Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-06

of land, for schools and railroads. to the old
States as we'll as to the new, and supported it
In . short, but able argument He spoke
effectively, because he spoke earnestly and
directly to the purpose He is famed for prsc
ticability as legislator, usually making
speeches which do as much for his cause, as
those Of any gentleman now in either branch
Of Congress.
His bill involves one Of the most important
questions before Congress-one he has fully
examined, and with which, we must do him
the justice to say, be is perfectly familiar.
That is. of the proper disposition, according
to his theory, of the public lands. He insists
they are the common property of all the States,
and should be disposed Of for the common
benefit Of all, and especially so far as they
may be granted to the States for public pur.
poses. He proposes to give to the old States
some share of the public lands for school pur-
poses. contending that it is as just and proper
to make such grants to one State as to another.
That these grants should be made equally. or
at least to some amount, to all the States so as
to recognize their common rights and property
in the public lands. And the same as to
grants for railroads And that this becom es
ali important, when these grants to the land
States, are so rapidly increasing year after
year-and where, as at present, the lands are
likely to be wholly or mainly appropriated to
He essayed to prove by official statements
that more land had been given or granted
away than had been sold and that these
grants had been wholly made for the benefit
of the land States and the Territories He
also argued, with much force, that the railroad
grants were mainly gift by the Government
to the States foo the roads, and that the
alternate sections were only, to a small
extent comparatively, doubled in price, and
that not much Of that had been sold at
the increased price. He said the bill he
proposed would give all the old States
only between 20, 00O, 900 and 80, OOO, 900 acres,
when there had been already granted, in all,
some 123, 1000, 900 acres to the land States and
Territories, and they now ask over IL, ZOO, 600
more for railroads. He claimed for the old
States what he held to be equality and justice
if this system was to 60 on from year to year
and he endeavored to place the injustice to
them of the present course of legislation, in a
strong light. Mr.. Benefits bill in the last
Congress passed the House, but was not acted
on the Senate. We should by no means be
surprised if the present one was also adopted
by the House. Under his calculation, the
sales hereafter to be made will amount to little
He contends that the lands are being disposed
of much too rapidly by Congress, and in this
hurry to get rid of the public lands, he urges
the old States to wake up and take their share
Many members from the old States evidently
think the time has come to do so-and, as be-
fore remarked, We are not certain but that 1t
will be done. The further consideration Of this
measure is fixed for next Tuesday
The Last Misrepresentation Concerning
John W. Forney.-The correspondent OK
of the Baltimore Sam, publishes runner that
Col. Forney intends to resign his post as Clerk
of the United States House Of Representatives,
because of his alleged connection with the
Union newspaper; and We perceive that the
New York Heraid's telegraphic correspondent
hints alta resolution inquiring into Col For.
ney's connection with the press, and his con-
sequent neglect Of duties, &c. Doubtless, when
this gentleman intends resigning his place, he
will notify the House. We hope he will do no
such thing. AS for his connection with the
press if that be true, what is there in it that is
criminal? Mr.. Chandler, of Pennsylvania,
when first member Of Congress, was, for
years, a leading Wing editor, and Mr. Stanton,
Of Kentucky, is now an editor; and surely
what is right in a representative, cannot be
wrong in an officer. Mr. Glossbrenner, Ser
geant- alarms of the House, is at present a
highly accomplished editor; and there is hard
ly clerk Of q committee, in either Houss.
who is not an avowed correspondent for several
being at the head of the list.
Col. Fornsy's pen is rarely idle We know
no more studious: laborious, and hard working
man. His whole soul is with his party, and,
whether in or out of the press his leisure is
always occupied in defending its princi
Piles. His connection with the Union would
be vast advantage As for his neglect of the
duties Of his Office, he may well afford to laugh
1t that. He never omi,s duty, and is always
ready to answer demands upon his time,
whether Congress be in session or not We
know of no more quiet or efficient officer
Naval Captains and Commanders. are
inclined to believe that the House Naval Com
mittee, instead Of agreeing to recommend an
increase Of the number of captains in the SER
vice, in accordance with solicitations said to
have been earnestly pressed on them, have
formally determined to provide in their new
bill for the ev entual reduction of twenty five
rom the aggregate number Of these two high
sst grades in the service nominally, or CONVEX
ionally ready for active duty. This will COM
pei all Of them actually fit for full duty to be
Tery constantly employed
The New Stea0ers.-We take it for granted
hat at least two Of the six new steam shi DE-
about to be built for the navy, will bs con.
'tructed at the Washington Yard, wherein the
Brandywine and Potomac, the frigates which
have probably served most satisfactorily.
the Columbia, the fastest frigate in the
'ervice, and the St. Mary's and St. Louis
he swiftest, and by long odds the best sIoops