Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-01-19

WASHM0T0N NEWS AND GOSSIP.
RAILROAD GRANTS By CoSeREss.-On Satur.
day, we referred to this subject, and stated
certain rules that have been suggested. the
maintenance Of which, in all legislstion bx
Congress, on this important subject. was de-.
handed BY sound policy. Whether well OF
ill.founded, it is quite apparent that an ap.
prehensi0n exists, in many parts of the coun-
try that the unusual press upon Congress, a,
the present session, may effect the adoption Of
lavish, and, in some instances, ill.advisel and
wasteful measures, in reference to the public
domain; and, also, in the form of contracts OF
various kinds to be paid for out of the public
treasury. The present surplus of revenue has
doubtless, encouraged numerous applications
and schemes, which will be, in some degree
abandoned, when it Is ascertained that nearl,
the whole Of that surplus may be exhausted
to meet the acquisitions of the new treaty with
Mexico. But some will net be deferred b,
this fact. As heretofore, combina tions of diff
ferent and even rival interests may be con.
trived to secure mutual success by mutua,
action.
In relation to the railroad grants asked for.
1t should, in addition to the rules we have ad
verified to, be cardinal principle with Con-
gress to require every grant to be applied
for-to be considered and to be decided upon
by itself, and upon its own merits. The bills
for each State, and for each grant to tina
State, should all be separate. No on,uib4 )
arrangements to carry load of passengers
should be countenanced. In cases lacking
merits, the hostility and opposition of tn,
various suitors interested in obtaining dona-
lions for conflicting roads, $50 far as the dis
closure Of tho truth, with respect to each othe,
may be excited thereby will be of public adj
vantage. No two grants for the same State
should be allowed in the same bill; because, if
the applicants understand that the alIowanc,
Of one application may decrease the chance.
Of the others, while each one will extol the
transcendeut merits of his own case, equal
pains will be taken to exhibit the dement's Of
all competitors. This will be, in fact, the
chief means by which the truth can be fully
ELECTED.
One feature Of the opposition made to some
applications for grants now before Congress
for railroads., deserves q passing notice. Hi
that made by those interested in towns anc
villages, fearing the construction of such road
may divert commerce from them to some othe,
town or village, which the proposed road ma,
make more eligible as market. We do no.
hesitate to express the opinion, that to permit
objections Of such character to have the slight
est influence in Congre ssional legislation, q.
to railroad grants to State, would have o
most pernicious tendency. The miserable
strifes and squabbfcs between oil the riva
'hastle Pedlingtons, IN the vicinity of the
lands through which it Is proposed to run a
railroad, would be thrust into the Halls f
Congress The federal legislature would, il
every case, be appealed to as an umpire to de
eide those dif6culties, with as earnest impor.
tunity IS that exhibtct by the "IIards'' OF
the Empire State, with respect to their famil,
equabble with the ''Soi s." about the right t.,
ali the Offices. 1t would create an unpleasant.
because an unharmoD ious state of affairs
Such topics are precisely those which most
distress politicians Of q certain class of mind
In such disputes, they become as earnest and
energetic as the respective champions of the
different locations for the town pump of the
celebrated village above named. 1t mi ght be
regarded as unjust to intimate that the reason
OF this Is, because such matters are most gen.
orally more matters Of personal feeling and
interest than questions calling into exercise
sound judgment, eminent wisdom, or grea
craftsmanship; therefore, such suggestion i.
not made. But, 1t is true, that such opposition
| too often originating in unfounded jealousy
or excited by over-apprehension, selfishnes.
or envy, is very apt, just in proportion to it,
unreasonsbleness, to be violent and unsorupu
lous' and, generally in such cases, the NOR,
trifiDg the origin of the hostility, or tn,
more causeless the opposition is, the more
liked and vindictive will 1t be. Hence, i
would render little aid to calm, deliberat.
and impartial consideration and decision OF
the subject, with reference solely to the public
and general veal.
In looking to important general interest.
involved in the location of every such rail.
road of magnitude, and especially those ira
versing An entire State or several States and
| connecting them, and road destined through
all time to be great thoroughfare of travel
| and commerce, all merely local, limited and
| sectional considerations dwindle INTO ipsie.
nifcance. The question whether the interest,
OF this village, or that town, or the other city
in the State or elsewhere, in existence or in
embryo, or the site whereof is owned by many
or by few persons, may or may not De more OF
less benefited or reseive detriment, is alto
gether secondary and subordinate. And such
question is Of less consequence in a new
country, where there are generally but few
such interests of general character SO per-
manently established that interference with
them, and even change Of the location of a
town, If it is in q wrong place, would cause
any serious general injury. In this age Of
improvement and progress, towns and cite.
are regarded Is important chiefly on account
OF their superior manufacturing or CONNER
cial advantages. In former times in the
other hemisphere, they we're usually located
with reference chiefly to position for de-
fence againse5 or for attack upon, warlike
enemies, inland or by sea. In the United