The true Democrat., 1857-01-20
Land Robbery on a Large Scale,

1 During the present session of Congress, every effort will be made to swindle government out of the public lands. Land speculators and ad- venturers of every hue, who glide through the world by diddling the public will lay all kinds of plans and invent all kinds of schemes. to en- rich themselves at the expense of the people. Encouraged by the wholesale manner in which Congress disposed of the public lands during its last session, they now infest the vestlbules and lobbes of the capitol, and with the worn out plea of public good" cry more-sive us more" The Pacific and other railroad schemes already before Congress, are nothing less than gigantic attemps to swindle, and we sincerely trust that every attempt of the kind to rob gov ernment of the public lands will be defeated. 1 There are men at Washington, in and out Of Congress, who are constantly lnvenung plans by which to defraud government and enrich themselves. They get up railroad and other schemes by which to accomplish their object
 The close of the present Congress, If we are informed aright, and can judge correctly of the signs of the times, will exceed all preceding sessions for attempts to swlndle the Govern ment. There are men in Congress now who know they will never have another chance to make good thing of It." and are determined to make good use .of thsIr time Already we see gigantic plans proposed to build Pacific Railroad, and branches from all quarters of the west and southwest, to connect with Pacific Railroad. We are opposed to all those p lun- deri2g, swndling schemes and sincerely trust that they will be rejected.
 In noticing one of those immense schemes the Cincinnati Enquirer says
 From all parts of the country and from the press of all parties, do we hear the voice of condemnation of the bill now pending in the House, entitled the Pacific Railroad scheme. The corrupt spectators, politicians and lobby men engaged in 1t, have been Oaiiied by time | ly exposure of the provisions It contains. i Such d great frand could only be successful by being hid from public scrutiny and observation. l By it not only are two hundred millions of acres of land given up to spectators and rail road corporations and the Government bound to pay five millions of dollars year for post office services, but there IS no guarantee what ever exacted of the railroad corporations that | they will finish the roai. The latter can take up tn. fertile lands as far as Fort Kearney, but when they come to the great desert, with its fifteen hundred miles of arid Waste, they are at l liberty to abandon the road and let the Govern l ment finish it."
 the New York EUcning Post, whose conduc- tors are favorable to Pacific Railroad, on the same subject says:
 As friends of the Pacific Railroad, we counsel every honest member in Congress to strange the monstrous imposition and fraud. Let no man be seduced by the pretenSe that opposition to this measure is opposition to the great measure to which all political parties are, in some measure, pledged. The people under stand the difference between this bill and the bill they want; and they know perfectly well that its passage will prove the most fatal blow which the Pacific Railroad scheme can possibly recelve-thAt it will render it's consummation an impossibility- that the only desirable consequence of its success will be the extinc- ton of the men who have been engaged in its concOction."
 The honest members of Congress-and thank God there are such-should use their best efforts to expose the objects of the lramers of these landmousteT schemes, and defeat them. And when they return to their constituents they will be welcomed home as good and faith ful servants of the peeple-Na,hutHe Union.