Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-02-24

REMARKS OF MR.. GRAHAM OF PIKE co
against the engrossnlcnt of the bill %incorpora-
ting the Evaas0ilIe, Tincennes and Terre
Ha1as Railroad Company-in the House Of
Representatives. the lSt of February, 1913.
Mr.. SPEAKER: l feela great interest in relation to
this bill-so do my constituents. My constituents.
are one, and all, with the whole body Of the State OF
Indiana, interested deeply in this act ofincorpolation
In their haste to get through with the business before
US, gentlemen must be careful what they do; although
bills innumerable, incorporating railroads which are
local intheir bearing, and influences, have passed;
yet they must not take it for granted that all are So
By looking at the route contemplated by this act,
Mr.. Speaker, it will be seen that it runs from Evans
vile to the.town of Terre Haute-the very points
connected by the termination of the Wabash and Erie
Canal. Now it is known by all that that Canal by
the bill OF last winters solemn contract is granted
TO the bondholders, they releasing in consideration
thereof the greater portion of our State debt. This
railroad will most effectually interfere in the opera
tions of that canal-can any doubt it ? At the fur
thest point, there is not a distance exceeding thirty
miles between The two routes. Blythe "Butler Bill, >
all the privileges, facilities and appurtenances belong
ing to said canal were granted by the State 10 the
bondholders. This bill then involves the faith oftke
State. To pass this bill will be an infringement, ]
repeat, of the rights of the bondholders in the Wabash
and Erie canal.
Mr.. Speaker, by the contract of last winter, there
was an advantage gained to the State of Indiana that
should never be lost. By that arrangement, a large
portion OF our public debt was wiped out,-the credit
Of the State raised to its former height. Shall we then
by our acts lose to ourselves these advantages, Civ
ing to the bondholders the power over US they had,
and blight again our State credit!
There is that beneath this project Of which we are
not appraised. What is it? Is the project OF this rail
road concocted by the agent of the bondholders2 Ii
is likely to be so. Who would gain more by the
breaking of this contract than those bondholdersl-
No one. Look at it. Why this railroad, along side
this canal; along side the Wabash river The citizens
directly on the Wabash river do not want it, for ap-
Preparations TO improve it are being spent upon it to
he amount of several thousands, tn at it may be rem
dered safely nayigable. The citizens of Vincennes
will not give one cen: towards the construction of this
railroad; not one cent. Who is it then that wants
the railroad?-would not the bondhelders then be
glad for an opportunity to relieve themselves of bad
bargain2 What would please them so well as an op.
portunity given by tine State to fly from the "bond!'
This railroad terminates at the town of Evansville, q
point of termination also to the canal, the rail road
begins az Tefre Haute, also where the canal touches
il where contemplated, would of course compete anC
successfully too, with the canal in carrying freight
thus destroying all the benefit arising from the cana
TO the bondholders. What good would the canal b.
to them or the State in such event2 Would not thi:
be a breach of faith on the part of the STATED Would
not thiS no m onnortunitv for tbapn IN Hr fro,o tba ao,
tract, which is without any competition ofany rail
road, a bad bargain for them-to whose benefit ther
would this railroad be? Why il is perfectly plair
there is something at the bottom of the whole affair
Those bondholders have a land office, and agency a
Terre Haute- why are those agents not here work
ing against this bill9 Whyg Does it not look yer,
much as iflhey were but waiting for this legislator,
to throw the door open for an opportunity to agail
saddle upon this, and the coming generations a bur
densome debt-relieve themselves of an incum
brance2
Mr.. Speaker, l repeat there is no use of this rail
road. The citizens along the route do not want it,
run one side OF them they have tie Wabash and Erie ca
nal, on the other the Wabash river, which is being rem
dered navigable. 1t cannot assist the town of Evans
Vile more than the canal-let that be finished; let i
be rendered ofuse, finished, and Evansville will do a
well as with the railroad. But if you charter thi
company, you by Intellectually destroy the object; tn
usefulness of the canal-you break in upon the pro
visions of the bill Of last winter; you infringe upol
vested r~ights-they, the bondholders will Withdraw
from the arrangements made with them by the Stat
and thus by the act of the State herself have place
her in the guilt ofdespalr, from which she has but jns
raised he7self-and again be placed among non-puy
ing States. call upon gentlemen to reflect CAREFUL,
upon what they are doing, and do nothing of whicl
wrong may como.
Mr.. Speaker, | must come to a close as | have de
tanned tie House longer than intended TODD, butth
people whom I have the honor TO represent, have
great interest in the matter, and for them, l must an
will stand up at all hazards, whether | meet the frown
of other members or not.
LAeoNIc CoRREsPoNDENcE--The Baltimore cores