Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-03-16


Railroad swindiers have been playing in order to-
secure the passage of the grant of lands which
they seek, may be gained by the perusal of the
following letter from Ex-Governor FaIwell, which
read by Mr. lie cher in the House of Repre-.
sentatves, during debate upon that measure on
the Isl inst
Washington, Feb. IS 1854.
To Senator'S and Representatives, IN Congress from the
StGtcof Wisconsin
GENTLEMEN On my arrival in this city
Saturday evening, the 25th inst, my attention was
called to the memorial OF the Legislature of the
State of Wisconsin, passed April 10 1852. asking
of Congress. the grant of public lands 10 aid in the
construction of Railroads in that State upon which
memorial | understand the action o. the delegation
in Congress has been based; and | find, ex-
animation OF the said memorial thai ii is not
the fora ,cic passed The Legis!atueo The SAID
STATE.
| would state for your information that an i'm
po1tdH amendment attached 10 the said nenoriu
Il finally pissed, setting forth the terms upon
which the State Of Wisconsin desired land grants
IN aid OF the railroads within its borders, which
amendment does not now appear In the memorial
You will find memorial passed April IA, of the
same year and approved by the Governor, which
embndies the principles of the amendment referred
10. | would also state that the memorial first
mentioned was never presented 10 me for Execu-
tive approval, but was sent on contrary 10 usage,
and without my knowledge, through the office of
Secretary of State A reference to the acts passed
by the Legislature OF the State of Wisconsin for
the year of 1882, copy of I'll may be found
IN the Congressional Library, will show that this
memorial alone, of all passed during that session,
did not receive the approval and does not bear the
signature OF the Governor of the State
have deemed ii my imperative duty as the late
Governor of the said State to call your attention
to those facts, leaving You to take such action
upon them as you may deem due 10 yourselves.
and to the interests and honor of the State which
you represent
L remain, gentlemen, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant
LEONARD J. FAREWELL
Tina, portion of the memorial which was sup
pressed was the following provso
"Pyorldea, That such lands granted shall be
constantly iii market until sold, at the price of
one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, or less,
as the case may be: ind provided further,
That no such lands shall be sold except TO actual
settlers
lhIs rrovlso was inimical TO our Western De.
rnocracy of course. If man is such fool as
70 think of getting honest living by cultvating
the earth. they believe in making him pay round
sum for his land 10 the drunken. vagabond mem
bers OF some corporation, who are altogether too
sharp TO work for living Rowdy politicians
by forming themselves into a Railroad Co. can
have land free of charge with which TO speculate
upon lhe necessities OF the honest ard industrious
class who till the soil. Monks Hall Dem ocr acy
holds that said rowdies should have no restrictions
placed upon their exorbitance. This species of
Democracy processes unbounded esteem for the
immigrant. Its adherents are anxious 10 estab-
hsh agency in New York, to forward immi-
grants into this State out of pure regard for them
Would not their esteem appear quite as consistent
If they would use their influence to procure for
such Immigrants a honestead-a spot of earth
which they might call their own free of charge
where they might their habitations. and con.
vert the wilderness into smiling landscape of
rural plenty and happiness Instead of this their
policy is TO get the public domain into the hand.
OF nonopolIes and spectators, anc to keep an
agent N New York, at the expense Of the State
TO encourage immigration, that said Spectators
may reap the benefits, and aggrandize themselves
by pocketing The money of the hardy pioneer
Madison Journal