The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-02-03
JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS IN THE
MASSACHUSETTS, LEGISLATURES
uoND3Y lam o5

Nj ASSACAU SEIIS LEGlSLAA y ne
MONDAY, Jan. 25.
The debate on the Rail Road bill was iur-
Their continued on a motion to limit the pow
er of the proposed corporation to the making
of railroad from Boston through the central
parts of the State, and through Springfield, TO
the Hudson river. Mr. Blake of Boston, oppos-
ed this amendment He said that although
the directors in their report had expressed an
opinion in favor of the southern route, and
had the estimates made for that route, the Dill
introduced by the committee expressed no such
preference, but left it to the corporation to be
formed, to adopt which route they pleased. He
thought that this was the best possible method
Mr.. Shaw of Lanesborough, said that it was
far from his design in supporting the amend
ment to defeat the bill. He said 1t had been IN
timated that if the bill was defeated, it would
be attributed to this amendment. He thought
the amendment would have contrary effect
that it would increase the strength of the vote.
Of the fafs Of i biz On sSeoGRt 81 Eh fTs Sc
mendment, he wished on that account that il
might be withdrawn.
Mr.. Porter moved to amend the amendment
by striking out the words through Spring
field"
Mr.. Arnold Of New Bedford, was in favor of
the tirst amendment. The route ought to be
liked the bill was too vague. Every thing
It presented was too speculative and abstract.
1t the trade of and from Albany was the chief
object, then the route was of little moment, but
IT the great object was to accommodate the peo-
pie en- the route, if the spread of the road was
TO be SMALL then the route became all impor-
tant. 1t should be such as to accommodate the
greatest population.
Mr. Makepeace of Cambridge, said the peo-
nile Vantad cat At Norfh and South for
their trade, which this the bill would give them.
The best route would undoubtedly be selected
1t would unite US with the canals of New York
and of Ohio, and would give us our share in the
trade of the Great West. This we ought to
have. Something ought to be left to the dis
erection of those who pay their money to com
plete the work.
Mr.. Clark of N. Hampton, wished to have the
amendment withdrawn, SO as to leave the bread
question presented by the bill open for discus
sion
Mr.. Emmons of Hinsdale, said the friends of
the railway expected it would pass over the
Southern route. All the surveys had led to
that conclusion. The House never could steal
a march on the people. The route must be de-
lined. Friends of the measure were divided.
Some IN favor of one route, some of another.
To Boston it made no difference, which route
was adopted. But the people on the Southern
route would never vote for any other The
surveys went there and the people expect the
road will go there
Mr.. Shaw of Lanesboro, here read some ex-
tracts from the report of the Commissioners in
favor of the Southern route, and argued it would
De deceptive and unfair for the railroad to be
made elsewhere.
Mr.. Newton of Worcester, would leave the
i9pis g9 the diScEsiiQp 4f tha Directors u He
lahafa III - 80 III
State feeling on great and important questions
II the route be now limited to Springfield, why
not limit 1t to Cambridge and to every other
Town, tall you marked out a route as devious as
the serpent's track ? Did gentlemen come to
The Legislature to aid the limited views of their
constituents and to scrabble for a few nuts for
themselves or their towns, or did they come TO
make laws for the State. If the former, the
sooner they packed up the better.
Mr. Mack of Salem, said the debate had con-
Vnced him that legislating on railroads was
wholly out of the question. Shall we Law out
s 900 900 or more without knowing how or
where it is TO be expended. Would any man
10 50 in his private business? The present I'M
,ertaiSty in the bill opened wide field for spec
llation aid would cast fire brand among the
people. He t'sen adverted to the course here
.ofere pursued in laying out Turnpikes in the
State, and argued Il. the like sort of influence
would be exerted to obt. IN the railroad in this
'r that direction. TurnpiSes by this sort of in
iuence had been laid out SO IS to be utterly
worthless; why not the railroad 1t would be
! complete system of bidding one on the other.
Before the State gives its money to this great
object, IT ought to exercise controlling inau-
ence in fixing its route.
Mr. Mason wished the amendments might be
withdrawn. 1t appeared to him that thew had
got the cart before the horse, and his view was
to have the general principles of the bill first
settled and then it would be quite early enough
TO begin upon its details.
MIR. G. Blake Of Boston, said, no man should
be the judge in his own case. The effect Of the
amendment was to destroy this impartiaIity and
10 make every man interested in the question.
were generally made in gross.
and did not go into details. Such was the case
in Congress. He regarded the projected rail.
road as most beneficial TO the State, and he
was wholly opposed to now embarrassing it by
going into details.
Mr.. Perkins of Beckett, again expressed him.
self very decidedly opposed to the original
MIR. Forward Of Belchertown, here suggested
the Withdrawing of the amendments, SO as to
open the door for motion to strike from the
bill, the provisions by which the Commonwealth
was to become interested. He wished TO present
That naked question to the House and to have it
decided, solely with view Of saving time.
Mr.. Strong Of Pittsfeld, could not agree to
the proposition to withdraw The amendment
had placed the question before the House lust
where he wished to have il. He wished to have
the question decided, is 81 900, 900 to be appro-
priated without our knowing how or where il
is to go. Would people do so in their private
business: The people expected the southern
route. In imagination they already saw the
bright waves of the Hudson, having the streets
of Boston He would not dsappoint them.
Mr.. Sedgwick of Stockbridge, begged the
House TO apply their common sense to this sub
lect. Let them not be diverted from the real
question before them. But one survey had
been made, and this was in favor of the South.
ern route further investigation might lead TO
a different result.
Mr.. Parker Of Charlestown, said II was Al.
ways desirable to have every measure SO pre.
'ented TO the House that all it's friends couId
sote for It. This amendment presents exactly
he - .ssa r. A - q