Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-16


dspuaons in the Senate. The question this Shall we
print twenty thousand copies of this repor-doube the
Der OF copies ordered for the Presidents mesagor shall we
not rather print only the numberten thousand Is il
possible sir that it necessary that the public mind should be
Illuminated the language of the honorable Senator from
Mississippi seemed to intimate, by Congressional documents
exclusively Are there other OF popular nforma
ton accessible to the intelligent people OF this tounty besides
the documents emanatng from this body On the contrary
the people sick and tired Of the dissemination throughout
the country of many of these large documents. For WI
printers of newspapers scattered abroad all over the
country, they disseminate the matter Of these reports
without the necessity Of issuing from this Cspo many
thousands Of copies every year. and extendnghe to such
numbers that the gentleman from New Hampshire has
very properly said, have not yet distributed BALI the copies
of of the documents ordered at the last session. for the
that they have yet into the possession OF mem
bers They had become extravagantextienely exraya-
gantin relation to the printing OF public documents: Con-
curing then, he heartily did, with the views presented by
the Senator from Connecticut he was constrained notwit-
standing the appeal which had been made to hsmagnanmy
by the honorable Senator from Florida to vote against the
proposition to print twenty thousand copies
The question then taken upon Mr. DAVIS motion by
yeas and nays, and resulted as follows:
iEAS-Messrs. Allen, Atchson Atherton Borand Brad
bury, Breese Bright Butler Davis, Of Miss Dickinson
Foo!e HsnliD. Houston, Hunter Johnson q Ga. King,
Rusk, Sturgeon, Turney, Walker, Westcott, Yuee-23.
NAYS-Messrs. Badger, Baldwin, Bell, Benton, Berrien
Cameron Clarke, Clayton, Corwin Davis Of Massachusetts,
Dayton, Hale Johnson OF Md, johnson, of La, Metcae
Miller Niles, Pearce spruance, Underwood, Upham-2
So the order was agreed to.
RAILROAD ACROSS THE IsTHMUS OF PANAMA.
Mr.. DOUGLAS presented memorial in relation to the
construction of railroad across the Isthmus of Panana
He remarked that the memorial forth the great import
ance OF the construction of railroad across that lhmus in
connection with steamships Of the Government for commerce,
the post Office military and naval stores, &c. 1t also
forth that the company have obtained from the Government Of
New Grenada charter giving them the exclusive privilege
the right of way the Isthmus for nnetynne years.
IF ha bur
have already made with that Government
The memorasts ask appropriation ofmoney they ask
aid omths Government the construction Of the work. They
propose make the road with their money their own
and all they ask is that this Government shall contract
with them, reasonable prices for earring the mails NUM-
tons war; and naval Stores when the Dad shall be finished
and money to be paid until the goes into operation
and the service is performed
The memorial is as follows
To the Honorable the Senate and Hotse,f Representatives
The memorial of VIM. II. Aspnwal, John L. Stephens
Henry Chauncey and their associates respectfully represents
That the acquisition of California and he settlement of
boundary line Oregon have opened the history
of this country Of the value of these territories they do
propose speak further than say the mdness Of
the climate the richness of the soil the great promise of min
eral wealth. and above ALL the long line Of with the
magnificent harbors the Pacific, sufficiently APP
preciated by all classes of people At his moment hum
dreds young men, full enterprise from oar Eastern States
are bufetng the storms of Cape Ho while in the coming
spring the hardy pioneers Of the West will moving by thou
sands the desoate prares climbing tie rugged sleeps
OF the Rocky Mountains, to build Safes the
Pacific Already it is felt hardship by thosewho go
from amongst that settled in California md Oregon
they great extent off from all the dearest relations
OF life and that there returning oro personal
intercourse with friends at home except by the omest pas
sage ever known at the most oilsome journey
made by land.
In view OF this condition of things and hold
coursgement TO emgans that they might virtually
expatraed when upon SOIL and with hrther view
of facilitating communications with our maB naval
ag linz Of us SESSION oees e last
Chagres the Atlantic side of the Ishmus of anama and
from Panama, the Pacific side, to California and Oregon
This will doubt sufficiently the grea purpose of
facilitating correspondence by mail with those territories but
II cannot to extent the immediate pressing
of thoroughre for travel which women and children
may it at all the and
times pressing occasions for the transportation men,
tons OF and naval stores for military and naval
tons the Pacific all of which, however great the
gency and at whatever sacrifice of time and money,
the long and hazardous around Cape Aorn by the
wild paths the Rocky Mountains halt the year
cred with SHOWS and entirely mprscticable.
The Ishmus Of Panama is about so miles in BREADTH less
than on any other part of the continent Of America land from
the falling OF OF the great range Of Corleras running from
the Rocky Mountains to the Andes has always been
sidered the region in which, ever easy
would be effected either by canal road between the two
The it is probably an in the
early days of Spanish dominion when the gold of Peru passed
over to freight with almost fabulous wealth the goses
Spain NO wheel carriage has attempted % cross it.
The present mode OF doing is by canoe up the Chages
river set for great part Of the distance by poles against
current and requiring IS so hours Cruces Thence
Panama there is mule road difficult all times women
and children, particularly with the effects Of moving emil
grazing party, and during the almost mpassble.
The Pachc Mail Company charged with the TRANSPORTATION
OF the mail from Panama to California and Oregon
prisng memoralsts Immediately upon assuming
legations Of their contract the necessity for their
est OF improving the road the shmu and after consuta-
ton with several gentlemen in high position Warrington
took upon themselves the burden and expense of fitting an
expedition for the purpose examination sury One
OF their associates whom the execution this Vrk
entrusted passed the last winter the Ishmu aded by
two engineers Of high Standing who besides making general
observations upon the face OF the
lar survey OF high water mark the shore of the Pacific
aud carried the Cordieras down the stream
that enters into the Atlantic when the further
the work broken up by setting in of the rainy season.
and the party returned to New York.
The scheme OF this company, in ncurrng the expense
this expedition, contemplated your memorialis UNDER
stand some action on the OF the Government the
OF its aiding the construction OF least good wagon or
plank road but the result satisfied them that from the
character OF the country and the deluge the rainy
this would be work OF far greater magnitude than had
expected, and in the time been
this matter by the important action Of the Government ITSELF
treaty has been negotiated with the Government OF New
Grenada by which the United States have
sderaon OF Tree and uninterrupted right way the
shmus OF Panama, by any road roads then existing or
thereafter to be made to guaranty the public the neutrality
OF the shmus and the authority Of New Grenada over so
that the shmus should be invaded by any foreign Power
the United States bound protect with and
navy lhis treaty. in its character and important
IN the Obligations ratified by the Senate
your memoriaists understand without dissenting voice
your memorass regard Il manifest indication on the
part OF Government Of the great national importance of
Tree and uninterrupted passage all times and
the shmus of Panama the closing tina, policy which
established the mail route to California and Oregon by way
that shmus and devovng upon the Government the
cessy oil lending It's counenanee towards the