The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-02-17
REMARKS OF MR. HILL,
OF IVES TMoRELAND.

ING THE RIGHT OF WAY TO IHk DAl4-
/ TIaoRE AND Ono RAILROAD COMPANY.
MIR. HILL said it was not his design
to occupy much of the time nf the Senate
in discussing the merits Of this bill. He
was willing to leave that with abler
hands. But this was a subject In which
his constituents, and indeed, all Western
Pennsylvania felt so deep an interest,
that he felt bound to ask the indulgence
Of the Senate to offer few arguments in
favor of the passage Of the bill.
Mr.. HI. said he had supposed the time
had gone by for so serious and formida-
bic an opposition to be made to this
measure. There was a time when it
was the opinion of many that Pennsylva-
MIA had the control of this improvement,
and that it was her policy, so far as our
own State Improvements were concerned,
to prevent the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road Company from reachfug the Ohio
river at any point But, sir, that time
has gone by; for it is now as certain as
any future event can be, that that compa-
ny viii never stop short of the Ohio riv-
er at some point, the predictions and dec
larations Of the Senator from the city OF
Philadelphia, and the Senator from
Bucks, to the contrary notwithstanding.
Now, (said Mr.. H.. this being the case,
there is no time for Pennsylvania TO
slumber. When we look to the North
and the South, and see the efforts that are
making to divert the whole trade and trav-
ell of the great valley Of the Ohio and
Mississippi, from passing through our
own State, and reaching our own great
commercial city. it is high time for
every Pennsylvania to be on the alert.
And what was most strange to him was
to find the Senator from the city, (Mr.
Crabb)a and the Senator from Bucks, so
zealously opposing themeasure-a meas
ure which, in his humble opinion, was
pre-eminently calculated TO promote the
best interests OF that city, for it was now
evident to every rejecting mind that the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
were determined to reach the Ohio river,
and that they were able to do so was be-
yond dispute. That company was now
nearly out of debt-they were deriving
splendid revonue from their work in It's
unfinished state, and were laughing at the
predictions of Pennsylvania politicians
who talked Of their inability to reach the
Ohio river west of Pittsburg. Now sir,
this being the case. the interests of Phila-
delphia and of Pittsburg, and indeed OF
our own public Improvements, are all
deeply involved in the passage of this bill,
If we, by our contracted and selfish poll
cy, exclude this road from passing
through our own territory, it must and
will terminate at Parkersburg or some
other point on the river, west of Pitts
burg. And he would ask the Senator
| from the city, where would the Western
trade and travel then go! 1t would 90 to
Baltimore, and would be forever lost to
Philidelphia, and it would be out of the
power of Pennsylvania ever to retrieve
the loss. But by granting the right Of
way to Pittsburg, we have but a short
link to connect that road with the Cum |
berland Valley Railroad. and by this short
and easy connection, we have continu- !
Gus railroad from Plttsburg to PhiladeI-
phia which would at all times secure the
Western trade to Pittsburg, and thus have
choice of routes through the whole
length of our State to Philadelphia. Mr..
H. said he was willing to admit that if
PENNSYLVANIA had the control of this i'm !
provement and could arrest its further |
progress, it might then be question of
State policy to hold it where it was; and !
even that would be contracted and un-
just policy; it would be unjust towards a
large portion Of our fellow-citizens who /
reside in the southwestern parts of our
Commonwealth. who are groaning under !
their share of the burdens of taxation, |
and who had never received one dollar out !
of the forty millions that had been ex-
pended in making canals and railroads /
through other parts of the Common
wealth. Mr.. III. said he was for adopt !
ing more liberal policy than this. He
would 90 for railroad from Harrisburg
to Pittsburg-he would 90 for the right
of way to the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road; and he believed il was the policy of
Pennsylvania to 90 for every improve
ment that would bring the western trade
to the city of Pittsbug, even if part Of that !
tardc should 90 to Baltimore; and he
would say to Philadel phians not to be too
jealous Of sharing part of the trade or
setting down at the same table with Bal |
timore. for the time was not far distant !
when Baltimore would fare sumptuously |
every day, and Philadelphia be left to
pick up the crumbs that might happen to
reach her. Sir, Philadelphia has always |
pursued selfish policy-she has always I
had her false prophets. He recollected
well when the Tide Water Canal Com
pany asked the privilege of constructing
that work, tho Representatives from the
city and county of Philadelphia raised the