The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-05-19

congress nave been guilty OF corrupt prac-
tees; that certain sums of money vera
paid by those Interested to secure the
passage of the Southern Pacific r. e. bin.
His letter is addressed to Hon. r. MoLane
and is as follows:
WASHINGTON, May 17.-DEAR SIR:
The. proposition now pending before the
committee on Pacific railroads, of which
you are chairman. to extend the time of
the Texas Pacific railroad land grant.
should not, in my opinion, prevail, but on
the contrary should be declared forfeit,
for the following reasons, to wit: The
ORIGINAL grant was procured by bribery
and fraud, and in recognition of that broad
and fundamental principle of law that
tract or implied obligation rest
ing upon the government why
M extension of time should be
given so that grant originally obtain
ed By fraud can be utilized. The history
OF the legislation by which the original
grant was obtained is as follows: The act
of congress making the land grant In aid
OF the construction of the Texas and Paci-
lGc railroad passed the senate on the Sd
day of j uly. 1870, and passed the senate
on the Sd day of March, 1871. Ii became
evident TO the friends of the bill. upon it's
Introduction In the session of 1859 and
aud 1870, that it would meet with strong
and, it was feared, successful opposition.
In order to successfully combat such oppo-
sltion and secure the passage of the bill
number of persons named as incorpor ators
in the bill raised the sum OF 800. 900 In
cash, and made written agreement on
the 7th day of June. 1870. to issue
5000. 900 in first mortgage land grant
bends OF the company, which, with
the money named, was to be used in
buying enough votes in the senate to
secure the passage of the bill through that
body. The money and agreement we're
deposited IN the hands of two parties. to
be held subject to the vote in the senate
Of the 100000 in each raised as stated
before, the sum of $62,0 was placed Tor
rather paid) to senator, to be divided by
him with three other senators. The
agreement above referred to provided that
the whole amount of 100000 in land
grant bonds should be delivered to the
senators referred to. who were to distri
butte them among senators, who were to
distribute them among senators, who were
to receive them for voting as agreed
upon. In the month of January, 1871,
bond was executed by one of the incorpor-
ators, in the sum of $l.000,000, guaran-
teeing an issue of first mortgage land grant
bonds of the Texas and Pacific railroad to
the amount Of S1.00O.000, which were to
be used in securing votes enough 10 the
house of representatives to secure the
passage of the bill through that body.
Arrangements were made in pursuance of
this agreement, to vote for the bill, in con
sideration of the payment to each of them
of said bonds in specific amounts. The
bill did pass the house on the Bird of
March, 1871, Documentary proof together
with names of witnesses who are cognizaDt
of The facts, have been placed at my dis
posai. which | will lay before any commit
tee that congress may appoint to investi-
gate this matter.
In view of the foregoing facts it can be
readily seen that before congress extends
land grants through the failure of com
pliance Of grantees with the contract, it
would be well to see by what means the
original grants were obtained.
G--h-