Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-01-18
lCoMMUEICATED.I
The Pacific Railroad Bill.

10 me Editor Of he Daily Press:
The House of Representatives has passed
Pacific Railroad Bill, but how the bill is
constructed, or what it really is, or who are
the corporators, has to my knowledge not
yet been published in this city.
What | could learn of this bill outside the
city press, was that two lines are to be estab-
lished, one North and one South, with a
view to heal sectional animosities. The
other, and main features are: that Congress
will give to the corporators first $96, 600, O0O
in United States bonds, and every second
section Of the public land along the road.
Now, have no objection to a Pacific Rail-
road-in fact majority of the people de-
clared for it last November; but protest in
the name of this same majority, that then
have not decreed by their vote that Congress
shall squander the public funds, or the pub
lie lands, for the benefit of a comparatively
few corporators.
further affirm, that at least the Repub-
lican Representatives and Senators have no
right whatever to vote another acre of the
public land for railroad purposes; provided
they feel themselves not bound to act &C
cording to the Chicago Platform, of which
the thirteenth article reads thus:
THAT we protestagainst any sale or alien
alton to others Of the public lands held by
actual settlers, and against any view of the
free homestead policy which regards the
settlers as paupers or suppliants for public
bounty; and we demand the passage by Con-
gress of the complete and satisfactory home
stead measure" which has already passed
the House.
This article clearly demands the passage
of the bill, which had then passed the House.
How far this voting Of the public lands for
railroad purposes is consistent with this
complete Homstead Bill, remains to be ex.
planned.
. have understood that the same bill pro.
vides to prevent the sale of the lands by Civ.
ing to every actual settler certain number
of acres gratis (other objects of the bill not
withstanding.) How can they, then, pre-
vent such corporation from selling the land
they have first granted to it?
Although the same platform, in article
sixteen says "that the Federal Government
ought to render immediate and efficient aid
in the construction of railroad to the
Pacific" it by no means says that by such
efficient aid Congress should enrich Ger,
tain class of citizens, called "corporators ,
by giving them first the money to build
such road with, and then the land as bonu!
for their patriotic feelings.
Now 1t says that the company shall have
SOC, 600 in United States bonds to enabl,
it to commence the work. Supposing they
get this money, will they build the road t
its destination?
Theysame reasons and means used to ge
this first grant, will be used a second and
third time, before the road is finished. Havt
we not had this experience before in STATE
legislation as well as national? Will tn,
Government, after having spent $96 900, 900
and the land besides, allow this grea
amount of capital to be wasted2 How arC
we to tell where these applications will end
If have erred in the facts you may be able
to correct me by publishing both the Home
stead and Pacific Railroad Bills complete
but nothing short of this will convince me
-Ha1 A WORKING CITIZEN.