The Empire County argus., 1854-04-08
Donations of Lands from the Publte Domain Of Mts

Donations of Lands from the Public Domain Of ths
State for Rail Read p,upoScs-Joint Resolutions
In opposition hereto-M. St"easgs Spcech
The following Resolutions were introduced in the
Assembly on Monday, March Goth, by MIR. SwEA-
sEY, of San Francisco, who, on their presentation,
made the subjoned remarks:
Whereas We are informed the Congress of the United
States have under consideration bill donating to actual
settlers Homestead on the Lands OF the T. =; "na
arc limited, and constitute but small part OF her whole
area and large portion of this ad is claimed by virtue OF
Spanish and Mexican grants and large portion OF the Fe
nanler being already appropriated to the specific objects OF
education and and internal Improvement of our state and
Whereas Measures now pending in both Houses OF
Congress to donate large quantities Of land for the encour
agcment of the construction OF Rail ROADS IN this state
on each side of their respective lines. which lines in neatly
their entire length th, best agricultural and
of State thus absorbing very large portion OF all tha
to which just and benefcent act before mentioncd-ac
knowledgng the right every to portion OF the earth
and thereby rendering that act nnty and destroying
the hopes large portion of people who are unable TO
Whereas The bestowal of avors corporate bodies is
incomuatibe with the genius of our republican institutions
and subvcrsve of the equal rights of the people, Therefore
belt ,,.. O.o4o .r5 ,s.o,,t,,. or tlo q4,to %
California, That the Congress of the United states be mo
morazed the effect that the proposed donation of land
ceivng it from which the state will receive nothing and
which the people will be depiivcdto the full extent o the
gift to railway companeof their rghtu inheritance
Resolved. That the legitimate commerce of the proposed
roads upon which this mncen gft sought to he bc3toW
ed will afford ample nduccmcnt to the investment ofcapal
ard liberal remuneration for the amount empoyedin their
Resolved, That the bill now before Congress- donating
to actual settlers a homestead the public domain, while
but fsim1c Justice fU The lthror is recommended by
the bighcst itr4o. to,a economy, therefore,
Resolved That our senators in Congress arc he by in
sruced and Representatives requested all honor
able the passage OF the homestead donation
bill oppose by like the passage of any bill
donating the public lands for the purpose OF eArchng COM
panies corporations.
Resolved, That the Governor of thi. State be requested
to forward to each of Senator's and Representatives, in
Congtes|, copy of this preamble and resolutions
MIR. SPEAKER AND GENTLENIE,; OF THE ASSEM-
BLY, said MIR. Sweasey:-l rise to move that 240
copies of the resolutions i1st read be printed. At
the same time, sir, ask permission of the House to
make statement which those resolutions are
based for the following reasons lst Their I'M
portance, which possibly some honorable gentleman
may not see in all its bearings. 2nd. That if
am wrong members may have time to bring proof
to that effect. 3rd That no unnecessary time may
be lost that they may reach Washington in time
to prevent thee contemplated action OF Congress.
Have leave! Leave granted.
Mr.. Speaker In commencing wish to define
nv position, that [ may not be misunderstood or
misrepresented | occupy on this floor the proud
position Of Representative OF the people OF Cal
afornia In that position have acted, and shall
speak boldly the truth, much as may be nee
essary advocate the rights Of the people, regard
less of who it may seattle, Of what party it may in
lure, or whatever grand scheme Of plunder or
wrong it may destroy. Fin so doing may injure
the feelings the prospects of any member OF this
House, of our members of Congress, of our State
officers, any other person it will give me pam.
but it is my duty. mean no disrespect to the in
diyidual, but of his conduct in ow words |
war not with men, but with principles. advocate
no mans in particular, but the cause Of man,
in the aggregate. Mr. Speaker in the tritling caus
es that have occupied or agitatcd this assembly for
more than two months have taken little part:
they are evanescent. Who in the course Of few
days will care which way we voted on the Re-
moyal or Senatorial questions. True, they may
make capital on the stump, III some counties
one way in some another. But, sir, our action
the action of Congress their bils-on these res
olutions will effect our peoples welfare, for good
or for evil for all time. 1t IS sir, questions OF
this kind we ought to be conversant-it is how II
man votes on such questions as these, that proves
his truth, his fitness, to occupy the honorab posi-
ton off Representative this floor,
Mr.. Speaker A fcw days since article APP
rcared in the Democrat, Published in this city; en-
dorsng and eulogising the conduct of one OF our
Senators and immediately sought the bill, OF which
ton man who is niggardly or backward in
paying his own debts, but has no objection to squan-
der the property of others. have noticed this
disposition in Uncle Sam lately Take an Illus
tration-he some few paltry thousands OF
dollars, which he refuses to pay-not because he
But he offers, or is thinking of giving to some of
his nearest neghbors, and strangers, some millions
of acres of our land Now how is this lie has
always been a remarkably kind uncle. Surely he
cannot yet be in his dotage. No sir, but we have
not sent the right men to tell him what we want
Possibly they may not know. Then, we will in
sruct them The bill provides, under certain re-
strictions the donations of lands for the consruc-
ton of railways in our State. Mr. OWNS bill
asks for donation of land for railways, about in
all $50 miles; MIR. McDougal's for the National
Railroad, and possibly branch roads in our State;
and in case | have over-estimated Mr.. Gwins-wc
will call that $50 also, although it must be near
double. These bills propose to donate alternate
sections sx miles wide, or q no square miles or
26SS.000 acres. But, sir, this is not all---these
bills provide that the United States shall not sell the
reserved sections for less than S2 per acre, con-
seouent!y we have reserved from the laws of Con-
gress Of many years standing (selhng the public
lands for 81 "A per acre. strip OF country loo miles
long, II miles wide, or $4,000 acres, which the
United States is forbid to sell at S2i2 per acre,
unless first put UP at auction; consequently the