The statement made by the gentleman from Mississippi is to the effect that this grant has not been earned by this corporation. My position in reference to this grant and in reference to every other railroad grant in this country is that every grant which has not been earned should be forfeited to the Government of the United States. I think the immense domain which hs been given to railroad corporations throughout this country. the immense tracts of land now in the hands of those corporations. and the difficulties which they have placed in the way of settlement of and emigration into those unoccupied fields is one of the absorbing and leading subjects for the consideration of this Congress. I think it is the plain and obvious duty of Congress. without speaking in derogation of this particular measure or any other. for I shall by my vote regard all alike--I think. sir. the plain duty of Congress is to work a forfeiture of every one of those land grants which have not been honestly and faithfully earned by the railroad corporation. Nobody need fear injustice to these corporations.
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emigration