The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-03-08


u From the Washington correspondent
the Muscatine Enquirer under date Of Feb
25lh.
The Pacific railroad bill reported by Senator
Foot. of Vermont, on the 3ist ult., is yet un-
touched-,he sentiment Of Congress, however,
seems to be that there is paramount necessity
foI providing for the work, and The feeling gains
ground that aid, in lands or money will be ten.
Sered for the companies for the construction OF
one or more roads.
The land bills, granting lands to States for
railroad purposes. gets on slowly but surely ];
eyery step is a forward, and there hardly re
mains doubt but the Wisconsin, Michigan,
Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, and Minneso-
ia bills will become laws. Iowa only is in
doubt and not because there 10 not disposition
felt to grant to her most literally; but because
an hundred harpies are here, who seek, through
this land bill to fasten on her fair bosom. Just
think Of the liberal and fair bill presented, in
accordance with our Legislative memorial, and
which. un,rammelled, would walk right through
losing only the McGregor standing road-thnk
of it. with the teeth Of oil the pack interested
in the elercn east and west roads fastened IN 1t,
each seeking to tear i, and rend It to pieces
with the selfish revolution "if We cant get
lands. nobody else shall" This is the position
Of our bill; aud confess have lost all patience
with the cursed cormorants. Judge Williams
will tell you, as do, that left TO themselves,
our delegation could not fail, with their inau-
ence and exertions, to secufe tor our State the
bill now before Congress, with the exception
no,ed-oiyine US, to build our roads the magni
fcent donation Of three millions Of acres.-But
do YOU no, know, that not only whiggery, but
"a ,tionist democrats, in our State, are willing
10 sacrifice this bill the altar OF partizan feel
ing, and to barter all the great interests invoIv.
ed in it, for the sake Of reProach upon our
party, or its representatives. Such IS the tact,
and this is one covert incentive TO the maneuver
ers in regard 10 it. There is some fear tell that
the com mi,tee will strike out on the central
route all that appropriates land east OF iowa
CITY. and leave the rival companies now con-
testing for the lands to their own resources, and
the State to choose between them west OF the
casital. where these routes are one. This
would be heavy blow 10 Muscatine. will
keen YOU fully posted on the subject. The
committees ace agreed not to exceed 20 ,0OO, 600
of acres in the aggregate grants this year; and
great ~ this grant seems, being equal TO twen-
~ five millions of dollars, At the minimum
price, TO be expended in public improvements,
vet MT a cent is gratuity, as the reserved sec
lions are doubled in value-and at 50 SD per
acre. renumerate the treasury. Think Of that
What empire on earth has ever exhibited such a
,pectacle-$:5, OOO, O00, on almost fabulous
wealth. distributed in one year to promote the
internal interests and prosperity OF the people.
indeed il may be that the amount realized f.om
this grant may reach thirty. forty, or even hi'y
mll;ons! Truly "ths are great country.
The French Spolation bill, which has beer
before Congress since 1904, and which provides
| for The liquidation Of claims amounting in thu
/ ayoreyate TO a., OOO, 900 for loses on account o
seizures BY France, in 1888 S4.S5, has at las
p,ssed the Senate, our Senators voting may,
and will pass the House. This bill, in my hum
BILE judgment, is the greatest wrong upon I'M
peoples treasury ever Perpetrated by congress
i Once not a corporal's guard could oe ioaad
advocate it, and they not without olushing; oa
the claims have passed into the nanos 0! Joo
hers and speculators, and OF late years u sue
ceeds by strong majority; and but one MAJ
has the courage to stand up and denounce ant
oppose it-and that man was A. Z. Dodge
Iowa. to his everlasting honor be 1t said on
corrupted by the great influences that nav
backed up this bill, untimidated BY the infoler
ant aud powerful array in its favor, with ieoi
less devotion to candor and duty, he charactei
ized the measure in bold and strong words
mourning its history into the shrinking ears ut 1t
advoca tes, and stripping bare ito fraud marke
features to the gaze OF the Senate. 1nefe wa
not man present who was not impressed B.
the grandeur of the scene, for you must reco
lect that this Spoliation bill has become yer
Juggernaut, crushing all who dare oppose II
and holding veto over conventions, caucuse
and Legislation. with its many will'oned power
/ couA wish that Pierce would now veto 1t, a
IL was vetoed once before; but we shall see.
The Gadsden treaty was sent to the Senat
, on Friday last. II is not yet published, but II
!, principal features are what have before state
fret, it extends our boundary, giving US til
Mesilla Valley; second, it provides that "
nav Mexico $3.50. OO0, 900, reserving So, GOO, W
10 nav claims, mentioning the Garay CLAIM
Third. that each country shall have power to pr
down fillibusters, pursuing them into the other
territory, if necessary, and fourth that ProPrr'
taken by the Indians shall be mutually retusne
or unidentified. The President proposes
amend the second provision by not neaiionin
any particular claim, end third 50 as not 70 q
! low pursuit into the territory Of the other row'
. by either. The treaty will, doubtless, be r
tilted.
The confirmations Of appointments progress'
/ from day to day, and a. yet without single r
: lection. except that of George Saunders, cons
I I to London. =.
Il M. Dawson. of Pa, in the House on Mo
d.v. repor,ed back Mr.. Henn's Homestead ~
recommending it's passage, ana mace an e.
quent speech upon it. 1t is thought that II W
| be changed to grant only alternate sections
a settlers-and difficulty is presented III u
!. question, whether tongress has power 70 CT
ate inalienable Homesteads. in the State
|" which may, by their local legislation, dele
: the object of the Government, &c. :. :,
:. There will be an effort made to modify u
Tariff, and az there is but little political feei'i
! ON that subject now, (whiggery having own
uo to another " obsolete" idea In their pa
!; greedy it may be effected without exc,tcme
;. and fox the good of the country.
RrLrAsEp. The three American sailors WI
have been so long imprisoned at Havana, are
: llesgth restored 10 liberty. This result IL So
.4iahsze hesn eaxcied mainly through the ex.