The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1884-02-06
the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad
Land Grants.
[omrIssEp rpoN rrner rAeE. |


whom they we're made. At the last ses-
sion Of Congress / introduced a bill into
this House proposing to renew the grant
10 the State Of Mississippi for railroad
from Brandon to Ship Island. did 1t
in obedience 10 tn instructionsof the
Legislature Of my State; and | did IT
because ! thought 1t was proper TO do 80.
| urged its passage before the Commit
tee on Public Lands by all the means in
my power. Able attorneys were EN-
ployed 10 come here, who made learned
briefs and eloquent speeches before that
committee, and yet that committee
failed TO make any report 10 regard TO
that matter.
Now, sir, I would be perfectly willing
to segregate this grant from others, and
| would be willing to vote for 1t, al
though ! could scarcely justify myself
~ being consistent; but when the broad
principle is presented to me whether
hundred million Of acres Of public lands
shall be held by these corporations
without any roads having been built,
and withoutany taxes having been paid to
the States In which they are located, 1
felt was compelled to take broader
view Of the matter and vote for the reso.
luton. say believe this grant ought
10 be excepted; hut when it comes to
putting them all back, when it comes to
saying these railroads shall hold on TO
millions OF acres of the public lands so
as not to allow any person whatever to
enter on them for settlement and cult
walton, ] say we cannot afiord to do it,
Mr.. Van Eaton. was aware, Mr
Speaker, my colleague from Mississippi
had introduced the bill he spoke Of. /
was also aware he was friendly TO the
measure under consideration. | have
only this TO say about that: ] could not
vote for the sweeping resolution Of the
gentleman from Indiana, knowing | in.
tended, as | said in the outset, to ask the
House to make this exception. | am
Just M much in favor OF the general
principle Of forfeiting these grants,
when reason can be shown they should
be, rs my colleague or any other mem
Der Of the House. At the same time, as
have already said, 1 wished to leave
my self in the situation where, If case
IL shown to have merit, | can in my
humble capacity vote for it and do what
is just and right and equitable. That is
all.
shall detain the House but few
moments longer. have tried to show
the House why this road was not built,
that before aud up to the war, after
doing all we could at that time, taking
all the proper steps up to 1860, that for
the six years following it was physically
impossible, and that for all the years
which followed, the seventeen years of
negligence with which we have been
tainted, men would not take hold of
these lands on account Of the defect that
appeared in the title; and do not blame
them for that. have shown time and
again that our people in every way they
could have come TO this House and asked
for an extension Of this grant; and say
now, as said before, that no negligence,
no laches can be imputed TO the pee pie
who propose to avail themselves Of this
grant. That is the reason why / have
offered this amendment asking this
grant shall be excepted out Of the face
of this bill.
Mr.. Speaker, I do not come here in
the character of suppliant. / come
here simply as Representative from an
equal State, coequal with any of her
peers, appealing to the equity ard sense
Of justice Of this House.
In conclusion ! have to say speak
for land offering at this time the great
est encouragement for the Investment of
capital and the immigration of the enter.
prising for q people who, harried BY
war and tried in the fires Of reconstruc-
ton, rising superior to troubles and dis.
couragements such as few peoples have
encountered, are fast building up new
South; who extend the warmest OF wei
comes to all who come among them with
honest intentions; and who, having left
the things that are behind. join heart
and hand with all who would add to the
prosperity and increase the happiness of
all the people of "a great, free, and
prosperous realm" Loud applause
Mr.. Barksdale. Mr.. Speaker
The Speaker pro tenpore (Mr. Springer
in the Chair, Does the gentleman from
Mississippi desire to be heard in opposi-
ton to the amendment?
Mr., Bsrksdale represent district
which is in part interested in the pend
ing question, and desire to be heard in
opposition to the bill as it has been re-
ported from the committee. If, how.
ever, any gentleman desires to be heard
on the other side, and in favor of the
amendment of my colleague, | viii yield
the floor for the purpose Of hearing him.
The Speaker pro teapore, The gentle
man from Michigan will be recognized
y
Mr., Barksdale. l trust the House
will not commit itself to the declaration
of indiscriminate forfeiture contained
in the bill reported from the Committee
on the Public Lands. And if it shall
please this body to adopt the amend
ment of my colleague Mr.. Van Eaton),
who is member of the committee, Twill
ask the favorable judgment of the House
upon bill which l will send to the
Clerks desk to be read as a part of my
remarks.
The Clerk read as follows:
Whereas, The time limited for the con-
struction of a railroad from the Gulf Of
Mexico to the town of Brandon, State Of
Mississippi, in the act aforesaid, having
expired from causes which could not have
been avoided, whereby the benefit Of said
grant has not been realized by the State;
therefore
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
of Representatives Of the United States of