Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-11-18

village Of Burlington.
Nj Kmball replied that such was his design lie
desired that nothing contained in the present bill
should operate unfayorably upon the Rutland or any
other road
Mr. Miner expressed doubts whether the proposed
amendment would affect the character already grant
ed, and requested the senator from Wndham to add to
his proposition provision repeating all acts hereto
fore passed by the Legislature authorising the Vermont
and Canada railroad to connect with die Central road,
at any other point than the village of Burlington.
Kmball SO modified his amendment
Mr. Hodges took the floor against the BILL and re-
marked that he believed that the minds Of senators
were already prepared to vote on the question, and
that elaborate discussion would be altogether supper
fuous. He would however submit few objections a.
gans the passage of the bill He believed that they
had no power to legslate upon the subject. The
friends Of the bill should have applied to a higher
source. Congress was the only proper authority to de-
eide this question. The constitution had invested 1t
with the sole prcrogave, inosmuch it had given it
the exclusive power Of regulating commerce. and that
privilege congress had always exercised on the waters
OF lake ChampIan, by erecting light houses, by re-
moving distractions from the channel, and by faca-
ting in all practicable methods the promotion Of COM
merce through this great thoroughare. 1t was rot
the people Of Vermont only that were interested IN
this navigation. The people Of New York, Of the en-
tire country, and also the subjects of an adjacent PROV
nce were deeply concerned. The lake was a COM
mon highway through which all might pass; and it
ought to be controlled by power only that could pro-
tect the interests of all That power was Congress-
and its authority plenary and paramount to al others
There no provision in the bill that congress should
be inquired of not the slightest recognition, that
it had the least interest," or ought to have the least
voice in the matter. He had another insurmounable
objection to the passage of the bill at the present time
There was vast amount of property on the lake, and
its Shores thrt would be seriously and perhaps fat
allay affected by this measure Yet no notice had
been seasoDaby given, that an act Of this nature was
to be acted upon By the Legislature. He did not be-
eve that one hundred persons IN his county had ever
heard of the project before first made its appearance
in this chamber They could not without breach
of good faith, take final legislative action upon this
matter if no notice had been given to the owners of
the millions Of property that would be more or less at
ectedto appear and protect their Interests and Vndlc-
ate their rights. Again, for whose benefit was the
bill? clearly for the benefit Of foreign corporation
The legislature Of New York the proper authority
for that corporation to apply to- lie had heard OF no
such application made to that source 1t Ill became
the legislators Of Vermont to sacrifice the rights and
interests of its own citizens to crafty the Ogdensburgh
or any other foreign corporation. 70 be sure there
was provision in the bill TINT the act should not 90
into operation unless New York should make a similar
grant. But the manner of legisating was highly I'M
dgnihed and improper. They might well pass a
law protecting the rights of fugitive slaves, making
its operation to depend upon similar action IN Louis
lana or Mississippi. Vermont was a sovereign state
and it became her to egisate independently and vita
a sole reference to her own interests AT all events
there was no necessity for this hot haste. The pro-
iect was Of stupendous magnitude in its results,
and the people ought to deliberate upon It's policy
lie would close by moving the indefinite postponoment
of the bill
Mr. Foster remarked that it had always been the
policy of Vermont to encourage railway enterprises,
and the introduction Of foreign capital into our limits
The charters we had hitherto granted were uniformly
marked by liberal provisions. They had been passed
without serious opposition. No such canor as that
they have now heard about want of timely notice was
then thought Of The charters gave the power to CON
scate every mans homestead for the public interests,
and yet there then no complaint. This cutlery ne
believed was only got up for the occasion. Besides
there was notice, and abundant notice. The sub iect
had long been canyassed by the people 1t had been
discussed in the public prints; and every imaginable
interest that could be in the least degree affected had
been fully and properly represented before the com
mittee, who hlt the matter in consideration. The
provisions OF tn original charter for this road had been
purposely left Indefinite. At the time it was granted
| it was not known what route the Ogdensburg road
would finally decide upon. TnS now determln-
ed; and it became necessary for them to alter their
former grant 50 as to make 1t operative and beneficial
This grant of the right to bridge the lake was nothing
new. 1t existed to a certain extent in the original
charter. 1t now was only proposed to extend its oper-
alton little further. This matter of deep con
Germ to the citizens of this state A most important
avenue Of communication hitherto closed to the region
of the great lakes of boundes extent and reXhauStbc
fertility, was offered to be opened to u.s. 1t would
greatly cheaper all the products OF the west, aud 1t
benefits would be felt by every nhabant Of the state
To be sure British interests were arrayed against 1t
and they for the purpose of defeated its success haC
devised famous canal project, which they pretended
was to suparcedc its necessity But, to say nothing
Of the evident design Of the project which was con
coced to operate against this bill, and which woul;
never exist except in tie brains Of its origuators, who
would pretend that even if c0rried into execution j
would ever be Of such benefit to the people Of Yer
mont as the present measure would afford? circuit
GUS and dangerous water communication Us miles il
length by way of the st Lawrence and st Johns coult
never compete successfully with a railroad only i
miles in length, with grade Of only % feet at tn
highest and on which one train of cars could anspor
255 tons from Ogdensburg to lake Champaign in tel
hours 1t was idle to think Of it. a canal too, woul
be constantly hampered by inspection laws and custom
house regulations, and in the time of war we shout
be totally excluded from its benefits. The region 0
the canal regarded as the great base OF mltar
, operations in the event of war between Americ
and England. 1t was Of the greatest national import
ance that should have means Of communication
along the northern frontier, within British limits
but where it could be protected by American soldier
and American bayones
But it is sld that transshpment from Burlington
to Platsbusgh would answer all particle purposes
But can be supported for moment that the great ex
pense, delay and inconvenience that would neceSar
result from such break in the line Of the road wou
not deract immensely from its benefits? Would i
not be vastly greater injury to the line of roads, thai
any harm that would be inflicted upon the navigation
interests of the lake, by bridge at Rouse's Point
was idle and foolish to think otherwise. Besides the
navigation interests were not destined to suffer- lht
carrying trade between the upper and lower portions
of the lake in consequence of the completion OF this
line of roads would be greatly increased, 1t woult
have its full share of the common benefit. But it wa;
said the measure was unconstitutional lfhis was so
the road could take nothing by the grant If we have
no right ourselves we convey none to others; Sc
at all events the grant would be harmeless one. Blu
he thought it was strange doctrine that territory was
not subject to the iurisdiconiu which it lies is not
pretended these are tde-waters What authority OF
CONTROL then did Congress have over themI It was
singular indeed if there was anything IN inc law OF