The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-07-26
The following is an extract from letter
received by the editor from Representa-

The following is an extract from letter
received by the editor from Representa-
tive in Congress.
You have doubtless seen that the great
Pacific Rail Road scheme is postponed until
the next session. The homestead Bill is
cow being discussed in the Senate, and there
is some hope, though no certainty, that some
substitute may be adopted gradua ting the
price, of all the public lands, or giving it to
the States, at some fixed reduced price to be
paid by them into the Treasury, and thus
place the whole subject, so fruitful of Dem
agogueism, and corrupt speculation, beyond
the action of Congress in future, or il may
be, that some amendment may be made to
the House Bill in the Senate, leaving its
agrarian principles still in it, and If so we
may possibly be able to stave it off in the
House Until the end of this session. There
is much speculation here upon the probable
action of the President in case the Bill pass.
es, some affirm very positively, that he will
veto It whilst others are equally rs positive
that he will not. How distinction can be
made between it and the insane bill, in prin,
ciple, am sure cannot tell, but yet, Cass
aud Douglas profess to see difference
My own opinion is that the Bill as it passed
our House, is one of the most iniquitous
Bills that ever passed through Legislative
body, and will not except the first agrarian
act in in Rome. 1t rewards vagabondism m
and vagrarcy, at the the expense of those
who paid for it in blood and money, and no
one who has contributed to its acquisition
will scarcely ever obtain lands under it, be-
cause no one having any sort of home will
hardly ever abandon it, simply to obtain 100
acres, yet, it is hobby for politicians to
ride into power upon, and hence its great
popularity.
But little else will be done this session,
except plunder and the passage of the gen.
eral appropriate Bills, and they are large
We have large majority called Democrats
in the House, and still such is this system
Of log rolling, that on all the Bills for inter
nal improvements and other appropriations
meuiUeIs get SUMS inserted Tor Inelr own
locations, and when the Bills are voted upor
thay unite enough with the wings, to carry
every thing together, and will then furnish
the latter with the argument that this ad.
ministration, Democratic, is the nest ex-
travagant we have ever had. 1t is true the
expenditure Of the Government is necessarily
increasing, but at least a thlrd might be cut
of, We're it not for the causes above. The
truth is we have not great many now in
Congress-. who seem TO me to contine them.
selves to the legitimate expenditure Of the
public money, and such is the machenery of
the Tariff, and our revenue system, that
see no remedy for it, unless the people could
see precisely what they pay towards the
support of the Government, then they would
hold their Representatives to bctter ac-
count There are men here, who believe
would vote to throw money into the Potomac
River, rather than let there be a surplus rev.
snue, and furnish an argument for reduc-
ton of the Tariff.