The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-04-04
KNOwLEDeE VS.. IGNORANCE.

From time to time, we have been
twltted for our want Of knowledge, Of
statements made by us, touching the
passage Of any law, by q Democratic
Congress-, making land grant, to
railroad company by that Nest0r Of
Democracy, who so ably presides over
the columns of the STARK COUNTY
DEDoCRAr. Hear him, on the last broad
side.
The Carroll Free Press should consult
Webster, and learn that "pre-emption"
means the right of purchasing from
Others. Presumption Is not donation.
Will the Free Press give US the volume
and page of the Congressional Globe,
where it is recorded the making Of
grant Of lands by Congress in 1853, to
the Milwaukee u Mississippi Railroad
Company 1t is easy to say, "COn-
gressiOnal Globe"
We take pleasure in informing the
Free Press man that no such railway
company exists In Wisconsin and no
such grant of land was ever made[
STARK Co. DRMoCRAT. . ...
1t will be observed, that he not only
denies that any such land grant legisla-
tiOn was ever had by Democratic Con-
gress, but denies that any such railway
company, as the milwaukee q Mis-
sissippi Railroad Company" ever ex-
listed. ... .......-
1--WE take" great pleasure in inform
ing" the STARK COUNTY DEMOCRAT, that
in the Congressional Globe, part second
OF the first session Of the 35th Congress,
/ for the years 1857-5S, on pages 1924
1926, that distinguished editor can read,
THE bill Senate No. 249) to release TO
the milwaukee & Mississippi Railroad
Company" the interest of the United
States to a parcel of land, was read a
| second time and considered as in COM
| such railroad company, as Senators here
talked about, then indeed must they
have been worse than mules for intelli-
/ gence, and made Of themselves the Verl-
/ est asses; and this position we do moi
admit, though that Congress was Demo
/ cratic of the worst and most Southern
kind and under the last and weakest OF
all Democratic administrations, that OF
James Buchanan.
We take pleasure to inform the DEMO
Graf, that by the Globe record aforesaid
such railroad company has existed
| And that on the 9Th of April, 1858, the
Senate of the United States did pass the
bill 240, making grant Of whole Is
land of land, in the Mississippi river Op
pOsite Prairie du CHEN to the MilWau
kee & Mississippi Railway Company
and the bill was sent to the House
| Whether it passed the House or not, WI
cannot state positively, as we are not In
possession of the Globe of the second
session of the 35th Congress. But we dC
find, on page 567 in the appendix to thC
Congressional Globe an act approved BY
the President on the 18th of June, 1858
For the relief of settlers on public landl
in the State of Illinois that contains
these words: settlers shall he entitled
to pre-empt their respective claims, by
| legal subdivisions, not to exceed OnI
hundred and sixty acres In cOmpac
body, at the ordinary minimum Of On'
dollar and twenty-five cents per acre,
unless within the six miles limits o.
any railroad grant" We assert thA'
such a grant had then been made, or M
such recognition would have been made
in 1858, even by Democratic Congress
and President, in this enabling act. WI
are advised TO consult Webster, as to tn,
word "pre-emptiOn." We answer, tina
we are unable to find anywhere, tina
the right of "pre-emptiOn" was eve
granted tOany grantee, except natura
person, and have not yet learned that I
grant" to a railroad made it a pre-
emptiOn" right to natural person.
Carroll Free Press.
The whole amount of the foregoing II
that the Free Press man cannot say thu
bill referred to ever became law; an(
we tell our Republican friend it never
did. If he will recur to Appleton
CyclOpedia, late edition, under "WiseOn
sin" he will find all the railway com
panies of that State enumerated, bu
'the Milwaukee s. Mississippi Railway
Company" is not one of them. But, il
will be seen he gives away his own case
The Free Press ought to know that the
general government has always protect
ed squatters who are actual settlers b.
presumption laws, that is, giving then
the first chance to purchase.