The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-02-26
The Rsihoaa Land Grant - stem Il
Congress.

Congress.
In yesterday q HERALD we gave report Of
meeting OF democratic workingmen, convened to
protest against the Congressional practice Of
giving away the public lands to monster railroad
companies. Now, If the Investigating Commit
tee has been Of no other use, it mas at all events
rendered one public service: ii has confirmed the
general impression that railroad bills and other
bins of a like character, arc engineered through
the House, and passed into LAYS by the aid OF
money inducements to members This was gene
rally believed by the public long since; but the
Committee has the credit Of having furnished the
first authentic evidence of the fact. On the
strength OF lite discoveries, and more especially on
the remarkable evidence of Hon. Reverdy John
soD, who swears 10 Congressional organization
fifty denominated the Forty Thieves. we feel jus
tilted in giving expression to the public convic-
ton that all the railroad grant bills which lave
been passed through Congress have owed their
success in some measure to corruption.
On reference TO the last report OF the Secretary
Of the Interior it appears that during the past
four years the enormous aggregate Of IL 0SG, 2S2
acres have been granted by Congress TO railroads
| The whole grant since the lrst adoption Of the
system largely exceeds 5000 900 acres. includ.
| ing the handsome grant TO the Illinois Central
AT the usual rate of sale Of waste lands this do.
nation would represent no less than s3l, i IL 900
in round figures: but in reality $40 an acre
would hardly represent the real interest
Of the people Of the United States in
1eec lands. In a few years $40 an acre will BE-
| low price for them We may therefore assume
that $2JO, 900 600 have been scandalouLy given
away without authority by Congress, TO specula
tors capitalists, railroad operators, and Westerr
land agents and bankers; and that this has beeu
mainly Done by The corruption Of mcmbets u
Congress.
Now this business is wholly ipcxcusablc The
argument OF Mr.. McClclland and the Other de
Tenders Of Land grants TO railroads Is that with
out these grants the roads would not be built
ard that the enhanced value given to The remain
ing sections compensates the government for Ia,
los Of those with which il parts. But we do mo-
find that, in those States where land grants have
been rare there arc no roads even docs II iook
a. though The possession Of a quantity Of donated
land was guarantee 10 road against the con
stulction Of rival without any such advantage
| AZ to the enhanced value Of remaining section.
IT II undoubtedly true that when an efIor, Il
made by railway companies to attract settlers e
their lands, all adjoining lands are increased ID
value: bat bow do We know that similar IN
crease might not have been effected ia feo
wears by the mere working Of time, by means o.
I railroads 10 which government had granted I
mere roadway
On the other hand, the naked conslitalionaliiy
Of granting away to spectators and stock job
bcis the lands which arc the inalicnabe birthrigt
Of the American people, seems at the vny leas
TO lie highly questionable. What II Congress
were TO grant away portion OF its sovereignty
Would that be tolerated? And, Ia abstract law
The one seems as alienable in the way and man
ner mentioned as the other. But, whatever ex
cepticn may be taken 10 The c'nstltutcualiy Of