The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-03-11
TxlRA SESSION OF THE SENATE.
Van wyck's Speech on the Backbone"
Land Grant Issue.


of the journal the Chair laid before the
Senate communication from the Secretary
of State, being q notice that he (Bayard) had
forwarded to the Legislature of Delaware the
resignation of his position as Senator, also
communications from the Secretary OF the
Interior and Attorney General, notifying
the Senate of their acceptance OF Cabinet
positions, and requesting the President of
the Ser ate to so notify the Legislature of
their respective States.
The credentials Of Mr.. Blair, as Senator 10
fl q temporary vacancy, were laid before
the Senate and read.
Mr.. West moved they be referred to the
Committee on Privileges and Elections.
Lost,
Mr.. Hoar offered a formal resolution that
the cath be administered to the Senator
from New Hampshire, aud Mr.. Harris asked
unapimons consent that il lay over I'll to-
morrow. Granted.
The resolution offered on Friday by Mr.
NanWyck, making inquiry of the Secretary
of the Interior in regard to the insuauce of
patents 10 the Backbone Ioad was laid be-
fore the Senate, and Mr.. VsnWyck spoke at
length.
He said it was matter OF sincere regret
that the last act of the administla.'on should
have been performed az the dictatiou aud in
the interest of corporate wealth. He de-
tailed the history of the Backbone" road
and its mysterious record. which, he said,
formed the most remarkable chapter in rail-
rosd annals. Gould aud Huntington, he de.
ciared, were schemipg in this mat
ter as they were with the
Scott ard Te1as Psclhc, using
the same tactics ard tire same influences.
They would not consent that Coma Iess should
| foIieit this grant unless it should at the
same tine convey it to them. The prop)-
sitiOn VIZ S so infamous that Congress. though
manipulated as Huntington dictated, would
rot cement
1t was claimed that there vas q special
meeting ut the Cabinet-i,s last to legsl:zs
| this IaId Did the actual settlers on this
| land have any advocate there, and were their
| rights protected? The law secured 7st.lers'
| rights, but did the Cabinet protect them, OF
we're they turned over to the tender mercies
OF this corpoTatioD2 1t was claimed by way
OF apology CT cefencs that Secretary Kirk
wood desired the opinion of the Attorney
| General as to the validity of this grant.
| With lew notable exceptions the history
! Of the Land Bureau Of the Interior Depart.
mtEt was record Of the demands of land
graft corporations and DEGREES Of the de.
Iartment 10 obedience thereto
But when the demand was too exactiBg
al opinion CT the Attorney General was
sought, behind which to escape until the
storm Of public indignation had passed by.
In this case the Attorney General was
eoRsl 10 the OCCASION, and sustained the
reputation of the Office in that direction.
Very learned Arguments by Judges Dillon,
Green and Pie7repcnt on behalf OF Gould and
Huntington were made before the Attorney
General, but, alas, no one appeared on be-
half OF the people. FROM all the Offices of
this great Nation no one appeared to defend
the public domain. no wonder the Attor
Dey General readily accepted the arguments
of Gould ssattorneys. In the Forty-eighth
Congress the Public Lands Committee OF the
House reported in favor CT forfeiture but
by some political legerdemain the matter
was afterward referred to the Judiciary Com
mittee to report as to the legality of for
fixture.
A majority of the latter reported adversely
and was sustained in the House BIZ q close
vote. That the symmetry OF the legislation
might be preserved, it was to be hoped that
the same Huntington might hereafter give
sketches of the means and manner OF this
achievement-by what mysterious power
this company or its assigns coerce this Gov
eminent into an extra session OF its Cabinet
and secure action with which they would
seek to foTeclose Congress and the people
from effectively depriving the spoiler OF lis
prey,
What right had the President and Cabinet
to waive broken conditions? That power
was vested in Congress alone. Bat why this
haste2 Why should the clerks work nights
and insult the religious element of the Ma
ton by working on Sunday? What is the
necessity, public or otherwise? This Re-
public was net to perish on the 4th of March.
It's continuity was not to be disturbed by
changing the executive. There was to be no
suspension of powers and duties. All other
business in the Interior Department was
concluded by March 4. Did other Executive
Departments work their forces nights and
Sunday, so that the new administration
might start with only new business? The
people should ask. why this haste? Was it
dangerous to trust the representatives of the
people in the next Congress? Was 1t dam
eerous to trust the incoming administration
to 40 justice to the men claiming this
erant2 Was there danger that the
rights of settlers on these lands
would be recognized and the public domain
be protected by the incoming sdministrs-
ton? II 50, then il evidently had been in
stalled too soon. He desired to give public
notice that the legality OF the patents would