The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1870-06-06
An "EMPIRE" GIVEN AWAY.
SPEECH OF HON. JNo. NJ. CI,EBs.

| SPEECH OF HON. JNO' VI. shhoS'
On the 18th of May, the House having
under consideration the joint resolution
| Is. X. No 1871 authorizing the Northern
Pacific railroad to issue its bonds for the
construction of It's road, and TO secure the
same by mortgage and for other purposes,
MIR. Crebs said
Mr.. Speaker I only. seek the floor for
the purpose Vi explaining the reasons that
| will influence me In recording my vote on
| the bill and amendments now pending be-
| fore the House. regard II, Mr.. Speaker,
as one of the most important questions
| that has or will come before us for action
| during the present session of Congress.
have ever thought that large grants of
lands are dangerous and ininical to the
best interests of this Government; and
while among my constituents, at least, IL
| will not be doubted for moment that i
am decided railroad man, yet while the
Government Is u party on the one hand
aud a railroad corporation on the other, ]
feel il my duty to look TO the interests of
| the great mass of the people representing
the Government, rather than TO those of
| the corporation seeking untold millions in
| the way of subsidies from the same.
am free 10 admit that in one view of
| the cnso much good has been done 10 the
country by grants Of land TO railroads.
| that thereby new places of settlement have
| been opened up that otherwise would have
been still u bowling wilderness yet the
| blessings conferred on the country by
these grants are but temporary, while the
| evils will continue through all time TO
come. Landed monopoles have lem the
| banc of all nations in the past history of
| the world. and will be surely the bane Of
this and while ! have said that reasonable
! grants Of land have been and may still be
beneficial 10 our country In developing its
| immense resources, yet grants almost limit
less in extent, as will be given should this
bill become law, will be dangerous TO
| the very existence of the Government
| aud ruinous 10 all that class of our citi-
zens who earn their living by the sweat of
| their brow, aud who are how or will be in
the future seeking for homes and roof-trees
| upon the broad and fertile fields of the
West
BY the act Incorporating the Northern
| Pacific Railroad Company and authorizing
| the building Of railroad and telegraph
| line from Lake Superior TO Puget sound,
passed July 2, 1854, the right Of way was
| given said company over all government
lands on .aid route, and the United States
| further agreed 10 extinguish all Indian
| titles not only TO the lands through which
| the right Of way extended, but also to all
land, granted by said act 10 said company.
| And by said act there was also granted
said company alternate sections being the
odd-numbercd seciion,) along the line of
| said road 20 the extent of twenty sections
per mile on each side of the same
through its whole length passing
through the Territories Of the United |
Statcs making through the Territories |
twenty-five thousand .x hundred acres
per mile, and ten sections per mile on
each side OF the same, on the whole length |
of the line passing through any Of the !
States of the Union, in the States making
twelve thousand eight hundred acres per
mile thus giving H. them n n subsidy for
J the building of their road IA territory
almost equal In extent a. the whole state
Of Illinois. II was further provided In
said grant that 1t should be void unless
said company should obtain within two
years bona pie subscriptions 10 the amount
Of S26, OOO, 600 Of which ten per cent
should actually De paid into the treasury
OF said company, and they were prccluded
| from incumbcring sad lands in any way
until their road should be built.
The two years had nearly passed aud
nothing had been done when, on the 9TH Of
| May, 1866, We find the company again here
| importuning Congress for an extension OF
! time for two years longer, in which they
might comply with the terms Of the grant
| on their part; and Congress needed their
appeal aud granted the extension, which
time expired on the "a Of July, 1865, ut
which time nothing was still done. But
when this time had nearly passed, that is
| on the 1T day of July, 1865, at the request
OF the company Congress again extended
the time for the building of the road for
| two years longer, with no additional re-
sirictions except that one hundred miles
should be completed within that time, and
The whole road to be built by the All of
| July, 1877.
But later still on the lst of March, 1869,
new powers were granted said company,
10 mortgage the lands and franchises, and
| wide and almost unlimited range was
| given in which 10 fix the western termini,
SO that to-day the grant first made, by the |
changes IN favor Of the company is worth |
to them nearly double lis value under the |
original law
And now, Mr.. Speaker, we find the COM |
pany here again asking new lease of |
time; and not content with this asking an |
Increase of the grant almost lmitless. |
ANA Tear not TO assert that should the |
bill be passed in its present shape you
transfer 10 this companya territory almost
equal IN extent to the two States of Illinois
and Indiana combined. You place in the
hohds of u corporation an empire in ex-
tent. You say you do it to open up new
lands and new Countries for settlement;
but at The same time you place the coun-
Try thus opened up in the control of
souiless corpqSation, and place the hardy
pioneer desiring 10 seek home in the
West entirely at its mercy, and at such
mercy only as the wolf gives TO the lamb.
And what do we know of this mighty
corporation Who are its managers By
/ whom is this prncely gift TO be receivedi
know not Mr.. Speaker; neither can YOU
Tor when the opponents of the bill in
snei i. nplicity few days since offered a
soiu'iO1 IN this House to ascertain who
a Wa W po he owner of this princely grant,
W. were met " its friends with the answer
o C"aI II w.1s pryLg into private affairs that
| Al |