The true Democrat., 1856-12-02
Speech of Hon. Daniel Griffin


 Speech of Hon. Daniel Griffin,
 Of Hempstead county. chairman of the House
 Standing Committee on Internal Improvements
 upon tue Amendment to strike the Swamp
 Land sections from the Cairo and Fulton rail-
 road biN, introduced by Mr. Pettigre,o of Seuier
 county.
 Mir. Griffin ed that he arose for the purpose of putting himself right upon this sub Ject. That when the subject of the railroad was referred to the committee he felt that the future prosperity of the State and general welfare Of her citizens must and would be se- rously affected by the action of the committee and of the Legislature upon this subject That when he called his committee together and they had instructed him, as their chairman, to report bill turning over to the company the lands given by Congress to the State to aid in the construction of railroad, as indicated in sad act, without legislative restrictions other than those contained in the act of Congress, and to pay due regard to the interest and rights Of the actual settlers who had made locations under the swamp land laws of Arkansas-that he, as chairman, had proceeded.wi great deli beratlon and caution; that he felt it to be his duty and did consult the executive of the State and the president of the railroad compa- ny about the provisions of the bill, and that he felt assured they would meet the approba- ton of the company and of the executive as being just and reasonable
 The sections concerning swamp lands were inserted in the bill for the protection of actual settlers, and not to benefit the company, and will, if retained in the bill, affect the co m pany injurlousy. so far as dollars and cents are concerned, but will, he has 10 doubt, be approved by the company as being as nearly equitable as any arrangement of that kind could be made under the circumstances, both to the settler and the company.
 The State sold few tracts of land as swamp lands to actual settlers in good faith, which are in truth, railroad lands
 Such settlers have acquired equitable rights and the State ought to protect them if she can. for a State should always be just; the State in- vted the settler to purchase, asserting the lands were her own. Should such purchaser lose his land you may expect petition after petition to subsequent legislatures for pay for their i'm provements or relief against other losses incur red by them from such purchases
 The company by those provisions only get anI p,,r,I al f,> IL , l .i thought best the sections can be so changed and amended as to grant the railroad lands at S2 50 per acre, the minimum fixed by Congress for similar lands, and the State grant swamp lands Tn lieu thereof at 50 cents per acre, their mi nlmum as fixed by law; he cared not which way the exchange should be made, this cer- talnly would be fair way of settling the diff hculty, and we ought to do it now If we refuse, the settler will and ought to hold the State responsible for the gross wrong and inius- tlce done hin; the fault will be at the door of the legislature and not upon the company for the company will consent to this arrange ent. These lands must be used by the State for rail road purposes, as indicated in the act granting them, and can be used by the State for none other; the State has no power to grant them to actual settlers or any one else except in accor dance With the provisions of Congress- and we cannot and ought not to take them from the company without paying the company a fair compensation therefor. One great reason. if not the only one that would induce the compa- ny to agree 10 this arrangement, is that the con- pany must have the friendship and assistance of those near the line; we know the company must lose by it; the settler, of course, has se- Iected the very best lands, which may be near station, contain rock quarry or gravel bed, and the company may be compelled to re-pur- chase some of them at any price that may be put upon them by the settler.
 It is the duty of the State to act as kind parent both to her citizens and to her chartered company; to do even handed justice to both, and not to leave them by her legislation in suife, lH-ieenS and contention, if in her power to prevent 1t. By passing this bill with those sec tlons in 1t believe she will accomplish the ob Ject for which they were intended.
 lf however, majority of this House, irehds of the bill, wish to strike them out, as believe they do I have no objection. see the motion is made by true and steadfast trlend of this great enterprise; his views, and | new believe the determination of majority, is | to give to the company what rightfully | belongs to the company, and to the swamp land [ interest what rightfully belongs to it. To this have no objection; it is right in itself, and in strict accordance with law, and possibly the on- ly correct way to act in this matter
 The gentleman who makes the motion I know to be warm, true and consistent friend ot this great enterprise, and 1 cheerfully now, having placed myself and the committee right | upon this point, will sustain the motion. Before take my seat, would respectfully warn the friends of the measure that I see amendment after amendment calculated, as I think to cripple the bill, and to make the fund, if turned over to the company, of less value as basis of credit that will be offered and insisted upon by gentlemen upon this hoor-let the friends of ~ 'o "''0i ehey ouotdlH tulS mOtlOn vote them down. Let us pass the bill without amendment; it has been censured ln the committee of the whole; it is now, 1 | think, as perfect as we can make it, and if it | becomes law it will be accepted by the con- pany, and our great enterprise entered upon in earnest with the fairest prospect of certain suc- cess, and even, if 1t is not entirely perfect, it will accomplish the object with these sections out of it, our road will be built-we risk too much when we consent to change it; we can and must pass the bill as it is.
 This enterprise has encountered great oppo- sition from its first inception to the present day. A few of our citizens, unaided by any other means than their own indomitable energy and