The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-03

CHANTING 70 THE STATE OF ALABAMA PUBLIC
LANDS IN ALTERNATE SECTIONS, TO AID IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF RAILROADS IN SAID stats.
DELIVERED HOUSE, or REPRESENTATIVES, MAY n, 1855.
Mr. SPxAKER-I differ with the gentleman from Ohio l
think the amendment TO the amendment Is perfectly
germaDe and it accordance with what have
been expecting We started with Iowa Tor four roads
eonsn and the bill has lust passed for three in thai state
The Committee Public lands reported a substitute,
which they directed the gentlemen from Alabama to of
fer, and that substitute provides for three more.
Not content with that however, and being little
hungry and greedy than the Others the gentleman from
Alabama moves an amendment TO the substitute, and
asks for six or seven In his State. 1t strikes me
that the gentleman from Alabama In rather
tent position this subject will be recoected that
he the father Of what called the Graduation act which
passed Is house two three years ago. and which
was urged on our consideration on the ground that the
lands in Alabama having been long time in market
and not having been sold at the price Of one dollar and
twenty nve cents per acre was right and proper that
half cents per acre. to bring them within the reach of
settlers in that neighborhood. That was DONE Now,
six railroads through that land, taking the odd
sections within six miles either side of those roads If
he get enough TO make the complement of odd
tons; and If not then nine miles either side,
bracing thirty miles within the limits Of the two outside
lines And what does he propose TO do with the baancep
To let them go TO the settlers who want TO buy the land at
two dollars and fifty IS acrehe very lands that
he said were too high when they were at one dollar and
twenty five cents per acre. and which his graduation bill
reduced to twelve and half cents per Now say
that this is most remarkable state of things He said
that the lands were too high at one dollar and
twenty five cents per acre, and after we have re
duced the price to twelve and half cents per acre,
at his suggestion he and proposes to
donate a portion Of those lands to tn proad corpora
tons which may be chartered by the LEGISLATURE of Ala
bama that the lands reserved the sections repre-
sened by the even numbers shall be open to entry by
actual settlers at two dollars and fifty cents per Is
not this position most extraordinary one9
But sir there is still another point Of view In which
the gentleman accupts q remarkable position. He be-
longs to what is called the democratic party of this House.
and endorsed such the Baltimore platform, which de
clares that the constitution does not confer upon tic
general government the power to commence and carry
on general system Of internal improvements thai
antidemocratic and in violation OF the principle
recognized and acted by that party He fought the
last Presidential battle on this platform in common with
myself and others Now sir here those four rail.
roads in Iowa. thousand one hundred and fifty three
miles in length. Here those three railroads in Wis
consn, five hundred and three miles IN length Here
also those three railroads in Florida FIVE hundred and
odd miles in length. Here these railroads lin Ala
bama, six in number, some six hundred or
eight hundred miles in length; making nearly three
thousand miles Of railroad TO be constructed donations
the public by this federal government and yet
the gentleman is bitterly opposed TO the policy OF a
general SYSTEM Of internal improvements by the gen
eral government Now Il three thousand miles Of rail
road in session OF Congress Is not general sys
tenn OF internal Improvement by this government, when
will we get TO in
been introduced in very unusual way, and have been
hastily pressed TO their passage None ofthese bills in.
PRODUCED by the Committee on Public lands, has
been printed, put in situation where they could be
accessible TO the members Of this House The bills and
amendments have been introduced and read at the Clerks
desk and then have been compelled to take the bills
in that way under the operation Of the previous question
Take the case Of this bin this morning The gentleman
from Alabama introduces BILL and brings substitute
in with it, The BILL as 1t went TO the Committee Pub
lie Lands, printed in part and partly in manuscript
with nterneations to make it conform the
views Of the gentleman from Alabama The substitute
comes to us in manuscript along with this bill Neither
se ana % Ssr an he
the substitute, the amendment IS within the reach
not teen printed ana laid beisre u.s. now ssy that hs
is most extraordinary legislation after what occurred in
the last Congress II viii be recoected that land bill
rhyOu in
ed TO this and by the change OF single word
by whom, or when or where made, we know not-tbe
lands given a direction never intended at the
time the bill was under consideration and passed
circumstance and with bills prepared the manner
these are nterned here and there and never printed
correct engrossment Of the bill and there is nobody in
this House who has the means Of comparing this bill
passed with the bill engrossed and signed by the es
dent because we have no printed bill with which to
make the comparison.
say, then, Is most extraordinary that a bill which
proposes 10 grant millions Of OF the public lands
should be passed here under such under
the OF the previous question, denying 10 everybody
only the right debate the bill even the right
it, The only privilege have i to hear it read e
the clerks desk, before We are called upon TO
upon IL.
bills unfair, that they do present true state of
facts 10 the country and that they calculated to max
an erroneous impression upon the public mind when
declared by the authors and advocates Of them that
for each odd section which the government grants
q
will balance the sections given away at the original cost
OF 81 70 per let show that such Is not the
There thirtysix sections Of land In each township
BY previous OF Congress the sixteenth section
each township has been donated 10 the States for school
purposes and thirty i've sections only are LEFT la
each nship be affected by these bills Seventeen
Of these are even sections and eighteen are odd
sections. Now You will notice that every one Of
these bills for the donation OF for railroad purpo.
DECLARES that the States 10 take the odd sections wi
In the range OF six miles either side and all the
served sections within that limit TO be sold at 81 80
Hftt fharg Ia rkQhIa hs.
the government and the corporations which
these lands donated: after these railroad companies
odd sections OF land TO which the bin entities them,
within six miles either side OF the road they
within fifteen miles either side OF the road and yet
not even one Of the reserved sections outside OF The Elk
and within the fifteen miles. Y Increased 70 80 an
fair onef when declares 10 the country that quantity
Of land equal 70 that donated 70 the road doubled 10
price and reserved by the government for sale II per
fecty manifest that the declaration Is correct
The next remark wish 70 make Is in regard 70 the
gumen relied upon here that the government being the
proprietor should contribute the construction
these improvements, az would be jadiclous appro
pration Of the public land Why, sir, what would be
thought Of that Individual who, owning six hundred
Of land should, being called upon, contribute more
than three hundred Of his tract for the purpose OF
getting railroad 10 alongside Of what was LEM Yet
such the operation Of this policy The government being
the proprietor and holding this land trust for the benefit
o. TIE states 70 be made 70 contribute 70 INC building
these roads than one half Of M land, within certain
limits running the entire length q the roads. j. this
such oonduc, a Of ordinary prudence and good
would exhibit regard te the disposition OF hi
own and9 Not at all. II u not pretended. No
would dream Of any such thing Let US see how this
matter works Here il the state Of Iowa. which has pro
jccied roads. and west through the entire State
distance Of three hundred miles IN parallel lines You
give 70 each the alternate sections within six miles
either side and they cannot get the requisite land
within that distance they are authorised 10 70 dis
lance Of fifteen miles, making distance o. thirty miles
each road. Here, then hundred and twenty
miles width Of the public lands IN Iowa covered by t
grant the construction OF those four roads
Well look al In another point o. view. viii hbc
pretended that these grants AZ land viii the
roads ray the whole cost Of them, and leave 70
the companies which 10 be organized by the state Le
gsature amount with which 70 make large dividend
a the proceeds Of the sale q the lands after Inc work
Is completedf Take for illustration the Illinois Cen
trial Railroad Of the FIRST o. the kind pa
BY Congress charter granted by the Legislature
II Illinois individuals the states Of New York
and Massachusetts, who were 10 take these
lands and construct the road for them. What
has been the result Tho work has been com.
menccd and carried successfully and the road