Mr. STEVENS. That matter has nothing to do with this subject, and it is u {hing whicfi very few gentlemen would ever havementioned. Mr.WRIGHT. Iask members of this House whether they are making the best disposition of the money belonging to the Government in bestowing it upon such measures as these. It is said on the one hand that our Treasury is depleted, and on the other side that it is in no danger of a financial crisis of any sort. Can we makenobetterdisositionofthisland? Once before on this floor, I invited the attention of membersto the absolute necesssit of doing speedy justice to our soldiers an sailors.Would it not be better to give some acres of this land to the institutions owned and controlled by the Government, so that the needy and deserving soldiers might enjoy the proceeds of this land can common fund? Are we to allow the brave defenders of the republic to go unprovided for., Destitution and eg ary are stalking abroad throughout the lan, because Congress has as yet made no properprovision for the soldiers. If members of this House have greater regard for the Northern Pacific railroad than they have for the noble men who did so much for the salvation of the country dfiring the recent rebellion, then let them vote to give the public landsto this company. For my part, I think that gross injustice would be done to our worthy volunteers if we should pledge the faith and credit of the Government as proused by this bill; fora wise Government Willa ways keep sufficient moncv in its Treasury to redeem its plighted faith. If this bill is to involve an expenditure in consequence of which the people of each congressional district in the U.S. will be subjected to an increased taxation to the amount of $300,000, then our constituents ought to know that fact; and this is the properplace to disseminate it. We should proclaim to them that there is no party feeling in this matter; that there can be none; that the question is one of legal right and impartial justice. Sir, when the ard the eloquent remarks of gentlemen about the necessity of giving away our lands for works of public improvement, I felt disposed to send word to the Camden and Amboy Railroad Company to make application for a rant of land; I do not see why the House should not have its heart softened toward that corporation as well as any other. Sir, however we may be bound by party feelings, it will not do for us to inaugurate a system by which we may wink at trifling errors and go on increasing our offenses until by their illegality they amount to absolute crimes, because it cannot be presumed that we could thus sin through ignorance. Sir, I desire that this road shall he built, and I am willing to do anything that I may lawfully and conse ientiously do to assist in its construction. The cat railroad of the State in which I live wonl form one of the connections of this road by way of the Atlantic and Great Western railroad. Sir, the o ponents of this bill must not be misjudged. “ye do not desire to be understood as being other than favorable to the completion of the road. But we cannot approve the means by which the end is sought to be accomplished. I thinkI am fullyjustified in saying that my constituents will approve the vote which I am about to give against this measure. I can cast that vote with a clear conse ience, knowin that I have sought to do no injustice to the orthernPacific Railroad Company. but that I have endeavored to save the money of my constitquents, that I have striven to prevent the depletion of the public Treasu. Sir, I find on my desk this morning a circu or which the SecyTreasury has sent us, stating that $350,000,000 is all that is necessary to be raised nnnuall to pay off the interest of the public debt oflvdn land; and that during the past 3 quarters of the current fiscal year $405,000,000 have been paid in this country. But, sir, he an s that the continuance of the present system O taxation on the necessaries and comforts of life articles that we eat and drink and wearis required in order to meet the demands upon the 1 Treasury. Sir, at such a time as this, how can we, with any regard to the interests or the welfare of the country, engage in a scheme to guaranty, by a pledge of the national credit, fly or 100 million dollars to aprivate corporation? The principle is wrong. Our duty as Representatives requires that we should oppose such schemes; an thisI say with no En" ind feeling toward those who advocate the i. I trust that the bill may yet be put in such a shape that those who are atpresent its oppo nents may become its friends; and that in the mean time we shall mature a measure which shall extend to our soldiers and sailors that generous care which they so well deserve from the country.