The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-09-13

Alggers and Raiiread schemss-Sewarda and
His Plans.
Whilst public attention is called to the modus
opeaandi by which the spectators and operators
in the Wet Rave managed to interest their East
ern brethren in their railroad stockjobbing
schemes, by so skilfully mixing up piety, mig
gers and plumber, that notwithstanding the
Sc,iptma caution against serving God and
mammon, the parsons were enlisted and
their focks followed in their wake. 1t must
not be forgotten that they could have done
but little but for the aid given them by
Seward and bis camp Weed Greeley,
Matteson, Edwards aud the other republican
plopderers who hang about the capitol at Wash
ington and infest the lobbies at Albany. The
corrupt system Of giving away millions of
acres of the public domain, ossensibly
to assist in opening the country, and,
by facilitating settlement, enriching the
public lands, which theoretically were sup
posed to remain in the hands of the government
although as in the case of the Iowa grants, not an
acre was left the railroads getting it all-found
it's chief advocate in w. II. Seward and its &C
tive support in the ranks of his friends. Mr..
Seward may not himself have directly partici-
pated in the proceeds but he is guilty Of know
ing the frauds which were contemplated, and being
mainly Instrumental in carrying them out so as
to enrich bis followers His body guard is hume
rous. because they are well paid-not out of his
pocket, but, by his aid, out of the public trea-
sury.
To this lavish appropriation of public lands
may be traced the present distress. Railroads
have been projected in every direction, and the
stocks and bonds of these paper improvements
thrust upon the community. In this State there
are but two loes of railroad, properly speak
ing: and reference to the sales at the
Exchange shows that the stock of one is offered
at less than Il, whilst the other goes slowly at
90 Yet these roads have advantages far be-
You'd what can be claimed for any of their West
ern connections They enjoy not only the local
travel and commerce of an old and well settled
State but they gather in pearly all the freight
and passengers of most Of the Western roads
If, therefore, the New York roads are unproft.
able, how can it be expected that the numerous
railroads in the new States, managed in SINH
lar manner, in many instances by the same people,
can pay? There are points, doubtless, where
railroads economically conducted would be re-
munerative; but even the most rigid economy
could not hope to prolong life in the
great majority of schemes afoat. Their
originators do not, of course, believe
in their success, they are cunning enough
to get rid Of the stock at the first convenient OPP
portunty. But had it not been for the apparent
strength given to the schemes by the squander-
ing of public lands in their behalf, the damage
would have been but trifing.
The Seward organ in this city tries to bolster
up these railroad spectators by asserting that
no matter how many roads are built, there can
be no loss so long as they have been economi-
cally constructed, for money has only been paid
out for work actually done. But the argument
is absurd. If railroads have been constructed at
points where there is not sufficient business to
pay the interest on the money invested they
must be losing speculations at whatever cost If
Seward, Weed and their friends can bring for
ward no better argument to puff up the
rotten system they are identified with, they
had better keep out Of print altogether.
1t is time the eyes of the public were opened
to the eoruptions of these republican leaders"
The Kansas dodge In almost played out and mig
gers will coon be left to their fate a. no longer
available material Mr.. Seward and his friend
Matteson must look out for some other bait II
they are still uDsatisied with the competence
they have doubtless secured
The people of this State can best mark their
disapprobation Of the dishonesty of the Seward
clique at the polls next November. Let the
trading Republicans" be rooted out and honest
men elected in their place. In this way only can
a repetition of the shameful scenes at Albany
last winter be avoided, and Seward and his cor
rupt followers put down.
Mr. FrIMoRE's FUNDAMENTALLY decln-