American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-03-07
han would pay the whole debt of Yir

thah Wouio pay the wnole deOt OIL plr-
ginia. M
And yet Virginia has gone on with
no aid but her own means, resorting to |
the taxation of her citizens in making
her ownimprovements. While Illinois
which was once II county of Virginia,
has rapidly shinsled her whole State
with railroads, not Ly her own means,
but by grants of these lands, which she
obtained from the Congress of the u
nited States. Virginia planted herself
here on her desire that these lands
should he held sacred, and should go
to defray the common expenses of this
Government, and thereby reduce the
taxes of the country. But, sir, she
has found that all her efforts have been
fruitlcss. 1t is worse than idle that
her people should be made to. groan
with taxation and her public works un.
finished, while this land fund is divert
ed from the purpose for which it was
intended, and is being daily and hour
ly appropriated by others. So it is
with the other old States.
But there is another reason, it seems
to me, which ought to be sufficient in
itself, and which has recently develop
ed itself in our legislation. During
the present session grave charges have
gone abroad connected with the man
ncr in which these grants of land have
been obtained, and the whole Congress
OF the United States has been resting
under the odium. Sir, let us get rid
of this corrupins influence, if be
such. ..a ,rae
But how have these lands been ap-
propriated? How much of them has
been sold? How much of the money
arising from their sale has gone into
the public Treasury, and has thereby
relieved to that extent the people of
the whole country? l have before me
table which, though not strictly accu,
rate, approximates accuracy.
Want of space prevents MS from in
sorting the table to which reference is
lnade.-Ed. Union.
Why, sir, instead OF the whole of
this land going into the common treas.
ury to help to defray the common cx-
penscs, not one third of it has done so.
One hundred and thirty four million
eight hundred and ninety thousand one
hundred and thirty acres have been
sold, while much more than double that
number of acres have been given away.
Upwards of eight millions OF acres, up
to the Both of June last, were granted
to railroads, and since that time about
fifteen millions more, making about
thirty three millions of acres gwen for
railroad purposes alone.
We all remember the rapidity with
which these railroad grants were pass
ed through at the last session. We all
know with what eagcrness gentlemen
are now watching around this Hall to
appropriate millions of acres more: &
| call on the committee and from the
committee appeal to the country, to
take this subject into consideration and
see that Representatives are in this
body who will secure to all sections g.
every State, their due and proper pro-
portion of those lands, and thus carry
out the intention of the grantors, to
wit, that the lands shall be disposed Of
for the common benefit of all the States
Virginia inclusive, and remove from
the Golfers of the United States this
great source of Legislative corruption.
| propose, in the first place, to equal
ize the grants of these lands, by giving
to the States that have not received a
ny grants of land, as many acres as
have been granted to these States in
which they lie, and then to divide the
lands remaining equally, according to
the Congressional representation Of
each, among all the States Of the Con
federacy.