The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-10-22

Dear Sir
In reply to your inquiry as to the
facts concerning the grants of land by
Congress, to aid in Tho construction of
certain railroads in Michigan, and rs to
the passage OF the Bill in the 50th Con-
gress, FORGETTING said grants / submit
the following, which may be relied on
rs correct:
l. Every acre of land granted to tho
state of Michigan for railroad purposes
was so granted by u Democratic con.
gross, and the Bill approved by Dem
ocratic president.
2. These railroad grants in Michi-
gan we're forfeited by the 50th Cont
gress, the Senate Icing Republican and
the house Democratic.
5. The Bill was in conference on the
last night Of session and the conference
committee did not submit its report I'M
til near 3 O'Clock in the morning OF the
last night of the session.
I. Bills to forfeit these grants were
introduced into each congress from the
45th TO the 50th, but owing to tho con
test between the Portage Lake and
Lake Superior Canal and Railway
Company, who had entered and obtain
ed patent to q large block of TIE lands
located within the limisi OF the Ontona-
gon and State line grant and the cash
entrymen on one side. andthe Ontona-
gon and Brule River Railroad Company
on the other, lie house and senate
could not come to al agreement as to
the terms of an act which should for
felt these lands. The. senate would
pass one bill and the house another,
both of which were repeatedly sent to
conference committee, and would be
lost because the conference committee
failed to agree on the terms of bill.
5. Finally. in the 50th congress,
after the senate and house had each
passed its separate bill, which were
both sent to q conference committee,
and ut about A. NJ. on the last night
of the session this committee came to
an agreement and reported the result to
each body. This report was promptly
agreed to by each body without even a
roll call and the Bill declared passed.
6. At no time during the pendency
Of these Bills in either house or sen to,
were party lines drawn on them.
7. When the Bill finally passed Con-
gress, Mr.. Seymour, Of Sault Ste.
Marie, republican congressman from
this district, who Lad watched the
measure all night, hired o carriage and
took it, in the rain, to the President,
who had gone home TO the executive
mansion, aud secured his signature to
it.
!, s. If Mr.. Seymour had not been
there to do this, the measure would
have failed for want OF The Presidents
signature, and to him, rore than any
one man, is due the credit for the pass
age of the measure, and its approval by
the president.
g. There never was time i'll the
history of the government when any
President refused to approve of bill
restoring railroad land grants to mar
ket, when passed by congress and pre-
scnted to him for his signature, and the
mere approval OF this Bill by the Presi-
dent had no political significance.
These lands were granted to the State
of Michigan by Democratic admins
tration. The bill to forfeit these lands
was passed by congress in which the
house was Democratic aud the senate
Republican. The hill was taken to the
President by Republican representa-
from this district, and think one must
fail to see what particular merit there
was in Democratic president signing
6. bill to forfeit railroad grants, given by
Democratic administration away back
of the year 1860 when tho republican
party first came.into power.
was present at Washington during
the closing hours of the session of the
Goth congress in which this bill was
passed, and am familiar with the whole
history of this Legislation and know
whereof I speak.
/ Yours truly,
IVA uuppurr