Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-07-12
l,7l7,933 90
800 452 $50 90

$50, 452 $50 30
A considerable portion of these lands were
sold to early settlers at - per acre. and in very
many instances from as high as So to even $40
per acre At our land. sales, twenty, thirty,
and forty years ago, there were no combinations
on the day of sale. practice which, in the more
Western States, has contributed to a large re.
duction of the net proceeds realized by the
General Government from the sales of their
lands. On the other hand, our people frequent
ly paid twofold the government price for their
homes, purchasing honestly at public sales; in
full competition with spectators. This cannot
be said of any other State admitted into the
Union since 1916; and hence ii follows that the
net proceeds realized by the Government, have
been materially enhanced by the orderly and
honest behavior of our citizens-those hardy
pioneers who felled the forests, opened the
highways, and studded the bosom of this gi...t
State with the centers of civilization and cul-
ture, which adorn it. They have dealt
literally and faithfully with the General Gov.
eminent, and demeaned themselves quietly and
peaceably.
But for this, her simple duty, in which she
claims to be behind none of her sister States,
she has never demanded or received reward.
The General Government has made liberal
grants of lands to Illinois, Missouri, Iowa,
Wisconsin. and other States, for the purpose of
constructing their great systems of railways.
To Indiana she has made none, though her CEN
trail position among the North Western States.
render her lines of railways of vital importance
on either hand. Alone, she has struggled on
until she has as many or more miles of railway
completed, or in progress, as any State IN the
Union, every nile of which has enhanced the
value of the public domain within her borders,
and expediated its sale until not over 200, 00O
acres remain unsold.
We are not unmindful, that the General Gov
eminent aided the State, BY grant of lands to
construct the Wabash and Erie Canal-a work
of immense MISUNDERSTANDING 463 miles in
length, and in its present completion uniting
t.'e waters OF the lake with the waters of the
great valley of the Mississippi The prosecu'
ton and completion of this work has added to
the wealth of the United States, enhancing the
value and increasing the sales of their lands
And rs further remuneration for said grant il
is, provided that the said canal when com
pleted, shall be and forever remain public
highway, for the use of the Government of the
United States, free from any toll or other chargs
whatever, for any property the United States
or persons in their service, passing through the
same"
We submit, however, that the State never re-
ceived for the building of this canal, the amour
/ vi iduuS contemplated ny ktdht. 10y III
construction given to the law by the Commits
sioner of the Land Office, she received only tn
pro rata of lands for the measurement of the di
rect route of the canal No computation wa
made for the increased length occasioned by tn
| sinuosities of alignments incident to all sucl
works, or for the expense of reservoirs, feeders
&C. If computation Of these items were fairl
made, the Stale would still be found entitled {
a quantity of lands not less than 500 900 acres
Aud it is pertinent here to restate, that eve
the gift she did receive, was in due time brough
forth, in the days of her embarrassment an,
adversely las the Roman matrons surrendere'
| their jewels to the State) and honorably give
to her creditors, rather than the least imputa
ton should rest upon her good faith.
/ In view of what has been above suggested
we respectfully submit, that Congress shoul
pay to the State the amount due her by sOlem
compact of the three per cent fund. so called
that the obligation viewed by itself is unir
fringed and in full force Aud further, tina
| the excess of equivalent rendered to the Geners
l Government by the honest demeanor of her Gil
liens in the purchase Of the public lands with
out combinations, and consequently at advance
prices; by the stipulated exemption from taxa
ton of all lands sold; by the faithful con
struction of highways and bridges; and tn
super added and unaided construction of he
railways, fairly entitle her to the generou
treatment of the Government with reference (
the bonds of the Stale which she holds. An
when in addition to these considerations it
remembered that a very large balance is du
the State, as above suggested, under generou
and equitable construction of the Act grantin
lands to her canal, We respectfully submit
that the bonds referred to, should be surren
dered without further equivalent.
have the honor to be,
Most respectfully yours, dc.
| JOSEPH A. WRIGHT.
Hon. ROBERT MoCLELLAND, Secretary Of the In