The daily union., 1854-07-19

This sir needs no comment from me it speaks for itself
and all desire is to have each read and interpret
for himself So much for borers,
The applications for governmental aid in the shape
donations OF the public property, have become
Gus pressing and camorous that scarcely legislation
can be had any other subject than that Of the public
lands and the only remedy this evil is to turn
our faces against il both now and forever
This committee however say it is their intention to give
each OF the new States as much of the public land I
nois has receved-and that too if understand them
recty at the present session Illinois has got nearly three
millions of acres and we have say fifteen States and
five Territories give each of these three millions YOU get
rid OF sixty millions of If this would satisfy the
appetites OF these companies might live through but
IT VIII encourage them to come in and claim look
upon this thing not only wrong in principle but dan
gerous in practice 1t fosters corporations it encourages
system of wild speculation and corrups the legislation
OF the country There is scarcely legislature of any
state In the Union, where railroads are that is
or less under the influence of these companies to-day
may be asked how this comes but it is certainly not
dihcult question to answer Prior to the meeting Of
these bodies the various roads which members
must travel to their State capitals send free tickets to the
respective members and during the session free parties are
made in certain cities and districts where particular leQis-
ation desired and free tickets and free invitations sent
to all the members, and each strongly urged to go and
cordially welcomed when there and thus the work of br
berry and corruption is commenced The next thing in Or
der is bill introduced granting little more power to one
road little more franchise another, and relieving
third from some onerous duty stringent restriction and
so II goes all over the State.
The argument is made that this measure does nobody
any HARM nterfercs with interest Of your constituents
or the State but that it will enable the company carry
lower and compete more successfully with other roads
and as this road is disposed 20 DO very LIBERAL espec
ally towards members, it should be accommodated The
blu Is passed, and the next year the very game is
played over again. and thus it goes from year year. and
these corporations keep accumuatng power until it will
be found they controlling everything There is but
limited amount OF power in the governments and in
public that power should be equally distributed among the
people, but when legislators who should always legslate
for te people make laws giving certain classes interests
more power than they originally had the balance Of the
q n IN
ber of our State legislature few days ago this subject
anshe showed me less than eight free tickets that these
railroads had presented him with and very pertneny re-
marked that he understood the object perfectly.
NO SIR these corporations are dangerous at
best and the general government should be very careful
now they foster them and, more especially should not
grant them the peoples land to build them up
am exceedingly sorry sir to see honorable gentlemen
on this floor pressing these grants with such vehemence
and am surprised-nay astonishedthat they should
claim these lands exclusively for the States under the
plea that the old States got the land within their limits for
their own Sir the old States purchased only the
lands within their own borders but much beyond They
purchased then sir price be reckoned in dollars
and cents They purchased them, sir at the expense of
seven years with of the greatest powers on earth
They purchased the sir at the price of the toll the prva
ton, the blood and the lives OF orethers and this
being the case sir may not well be asonshed that hon
orable gentlemen should insist that the old States not
entitled to any of the land acquired since inde-
pendencc? But | asked if | am opposed to all
donations of the public lands | answer not
but on the contrary, strongly in favor Of the
homestead bill,' by which every in our land can
become the possessor of comfortable home for himself
and his family, by which they be made comfort
able and happy, apd by which our great West can be
settled am also in favor of giving lands soldiers
the men who have risked their lives for counts honor
and glory; the men who have shown willingness to de
sert family friends and home TO defend liberties in the
hour OF trial and danger Aud last though not. least
am in favor OF making grants Of the public land for
poses Of education desire sir that every child in the
land shall be educated for without this what our
Liberties worth These Mr. Chairman, consider-unlke
the objects proposed in this bto be worthy the consid
atpen, nd
Christian.
BY making grants of this sort you encourage industry
frugality and economy; you offer reward to merit and
stimulate patriotic feeling by which shall always be
enabled to command sufficient force defend our cou
try you educate the rising generation and disseminate
knoWledgethe only guarantee that independence
viii be perpetuated We should be "just before pro-
pose to be generous We should provide means for taking
of those who have taken care of u.s. rs well as those
who are to take of postery, instead of bcsowing
our bounty on particular individuals corporations
whose only care is their own personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
am willing, and will vote to grant the right of way any
company dcsrous of building their road over any norton
of the public land and think this is all their friends
should ask This is all that has been asked from
dyldua andhodcrs by railroad companies anywhere and
more than ever granted to them The chairman the Com
mittec on Public Lands has said that Congress should take
the same view of this matter that individual would in
own case grant that should but where has any ind
vidua been called npon expected give half his
land to any railroad If there be such case i have
never heard ofi yet this bill claims that every buy
ing land within six miles of this road shall give the
nny the half OF it. The right of way is large item in
the location and construction Of road and very ewI
may soy no roadget it for their whole LENGTH and this
all IN my opinion, that Congress ought to grant any
road am opposed to giving in any case and give
notice now OF my determination to vote against every bill
that proposes to do opposed to it, because it
takes the property of the many and gives it the few
opposed to it, because it is calculated to foster and
build up monopoes and corporations. | opposed to
1t, because it compes the who wishes plough the
land to contribute to the specuator am opposed to it,
because is wrong both in principle and practice and
because its tendencies will be to corrupt the morals of egs
lation, and endanger rights
am in favor Of the homestead BILL of granting bounty
to our soldiers and Of making grants for purposes Of edu
cation because it encourages industry inspires patriotism
and gives promise for intelligent and vrtuous popua-
ton in all time to Give lands for the purposes ndi
Gated in this BILL and you encourage proGigacy vice. and
corruption Under system of this Sort may have APP
parent prosperity for time; but alas shall repent
when it too late TO remedy the evil Give your lands
the objects have indicated and you give impetus
industry encourage patriotism reward virtue and build
up an enlightened community. Under such system the
rights of our people and the liberties of country
and always viii be safe
Dickens tells the following story of American sea-
captain .a
"ln his last voyage home the captain had on board
young lady of remarkable personal araconsa phrase
use as being entirely new, and you never meet
with IN the newspapers This young lady beloved in
ensely by five young gentlemen, passengers and in
she was in love with them all adently but without
my particular preference for either.
:" Not knowing how to make up her determination in
this dilemma she consulted my friend the captain The
aptan, being man OF original turn of mind, says the
young lady, jump overheard and marry the who
lmps after YOU The young lady, struck with the idea,