That they have heard, with much regret, of the introduction of a measure for your Legislative sanction, pregnant with serious and lasting evils, and adverse to the spirit of our Republican Institutions, as well as to the deliberate will of the American People.

This measure, which proposes to give, in fee-simple, an immense portion of our National Territory to a single individual, for the purpose of securing the construction of a Railroad from the waters of Lake Michigan to those of the Pacific Ocean, presents, on the most gigantic scale, and in the most injurious and corrupting form, the odious and Aristocratic features of Land Monopoly.

We believe that the immense grant or sacrifice proposed for the promotion of the Railroad scheme of Mr. Whitney, if sanctioned by our National Legislature, will stand as a lasting monument of our folly, and will bring down upon the supporters of this scheme the severest condemnation of the People.

A measure involving consequences so vast and permanent, should not be adopted without distinctly ascertaining that it is in conformity with the will of the American people. No such expression has yet been given by any very large number of the voters of this Republic; and we feel well satisfied, that, should any candidate for the Chief Magistracy of this country avow himself in favor of thus alienating the Public Domain, the odium and opposition thereby excited would ensure his defeat.

Although the power of thus alienating the Public Domain at present rests in Congress, unrestrained by any clause in the Constitution, we believe that so flagrant an abuse of that power would produce a reaction in the public mind, threatening even the repeal of any such grant, and dangerous to the rights which may be acquired under any such system of partial Legislation, tending to revive in this country the system of Landlord Vassalage which has desolated Ireland, and crushed to the earth the laboring population of Europe.

Not only is the proposed measure contrary to the genius of our Democratic Institutions, and corrupting in its tendency, but, as a measure of National Policy, we object earnestly to a scheme which tends to divert emigration from the National Domain to the lands of any individual or Company. And while we are willing that the beneficent energies of our Government should be exerted in the establishment of National Railroads and works of public benefit, we cannot approve of a precedent so anti-Republican, and destructive in its tendency, as the proposed grant.

That they have heard, with much regret, of the introduction of a measure for your Legislative sanction, pregnant with serious and lasting evils, and adverse to the spirit of our Republican Institutions, as well as to the deliberate will of the American People.

This measure, which proposes to give, in fee-simple, an immense portion of our National Territory to a single individual, for the purpose of securing the construction of a Railroad from the waters of Lake Michigan to those of the Pacific Ocean, presents, on the most gigantic scale, and in the most injurious and corrupting form, the odious and Aristocratic features of Land Monopoly.

We believe that the immense grant or sacrifice proposed for the promotion of the Railroad scheme of Mr. Whitney, if sanctioned by our National Legislature, will stand as a lasting monument of our folly, and will bring down upon the supporters of this scheme the severest condemnation of the People.

A measure involving consequences so vast and permanent, should not be adopted without distinctly ascertaining that it is in conformity with the will of the American people. No such expression has yet been given by any very large number of the voters of this Republic; and we feel well satisfied, that, should any candidate for the Chief Magistracy of this country avow himself in favor of thus alienating the Public Domain, the odium and opposition thereby excited would ensure his defeat.

Although the power of thus alienating the Public Domain at present rests in Congress, unrestrained by any clause in the Constitution, we believe that so flagrant an abuse of that power would produce a reaction in the public mind, threatening even the repeal of any such grant, and dangerous to the rights which may be acquired under any such system of partial Legislation, tending to revive in this country the system of Landlord Vassalage which has desolated Ireland, and crushed to the earth the laboring population of Europe.

Not only is the proposed measure contrary to the genius of our Democratic Institutions, and corrupting in its tendency, but, as a measure of National Policy, we object earnestly to a scheme which tends to divert emigration from the National Domain to the lands of any individual or Company. And while we are willing that the beneficent energies of our Government should be exerted in the establishment of National Railroads and works of public benefit, we cannot approve of a precedent so anti-Republican, and destructive in its tendency, as the proposed grant.

Believing, therefore, that the will of the People forbids this immense alienation of the National Domain, and that our true policy requires its preservation for the use of the Actual Settler, instead of the Speculator, we, earnestly protest against the proposed measure, and pray that it may be rejected and condemned by your honorable body in the most decisive and emphatic manner.