2 between the distant borders of our State, and of the Union. They believe that, upon principles of national justice, the people of this State are entitled to a favorable response to the prayer of this petition. The sale of the reserve sections along the line of the Illinois Central Railroad, must satisfy the most credulous, that the treasury of the general government is benefited rather than injured by grants of of lands for railroad purposes. To the neighboring States of Illinois and Missouri large grants have been made, and public improvements are in process of construction, which will be monuments of the munificence and wisdom of Congress. It cannot be that an invidious distinction is to be observed between sister States of the west. Your memorialists, therefore, in consideration of the national benefits, as well as the more local, to be derived from the construction of this great work, and the large amount of public lands remaining unsold in the State, through which it is proposed to be located, and which will be rendered valuable and saleable by the construction thereof, ask that a grant of alternate sections may be made to the State for the purpose contemplated, sufficient to secure its completion at an early day from river to river. Resolved, That the senators in Congress from the State of Iowa, be instructed, and the representatives requested, to use their utmost exertions to secure a prompt and favorable consideration of the prayer of this memorial. Resolved, That the Secretary of State be directed to forward a copy of this memorial to each of the representatives and senators in Congress from the State of Iowa. I certify the foregoing to be a true copy from the original rolls on file in this office. GEO. W. MCCLEARY. Secretary of State. A grant of land to aid in the construction of a railroad from Dubuque to the Missouri river. DECEMBER 12, 1853. Ordered to be printed. MEMORIAL AND JOINT RESOLUTION for a grant of land to aid in constructing a railroad from Dubuque to the Missouri river. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled: Your memorialists, the general assembly of the State of Iowa' would respectfully represent, that justice to the interests and enterprise of the increasing population of this State demands a liberal and fostering policy in the exercise of the proprietory rights of the general government within its borders. That the same reasons which have induced such policy within the adjoining States of Illinois and Missouri, and which is there producing the happiest results, apply with equal force to the State of Iowa; that the Illinois Central Railroad, now rapidly completing to its terminus on the Mississippi opposite the city of Dubuque, and other projected railroads from the great chain of lakes on the north to the same terminus, will establish at this point a direct and constant connexion with the markets of the east and south; that Dubuque is located in the centre of the rich mineral region of this State, in a position most favorable to command the commerce and trade of the upper Mississippi, and is already a large and flourishing city in its commerce, population, and wealth. That a direct connexion between this point and the valley of the Missouri through the coal fields on the Des Moines, is most important for mutual exchange and the development and permanent establishment of the resources and commercial interests of the State; and which connexion, from its termini and position, appears favorable to form a link in the great chain of railroads destined sooner or later to connect the Atlantic seaboard with the Pacific coast. Your memorialists would, therefore, respectfully ask of your honorable body an appropriation of land in alternate sections, equal to six 2 sections per mile, to aid in the construction of a railroad from Dubuque, on the Mississippi river, to a point on the Missouri river at or near Kanesville, in the county of Potawatamie, by the way of Fort Des Moines. Resolved, That the senators from this State be instructed, and the representatives requested, to use their best exertions to procure a grant of land as asked for in the foregoing memorial, and that the Secretary of State forward a copy hereof to each. I certify the foregoing to be a true copy of the original resolution on file in this office. GEO. W. MCCLEARY, Secretary of State. 1st Session. RESOLUTION No. 4. OF THE LEGISLATURE OF IOWA, IN FAVOR OF A grant of land to aid in the construction of a railroad from McGregor's landing to the Missouri river, at or near the mouth of the Big Sioux river. DECEMBER 12, 1853. JOINT RESOLUTION on the subject of a grant of land to aid in the construction of a railroad from McGregor's landing, in the county of Clayton, to a point on the Missouri river at or near the mouth of the Big Sioux river. Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, That our senators in Congress be instructed, and our representatives requested, to use their best exertions to procure a grant of land from the general government to aid in the construction of a railroad from McGregor's landing, in Clayton county, on the Mississippi river, to the Missouri river, at or near the mouth of the Big Sioux river, in this State. Resolved, further, That the Secretary of State of this State be, and he is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to each of our senators and representatives in the Congress of the United States. I certify the foregoing to be a true copy from the original rolls on file in this office. GEO. W. MCCLEARY, Secretary of State. |