The true Democrat., 1854-08-09
From the Ouachta Herald Letter from R. w. Johnson

 JAMES A. JoNEs ESQ.
 Dear Sw:-I stated some time since that I had hopes that something would be done to aid your railroad, even if the project of the grant of alternate sections should not get through the House Of Representatives, and also that the energy and spirit manifested in its affairs gave me confidence that it would progress success fully with ever so little external aid. i l now write you to say that the Presidents veto of the Insane land bill IS deemed fatal to the passage of the Homestead bill in it's pre- sent form, as many of the objectionable features are in both
 1 This operates to bring forward Hunters bill which IS now prepared, and in which home stead feature and some other features and chan ges have been introduced, and the whole will be offered as a substitute for the Homestead bill, and have strong faith that it will pass. It will give homestead at about 1215 or 25 cents per acre.
 It will graduate and reduce the price of all the public lands as you will see by the bill which will send you, so that all our lands having been in market fifteen years or over will be subject to entry at fifty cents an acre less.
 It further gives the right to the State to take all of any particular class, but that regard as probably y useless, as in very few years it will all be down to 121a cents when the whole of it, as natural consequence, will be given to the State.
 It further gives the State the right to take by pre-emptlon, at the will of our Legislature all the land along the line of any contemplated railroad to the amount of tacelve sections to the mile at the graduated price, and to locate it in solid sections along the road, or if any is alrea- dy taken up inside of six sections on each sile, then to select enough to make that amount ('ooO acres) any where in 12 miles. It gives credit of lO years to pay this price, leaving the State or company that gets it to hold and sell It at what price 1t pleases; and if not sold at that time, have no doubt the time will be ex tended indefinitely
 by tnls arrangement too the company can proceed to sell the land in any size tracts, from forty acres up, any where along the line, at any tune, and at any price they please; and the road will necessarily make itverv desirable and very valuable, for town sites depots, timber. and for farming. Whereas, in the alternate grants you could only sell the land along 20 miles at time, and could only get six sections to the mile, (384O acres), and that interspesr- ed with alternate sections of public land which would always be a rival in the market. ! The Legislature can pre-empt the land and confer 1t on any company it pleases, and capi- tallsts will, in the judgment of many here pre- fer such grant, with its increased amount. C6oO acres to the mile) and it's freedom from competition Tn market, and protected as this has been by reservation from being culed as preferable to the alternate section gratis.
 will not be blamed for the failure to get you alternate sections, as have got it through the Senate, and have permitted no opportunity to pass to forward, protect and advance the so- lid interests of this enterprise. So I take the liberty to say that think this last plan is the only hope pou have at this session: and vet further, that your Representatives in the House have had no possible chance to oct vonr hill passed in that body and cannot be justly blam. ed for its failure, and further that no man care not who, could have passed such hill for Arkansas, in the face of such a strong onnos;- ton as exists and the further fact that 4rkon. sas had already had one tremendous grant, and 80 many otaer States had had none
 Truth and fact bear me ought to be willing to recognize, and be just. Twas condemned once bitterly under like circumstances, and it was wrong, and no one dreams how keenlv such wrongs are felt, however much it arises from patriotic feelings, freed from manevolence on the part of those who misjudge, until they have l themselves been subjected to it.
 can further state my opinion with clear 1 conscience, that each bill which passes (and one has passed for Minnesota this sess on) aids to break down the opposition, and adds justly to our hopes of success; and yet further, that our hopes are much better next session than this, for alternates. If Hunters bill passes this session, consider the natural result as an unanswerable argument to the present oppo- nents of the alternate sections, and if our peo. pie prefer it, our chances are almost rendered certainty to get them.
 You can publish this letter for the informa- ton of the public or not, as you may think pro- per. At any rate, hope you will show it to Messrs Tigman, Huey, Stith and Thornton who live near you.
 Yours most respectfully,
 R. w. JOHNSON.