New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-26
THE RAILROAD GRANTS.
Prom Oar special Correspondent.


WASHINGTON, Thursday, May2 1856.
Those who suppose that the Railroad Grants are
going to be followed by Free Land bill, are, in
PLAIN terms. sold. And if anybody has lent aid to
the former on the superstition or tacit understand
ing that such q course would placate Members aud
make them consent TO the Homestead, great is to
be that bOd,s disappointment. The railroad in
torest. established by the action Of Congress, is
now elevated into a powerful influence which will
react upon it, and efectually restrain and prevent
oil Legislation which will damage the interests of
the railroad people. The passage Of a Homestead
act will take the lifeblood out of them, and thus
it does not stand ghost Of Il chance. Besides,
there is no money in it, and ii would be funny to
ace big bill go through that was thus poverty
stricken aud dependent on its own merits. |
Won't undertake to say what the House may do,
but the idea of either branch passing it with the
expectation that the other will do likewise, is u
great sreenness.
This whole scheme Of grants to railroads, which
has been maturod and executed here this session,
is striking example of the superabundant want of
Judgment in our legislation Or, if it be not want
OF Judgment, it is want of something else which it
is not worth while to be particular in naming.
The substantial fruit aud consequence of this egis
lation ia to throw all the best pnhlic lands, and
those most cCmmodiously situated, into the hands
of the capitalists and the corporations In
the West A settler going into Iowa to-day
with bic money in his pocket to buy
farm. cannot buy an acre of land in that vast and
almost wilderness State except at second hand or
third. or fourth or fifth hand In short, without
buyiua il Of some man who holds it on speculation
and wants good profit on the Government price.
In its eager grasping after lands to build railroads,
the State itself has overlooked its own vital inter
ess. IL has shut up the public land Offices by
compelling the withdrawal OF all the Government
lands from market and thus shuts out the emlgrant
population upon which all its prosperity and all
the value of the railroads must depend. Thus,
also IL Ia to be elsewhere, though not to 80 geeat
an extent. 1t IS the understanding OF the an: hors
of tAese railroad bills that their terms prevent
eyN the right OF actual settlers to presumption
at any price. thus excluding every emigrant from
the eutire State except he buys of speculative pro-
priotors The uPshot of the whole thing is TO
create a vast land monopoly throughout the West
The railroad corporations will he tae greatest pro-
prietors, and after them wealthy individuals hold
ing tracts rivalng in quantity those held by the
Brtish nobility. The dclcterious effect OF this
policy can hardly be over stated. And every step
in it has been giant stride away from the princi
pies Of homestead bill. The idea of connecting
the two measures, and hold ne them likely TO pro-
sress side by side, is totally insdmssiblo.
II osr Legislators had wisdom enough to hold on
TO our public lands for the benefit of actual set
tlsrsat$ 81 - per acre, il would be a thousand
tues better than to make these enormous grants,
,ns he quite nm adequate substitute for any Home
stead bill; for il must be- very seriously questioned
whether 1t Is really of advantage to any man to
maui him outright with section or a quarter
action Of land The policy that is wanted Is that
uhicb will ensble him 10 procure II at low price,
and sso prevent large sccumulatons Of land in the
hands of any proprietor. Laws that would Sc
cure these two objects are what is needed. sni
their operation would probably prove sufficient 70
secure al the beuefcent results that be secured
Nv Legislation on this subject. But Congress is
running away ~ rsce-h horse speed from such a
jud.cious policy. II is making haste 10 slenstc
public domain, and lsvishing It in vast quantities
upon indiyic usls and corporations without shu
aud without restriction thus oursing the new West
eru States which are tAe subjects Of its bounty
JSP