Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-04-06
P.EaKC MEETING.
No Land Grants to Corporations.

oil milwaukee, opposes 10 Orants OF the ruoiic
Lands to Incorporated Companies, for purposes
of private speculation and in favor OF securing
this vast Domain TO actual Settlers, held at
Metropolitan Hall. Tuesday evening, March
rs The meeting called TO order by John
i II Tweedy Esq, on whose motion u. A Upham
| ESQ was chosen President
On motion of Mr. Booth, the following Vice
Presidents, one from each ward, appoint
ed:
lst ward, s. Dagget,; Edward, Garrett Vliet );
Sd ward, L. G. Highly ith ward, D. E Cameron;
9Th ward, c. f. Wunderly.
On motion J. s. Mallory and E l.. H. Gardi-
ner were chosen Secretaries.
On motion of F J. Blair the Chair appointed
the following Committee Of six TO report resolu-
tons for the consideration of the meeting:
! f. J. Blair. F. Fratney, VI Schoeffier, John
| Nazro. Jr, John @ Inbucsh, F.. b. Wolcott.
Du,ing the absence of the committee the meet
ing was addressed by Rufus King, Hon. Levi
Hubbell. Hon John II Tweedy, S. NJ Booth, A
" Randall of Waukesha, and Charles c. Clement
of Racine
The Committee on Resolutions. thro their
Chairman Mr. Blair, reported the following, which
were adopted by reclamation:
Resolved That we cordially reiterate the fol
lowing resolutions, unanimously adopted at the
Democratic Mass Meeting in this city, which rat
fled the Democratic nominations for State Off
GERS, in the fall Of 1853 and which were also
passed unanimously al Democratic meeting in
Sheboygan, Fond du Lac and other counties 10
wit
o. Resolved, That the plan of granting pub
lie lands TO incorporated Companies, TO aid in pro-
iects Of internal Improvements. has proved un-
equal and unsatisfactory 10 the people among
whom it has been tried and that regard it
the settled and sound policy of Wisconsin to pre-
serve It's public lands ungranted and unencumber-
Cd for the Of actual settlers in limited quanti-
ties and at the lowest prices which will cover the
expenses o. surveying and selling them.
=. Resolved That in view of the progress
already made by several Railroad Companies in
,as State depending solely on private enterprise
,ri private means, and toward which hundreds
,,,ld thousands of the farmers of the State have
mortgaged their lands to secure payments of
stock, earnestly protest against the policy OF
granting the public lands-the common property
OF the people-to aid rival Companies to construct
extensive lines OF Road which viii be destructive
of the investment thus made in good faith and
upon fair prospects of remuneration
Resolved. That from the published statements
of the Rock River Union Valley Railroad Com
pany. il appears that the course of that Co. has
been, from the beginning, such as to show IL TO
be unworthy Of public coGhdence-that. by the
misrepresentation of its fiscal affairs in the east
ern cities and IN Europe, II has impaired the
credits of good Companies and injured the fair
name OF Wisconsin; by Its conduct at home it
has become principally notorious for lis attempts
! to corrupt the politics and the legislation OF the
State while II has faded TO fulfill any promise in
regard 10 the actual completion OF ITS road-that
in refusing 20 donate 10 a company of such char
{ ,bt
amounting in value 10 more than five millions OF
dollars, the Congress of the L. States is entitled
10 our most sincere thanks.
Resolved, That the grateful thanks of the cit
zens Of Milwaukee emnentIy due, and are
hereby heartily rendered, TO the Hon. John Letch
er, of Virginia, and the Hon L. B. Cutting, of
New \ ork, wet Us to the other members OF the
House of Rep who co-operated WIZ. them on the
floor of Congress. for their able and successful de
fens, of the rights and interests II this State, and
for their jealous efforts and uncompromising or
position Ia the grant Of millions OF acres of the
public lands TO private corporation, for the adj
yancernen. of private interests TO the injury of
competing enterprises and al the expense of the
| public veal
/ Resolved, That the Hon Daniel Wells. Jun
the Representative in Congress from this District
be instructed and the Senators from this State be
requested 10 their best efforts TO prevent the
/ passage OF any laws making grants of public
other internal improvement purposes. but 10 use
their best endeavors to secure the lowest possible
! price for actual settlers.
/ Resolved. That our delegates TO Washington
Nessrs. Walker Noouan and Kng-have well
ear ned the grateful thanks of the people of this
/ City and the State-for the industry energy and
assiduity with which they so successfully accom-
/ plshed the object OF their mission.
/ Resolved, That our Senators and Representa-
tives in the Legislature are hereby requested TO
oppose tie passage OF any memorial for grants of
land in al of Rail Roads on any terms and I'M
der any circumstances whatever.
Resolved, I hat Committee of five be appoint
ed 10 prepare address memorial 10 Congress,
setting forth the arguments OF principle and poll
cy against land grants in all of corporations, and
10 cause the 10 be printed and circulated for
signatures.
4 letter was read from the Hon ] r. Doolittle
Of Racine, declining 70 address the meeting, oyv-
ing 70 his official position, but denouncng the
system of Land Grants.
On motion, the chair appointed committee Of
FIVE. consisting OF the following 10 prepare aud
circulate an address 20 the people OF the State.
. nenloralziug Congress against the system Of
Land Grants. The following the commit
tee:
! J. A. Noonan, Rufus King, W P. Lynde, T
/ Fratney and 5 VI Booth
On motion, the proceedings OF the meeting were
ordered TO be Published in the city papers, and
I papers throughout the State. and copy OF the
. resolutions be forwarded to the Legislature.
/ On motion the meeting adjourned
d. \. J. UPHAM, Pres't.
G s MALLORY,