The true Democrat., 1854-11-22
The Arkansas grant of Railroad
 Lands.

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 of paramount importance to any that has ever been presented to our people-it will be lnte-, resting and perhaps instructive, to recur to It's history-the history of its origin and passage through Congress, and of the action taken up- on it, two winters ago, by the Legislature and since then, by the people.
 Early in the session of 1S5O-5l, bill was | introduced into the National House of Repre- sentatiyes. by the then member from this State, granting the right of way and alternate sec lions of the public land to aid in building railroad from St. Louis to Fulton, on Red ri- yer, with branches from Little Rock to Fort Smith and to the Mississippi river. This bill thus framed with St. Louis as the northern terminus of the trunk line, notwithstanding strenuous efforts in its behalf, failed to become a law. The struggle for its passage was con- tinued up to the very close of the session.
 At the commencement of the following ses- sion, early in Dec, 1851, the same bill was again introduced in the House: It was refer red to the committee on public lands, and after many earnest and anxious consultations with the western members, 1t was ascertained that s. Louis as the northern terminus was feature fatal to the success of the scheme. It was therefore abandoned and '$a point os the Missis sigpi opposite tue mouth cf tbe Ohio" substituted in its stead. With this alteration it was report ed back to the House and its passage recom- mended.
 Thus it stood until in September, 1852, just upon the heel of the session, when by an ex- traordinary effort, it was taken up, and, to the astonishment of all who knew the large ma- jority in the House against the policy of making such grants, triumphantly passed.
 It was then sent to the Senate and there, for sion with other unfinished business. At the next session it was taken up and steadily pres sed by Senator Sebastian until, in February 1853, its final enactment was obtained. Thus it became law and became so under the most unfavorable, adverse and difficult circumstan- ces. It was among the first grants of the pub lie lands for railroad purposes ever made, and, so far is, and, it is thought, will be- the last that can be obtained from Congress.
 Such is the history of its origin and passage through Congress. The very opposition that was offered to its passage should warn us of its importance and awaken us to the necessity of improving the advantages it affords us.
 When the Legislature assembled, November 1852, it was well known that this grant had passed the House of Representatives, and itw was not doubted by any that it would pass the Se- nate and become law. Under this belief the Executive alluded to the subject in his message and the Legislature proceeded to act upon it, The recommendations of the Governor were that appropriations should be made out of the internal improvement fund for the purpose of surveying the routes This recommendation was often alluded to by us during the course of the session, but no consideration was given to it. different and perhaps, at last, the wisest, poli- cy was pursued. Charters were granted for all the railroads named in the grant, and the ex- pense and duty of surveying the lines left to the companies themselves. Under these char ters the people along the several routes have formed themselves into companies, and by lb- eral subscriptions have raised the means and completed the surveys.
 The reports of these surveys have been print ed and are now before the Legislature The Cairo and Fulton, the Helena and Little Rock, and the two companies organized for the west ern branch of the Cairo and Fulton railroad. have thus acted up to the law and have placed within the reach of the Legislature, the infor- nation that will enable them to act under standingly in the location of the roads.
 Such is the full history of the steps that have been taken in regard to provision for the dispo- sition of the grant of lands.
 It is matter of deepregret to find that there are those among us, even of the newspaper press, who are disposed and have abored to throw dscredit and suspicion upon these com panies. The spirit that prompts the effort we do not understand. These companies are com posed of the citizens of Arkansas of those whose homes are with us and whose welfare and prosperity are intimately connected with the advancement and progress of the State.- Every interest they have calls for the construc- ton of these railroads and the faithful appIica- ton of the lands to the attainment of that ob- ject.
 But these facts weigh nothing in the minds of some. Everything these companies have done is denounced, and the individuals of the companies themselves held up as robbers and plunderers.
 In this spirit the Gazette has the following:
 We understand, upon good authority, that some of the railroad companies, organized ill this State. hope and expect that the Legislature will be good natured enough, and easy enough to grant nnblic lands to them, to be disposed of for the rasfno of money, without requiring from them any other cnar anty than their own honor their own bonds tbat the works projected by them will ever be compIeted or even begun"
 And upon this "good au1iorJty' the Gazette proceeds to read homily to the Legislature upon its duties in the matter In it's suspicious nature, it first sets down our people, who have devoted their time and their money to the pro- motion of the cause Of internal innroyoroon4