. suspension Of the existing duty Of remission oi
he duty iron heretofore imported s company hereby OBJ
h9afs ( pay said committee, ~ rcatprsr de-
mana ~ eosh free per upon c of datg
ai asd alec fee per ee~t s ueoHnt cared 70 ne coppoy
~ sa'a repeal sRcsion such iron The company sa
import o. eontroo for prior Jy L. 1856 and fhat
u,iassM ~
The committee TO receive from each railroad company
IN the United States the sum Of one hundred dollars for
ne purpose OF enabling them 70 meet such obligations
y may incur and such expenditures MS they may make
~ getHng congress 70 remit the duty on railroad iron.
Loud laughter In entering npop The discharge Of their
important duties this committee have ssped circular 10
All the railroad companies in the United States inErInng
nem u their appointment and requesting immediate ac-
I9n ~ ~ 'esno" Congrs's . already far araJscd"
40 not design now to read the circular I'm, will ,bcd
y m my printed speech desire to have aepbers noted
up TO Jet them know who those gentry are 40 that hen
they shall come here and take members hv the elbow tbe
LAY KNOW that hey the dsinteesed Representatives Of
atatlah boody aud his railroad friends -
bear il '" ''' 'i''" bet Us
ar LETcHER Well, will read :. Herenis,
,e "NEw YonE, March q, 1854.
sIs In entering upon the duties agreeably to appoipt
ot hs meeting Of railroad companies held In this citv
the proceedings Of which were duv foTwsrdSd =, ] %
es we md Necessary In the outset of our proceedn
e'pond with a the railroad companies oil the United
,uppesed 20 oe interested for the purpose obtaining
ecurse and reliable information and of ascertaning behH
nsy Cooperate with ~ order that re ray E,o, 10 bt G
apce Of oHr objects. -