Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-03-27

f . - +" '52, TO g 1853 1872. 469
/ Thus we see that in 1882 and 1886 tn
sales were; Very large--amounting,
1886, to more than $25, 900, 01o.
] Now the gentleman says that this
owing to the policy of allowing thes
grants to railroads. and that the land woul
not have sold at all if it had not been 10
the grants. 1T is attributable to no sue
thing. 1t is attributable to the state @
things Which existed in the country at til
time these sales were made.
The whole country was then wild will
the spirit Of speculation. Banks were
multiplying. Everything in which spec
nlation could be made was sought for
greedily taken up, and earnestly prosecn
ted and, under the influence of that spec
ulating spirit. these extraordinary sales o
the public laids were made. Look at thu
state OF things now. Within the last two
years, I venture to say that the banking
capital OF the country has been doubled,
or, perhaps, more than doubled taking
one State with another. believe fiat it
has bern SO il r,y own State and these
are strong and conclusive. indications OF
the specializing spirit WHICH is abroad in
the country at the. present time, And il
speculation brought about This result in
1885, 1886, and 1887, why cannot specu-
laticn bring it about 10 1854. VIII not the
san:e result follow from the same ca,,se p
Then say that it is not attributable TO
this policy at all. These lands would have
been sold from this spirit of speculation. -
Do you not see, in proof Of this position.
that the gentlemen from these new States
are warning against spectators here by
amendments to the homestead bill, and in
all other conceivable modest? They tell
you that they do not want men to come
into their country and buy up their public
lands. What takes them there3 Is it
not the belief that they can make more
money by investing in these lands than
can be made by investments in other spec
nlations' Nothing has carried them into
the new States bat the hope of gain.
Let me tell the gentleman from the west
one thing that will grow out Of the policy
pursued by them IN reference to these land
grants. You grant them to the State to be
sure, but when SO granted, the land lmme-
diately passes out OF their hands into the
grasp OF sodless corporations. What will
be the RESULT These corporations, invest
cd with their great powers, are TO have the
benefit OF ali these iands, end the control OF
al these improvements. They are to have
the power Of dispos'ng CT them; and the
result will be, that we shall hear against
them the same complaint IN regard 10 with
holding the public lands from market,
which has been made against the govern
ment by gentleman upon this floor. What
restrictions do they impose in regard to the
sale of lands? Do they say that ther shall
sell them to actual settlers, or sell them
within a givin time? Nothing Of that
sort. The result will be, then, that these
corporations will become oppressive
They will war upon everything that cross
es their path, in order 70 make the most
money by the heartless abuse oitheir pow
err placed in the hands, indiscreetly, as
think by these legislative acts. And |
shall be surprised il, in the course of "a
very few years, we do not find some o.
these gentlemen ptoclaiming a doctrine
which they regarded many years ago as
remarkably odlous--started by Mr.. Dallas.
of Pennsylvania.
The burden will grow intolerable, and
they will desire to get rid of it. and IN
order to get rid of it, they will ask re.
zeal Of the charter, and the charter will
have to be repealed if they get the des, :
ed relief. shall be surprised if such is
no, the result. confidently expect it !;
and II the burden were upon any people
other than those who made the bargain,
do not know but ! should clap them Oh the
back, and applaud them for attempting to
relieve themselves from it. But they have
made their bed, and so lei them lie.
Now, sir, in regard to this Illinois char
ter; | refer TO it again for the purpose OF
showing that it is a somewhat different
charter from the one which is proposed in
this act; the Illinois railroad charter is for
ga grant of lands to the State of Illinois for
the constructing of a railroad from the
southern terminus of the Illinois and Mich
igan canal to a poirt near the junction OIL
the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, with i
Branch Of the same to Chicago, Oh LAX.
Michigan, &c.
Well, now, what does this bill propose
nat tHCIC NC anu 10 HCiCDj t,idutCu u
the State of Wisconsin, for the purpose o
aiding in the construction of IA railroad from
near the boundary ofthe said State, east 0,
range thirteen, By way Of Janesriiio. IL
Rock county, and Fond du Lac, on LGat
Winnedago, to such point on Lake Saperi
or as may be designated under the author
ty of said State, and for the construction
Of branch railroad from GAINESVILLE, b,
way Of Madisou," &c.
Now, why does not this road run from
Chicago to its terminus on Lake Superio
by the most direct line? Is it necessary t,
run northwest for eighty or ninety miles
and then aortaeast for about the same dis
lance, and then zig-2ag, and then north
west again to Lake Superior, If tae roa,
were run strait from Chicago to Lake Su
perior, the distance would probably be on,
hundred and fifty or two hundred mile
less than by the proposed route.
| Mr.. Cobb, (interrnpting) Yes; but tha
route is perhaps tnpracticable.
Mr.. Lrtcher., Oh, no doubt; of course
it is lmprac:leable, when the eompan,
want to make war on these lake shor
towns far the benefit Of Chicago. 1t wa
that which made it impracticable. Their
cannot be any other reason for their rui,
ming the, road in the manner they propose
But ifthat is impracticahle how do the
expect to get up to the Falls of St. Croi
/ river by the OHIO line