Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-03-27

rebels In the State. When We get the
State .of Alabama back into the Union we
shall ask aid Of Congress TO bald this
road as il is the only remaining link to
connect the Northwest via Cincinnati aud
Louisville with the Gulf Of Me1'coi but
the aid we shall ask will be the bonds OF
the Government instead Of the land here
tofors granted. t.s. eltt.l ,.,
.At present the same dominant diabto!'
ical spirit that prevailed during The rebel
lion s,ill exists, aud the MASSES are as
much intimdated, ss completely under
the dominion of the slayoholding rebel in
naenoe as they were during the war. for
tho reason that their weapon is now STAR
yation, aud the threat that II they vote
for the rati6cation of the oonstitption they
tho negroes shall have rp< Iand. 10
work nor cmploymsnt. There has been
the largest aud most abundant crop made
in Alabama this year in proportion 10 the
land under cultivation | have ever seen
in the State, (and | have been here siuce
ls53) aul yet 10 the midst Of plenty
there will be great suffering uaIess Con.
gress feeds aud clothes the negro aud
moor whites through the winter. This
state Of things does not result from idle
ness or improyidence on the part Of the
laborer, but FROM the refusal Of the en-.
ployer to pay; aud there is not s-civil Of
licer in tue State who will enforce Claim
in favor OF a negro."
Mn. JULIAN. Mr. Speaker, IL will be
seen by this document, the statement of
which 1 think cannot be contradie,ed, and
will not be, that under these lapd grants
more than four hundred thousand acres
of valuable coal aud iron lands are in.
cIudcd, some Of the latter being as rich as
those Of Pilot Knob, Missouri. have
before me a geological MAP OF Alabama,
showing the remarkable character aud ex,
tent of these minerals Under the act OF
Congress OF 1856 no exception or reser-
walton happened 20 be made OF mineral
lands, aud the renewal OF this grant in
its present form might establish an i'm.
mense monopoly ip tho hands Of these
corporations. If the facts are US under.
stand them TO be these lands never should
have been granted. Let them he forfeited
Ii cannot harm these northern capitalists,
because, not being agricultural lands, men
will not take them for homesteads, aud
the southern homestead law will not allow
them to be used for any other purpose.
This is frankly admitted by these capi-
talists. The passage of this bill, there
fore, will only work delay OF some six
weeks, when Alabama will be here with
Representatives Of her loyal element to
speak for her aud ask for what that ele-
inent. shall deem proper. as to these grants.
We shall certainIy deal win thc same
liberalily toward Alabama, that we have
shown TO the States Of the northwest. But
at present the loyal men there, speaking
through their constitutional convention
ask us to open up for settlement aud till
aye the lands covered by these grants
which are fit. They are imperatively
needed; while the revival Of the grantaud
the terms and conditions Of il can wait
till Alabama shall be here as State in
the Union. +e0.elI nr
The SPEAKER The gentleman's time
has expired.
Mr.. CuANLER obtained the floor.
Mr.. JULIAN. would like TO have
ive minutes more. e
There was no objection; and it was or
dered accordingly.
Mr.. JULIAN. | repeat, Mr., Speaker,
that the loyal people of ALBANIA have
spoken on the very question involved in
this bill, as the letter which has been read
shows. BY vote of fifty six to twenty
three proposition to receive these grants
was voted down by the loyal people Of
Alabama as represented in the constitu-
tional convention which recently adjourn
ed. If these men were able 10 make a
constitution they are able TO Instruct
Congress respecting the railroad corpora
tions Of the State and the best interests
of her people. / am here, sir, to obey
their instructions.
have agreed, however, thatsn amend
ment should be offered excepting from
forfeiture the grant of lands to the Ala
bama and Tennessee river railroad aud to
the Nashville and Decatur railroad.
am willing the House should vote on these
amendments, but cannot vote for them
myself for the reasons | have stated.
would gladly accommodate capitalists who
have invested their money in these en-.
terprises ii could properly do so. They,
however, took their stock in these roads
as a man takes his wife, for better or for
worse. They knew the circumstances
under which they invested, aud Congress
caunot overlook the larger interests OF the
whole country for the nominal interests
Of few men, however enterprising, wor'
thy, or patriotic, The House will pass
upon these amendments. aud prefer
that they should be adopted. rather than
that.the entire bill should fail. My pur-
no,s "a :, render the best service to the
country | can in nv advocacy ct an ion,
portant measure; and tnefciore l woi.a
not resist the adoption of these amend
ments 10 such spirit as to endanger the
measure itself 90 It's Gnal passage. The
great body of these railroad lands are out.
side Of the grants covered by the proposed
exceptions, including the most desirable
Agricultural lands of the South. The
measure, with or without the exceptions,
will be QUO of great aud far-reaehing
bcnedcence; aud earnestly hope 1t may
receive the sanction Of this House
\ A witty man, who lived u constant fear
Of bailiffs. having abscouded, one Of his
acquantancos asked what was the reason
Of his absence, to which ho replied,
"Why, sir, / apprehond ho was approhen.