The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-09-07

which the representatives of the people enrich
themselves and certain railroad companies, at the
expense Of the nation. Grants Of land to aid in
the construction Of railroads have become so very
common and matter-ofcourse things that people
generally might imagine that there was chapter
of the constitution devoted to the advancement
of that special object. And when their repre-
sentatives return home to render an account OF
their stewardship, they either blink the subject OF
railroad grants altogether-unless for the benefit
of their own States-or if they refer to them at
all, they do SO as matters Of the most trivial i'm
portaDce: whereas in point Of fact they are to
these same representatives the means Of speedy
enrichment
One of the arguments most strongly urged in
the House Of Representatives for the passage of
the bill giving respectable salary to members Of
Congress, was that it would render them more
independent and less liable to be swayed in their
legislative action by corrupt and improper mo-
tives. The idea was good; and if the people
thought that the Increase of salary would work
that desirable result, they might regard that bill
as the only wise and polite piece of legislation
enacted in the first session of the 3fth Congress.
Let there be but even o slight hope that the
$4,000 salary win conduce to common honesty
among the representatives Of the nation, and
those members who voted for that bill-albeit in
fear and trembling-need entertain no alarm as
to the consequences of such vote. But when we
glance back at the stupendous frauds perpetrated
within the last nine months by the whole
sale alienation of the public domain, and when
we calculate the profits derived from
such operations by those members who are not
troubled with over scrupulousness of conscience,
we cannot lay the fattering JUNCTION to our soul
that the servants Of the people are going to be
whit more honest in the future than they have
been in the past
During the session which closed on the 18th of
August the enormous haul Of from ten 10 tcelee
millions Of acres Of the public lands was made by
means of those gentlemen who were sent to Con-
gress under the old fashioned idea that they were
to be the honest agents and servants Of the peo-
pie. This haul was divided among real or i'm
aginary railroad companies in the States of Iowa.
Florida, Alabama Louisiana, Wisconsin, Michi-
gan and Mississippi. The ralae Of these lands, al
The minimum government price, IS fifteen millions
Of dollars. To the railroad operators and mono
polists who have got them they cannot be of less
value than eighty or hundred millions Of dollars.
The history Of the Illinois Central Railroad-the
line which initiated this system fplunder-proves
that we do not over estimate the value OF these
lands. This company, after defraying the entire
cost Of the road by mortga ying portion Of the
lands granted to it, has been selling the remainder
at prices ranging from IS to $40 per acre.
Take, then the value Of the lands coded to rail-
road companies at the last session to be
100000, 900, and it win be seen how omnipo-
tent are the influences that can be and are brought
TO bear on members of Congress in matters OF this
sort, and on what very slight foundation the
hope Of improved honesty among our legislators
rests. In the first place, most of the representa-
tives of the States benefited by these grants are
directly interested, either as stockholders in the
companies or as owners Of property near the pro-
posed routes OF course the profit which
they derive from the plumber IL incalculable.
depending altogether on the amount Of property
or stock which they hold, and on the increase
of value given to it. We presume that
with these members il is not necessary
to resort to any more direct means
Of influencing their action. Their votes are
always 10 DC reckoned on. But the members
from States which have no interest in the grants
must be brought over by other influences. To
accomplish their conversion, set OF unprincipled
and interruptions knaves consisting of ex-mem-
bers OF Congress, pettifoggng lawyers, broken
down politicians and newspaper correspondents,
are employed under the denomination Of lobby
agents, whose business it Is TO purchase or
wheedle members out Of their votes. These
prowling sharks are to the disgrace OF the
American Congress, admitted to the lobby OF
both houses, and even within the bar-their very
presence being enough to contaminatc the halls
Of legislation and infect them with the
faint Of corruption. Through these and
other kindred instruments, the purchaseable
members-those who have their votes to sell
are approached and dealt with. On the very
moderate assumption that one-half the members
of the House come within this category-having
no direct interest in the railroad grants and
having votes TO sell-and that five per cent OF
the total value Of the grants would be dedicated
to their conversion, there would be for such pur-
pose no less sum for the last session than five
millions Of dollars. What amount Of safety Is
there in three thousand a year against the ire
sistibe battery Of five millions session. The
managers OF the Pacific Railroad bill arc said to
have offered, even to lobby agents, thirty thou
sand acres for each hostile vote they could bring
round.
When we look at the motives for and means
of corruption-at the manner In which those
railroad bills are pushed through Congress,
under the pressure Of the previous question,
without discussion or explanaton--at the gene
raj character Of many Of the men who are got to
vote for them, and at the utter disregard
Of everything like sound policy or economy
evinced in their passage, We cannot resist the
accx;ct;on that that which overybOdv about