Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-12-03
Fraudulent Land Grants.


Summeu."
Fraudulent Land Grants.
We have always objected to tho system of grant
ing the public lands to Railroad Corporations in
the Western Statss not alone because of its in
equality and injustice ~ the Old States, but b.
caaee We knew il to be fruitful source Of fraud
and peculation. 1t was but natural that dshon-
est men would he willing to pay libcraly for that
to which they had no shadow # lawful clam and
tho stake Of million or two Of acrcs Of Govern
ment land was too high u. 70 ciluw Of it's being
played for by INSCRIPTIONS adventurous, without
cheating.
The Developments made in Wisconsin, last year
show to what extent the system Of bribery. in con-
nection with these lands, is carried. Tho cx-
posars that was made showed that there was
scarcely member af the Legislature, Of either
House, who did not receive direct bride in the
shape Of bonds Of the Company. for his vote
Nay even the Governor Of the State was implica-
ted 10 tue dishonorsb,e transaction.
So, also, in Nebraska, where the attempt was
made and scarcely concealed. 10 procure reno
val of the Capital Of the State by heavy argcsses
to the members Of the Legislature in tho shape of
lands and corner lots"
A suspicion has long existed that a stream so
corrupt must necessarily be foul at its source. In
other words. that Congress itself, the original
grantor Of these lands, must have some powerful
and controlling motive for so wide a departure, as
is involved in these lands grants, from the prnci-
pies Of abstract right and justice. The scandal
involved in the Des Moinss land grant. at the
last session Of Congress, tended to confirm these
suspicions-and now, in addition, We have the
positive proof Of Congressional corruption in the
testimony Of . leading party to a similar fraud.
In 1858 . Company was organised in Iowa, I'M
der the title Of Tho Iowa Central Air Line Rail-
road Company" Like most Of the other Railroad
Companies organised in the Western States, the
object was not % much to construct Railway for
the convenience Of the people, as to obtain n
swindling grant Of land from Congress for the
private bshoof of the Stockholders. Accordingly,
an emissary was sent on to Washington City Tor
this purpose After two years delay, he finally
obtained grant Of land from Congress. amount
ing to nine hundred thousand acres.
Recently. some ENHANCEMENT has occurred in
the affairs Of the Company, which has led to an
investigation Of the accounts, and overhauling
of the books. The startling development is made.
that bonds Of the Company to the amount of near
" eight Assdred thousand dollars were issued for
the purpose If procuring the land grant from Con-
grsss.
Besides this, the sum Of two hundred and forty
Eve thousand dollars is to the credit Of the Presi-
dent and Directors Of tho Company, a. having
been paid by them to sundry persons for their al
legged services on account Of Organising and con.
structing the road" when in truth not mile Of
road has been finished.
Now, to show by what means Congress was in
ducsd 10 make this enormous grant Of nearly a
million Of acres Of the public lands to the Iowa
Central Railroad Company, We will Introduce the
evidence Of the. President of the Company HIM
self; who was also. the principal emissary sent to
Washington for that purpose We let him tell his
own story:
AT the time Of the organization of this Compa-
ny It was deemed advisable to make M eFart to
obtain grant Of land to aid in buildingi, Myself
In conjunction with others, was appointed " g. to
Washington and labor to procure such grant. We
went and lsbored to that end. But it soon became
evident that had no show for even getting our
road Incorporated into hill to be introduced into
the Senate or House Of Representatives. Ths lows
SENATOR and Representatives acted as unit in
hVs ossVWsuR tU2u W Dc prOvlUeu TOT In u bill
to Be- urgedfor Land Grant favors, save and except
. road fOm Burlington. one from Davenport. one
frun Dabuque, and onefrom Mc0regors Landing.
These four roads had been memorislixed for by
the Iowa Legislature. These only would the Sena-
tori and Representatives from Iowa go for, assign
ing ~ reason that they could hot 70 for any
other road; it would endanger any grant to the
State. That state Of facts existing my collea
ali despsired Ut success and went home; myseli
only remaining to urge your claims in spite the
seeming imponibiiity ofever being successful.
The Iowa Central Air Line Railroad Company
did not believet possible to succeed. but nasm uch
- furnished my own money for expenses, and as
the whole life Of the enterprise depended upon
getting Q Land Grant, they clothed me with unlim-
itsd powera frn time 70 time to use nv own dis
crsesoe - 70 the extent II pled0es should make
osa e rAgf ~ night receios to carry the meas
uFe throaxh. The argument being that mart Of
= saai wss much bsttsr to our Company than no
ossed. n TnEsx PLKDoEs wKaE rsssly MADE. "A
yisneUx TEEN w HAD NO SNOW wuArryrI-
Isoanenead attsnding upon ths Cousresa immss
diaae!y - ~ sganiaation Of he co-pany IL
In - e1lswed up every session fasthfGllv.
viii kstnx abaent scarcely dsy. lin ths .ra,;
80 sse!lz sat.insd j. ihs spriny II 1854. The
c. tins e dine sspsessd IL anthori-
y 60 - ~ Aisssstisa il u pssaisss. bat
go Rsst = - hassasds. X "a N povsr. !"
- = = spsa adnissiM 80 ssis man
tes 49, ashiagasoa. sassssa .i.so an q.
iuaaiss ys1sn Il bsibsy - ~ parposs ofptto,::