Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-12-22


tween the Government Of New Granada and
Messrs. Aspinwall 81 Co. was the same as the
expired contract referred 10, which had been
transferred TO them. Some additional bonus had
perhaps been required from these memorialists,
but the Two contracts were Identical in every
other respect.
Mr.. Downs cxpa ID, in reply 10 Mr.. Allen,
that The United States had no right 10 establish
any monopoly acres, the ishmus. All they had
secured. was the fright of way" With the con-
struction of any road we had nothing 10 do. All
that we can do is 10 encourage The early compile
ton OF the road. He deemed il important, how
ever, that The original French contract should he
laid before The Senate, that The additional condi-
lions imposed by Mr.. Heron ON MesTs Aspin-
wall g. Co. might be known-lhat it might be
made apparent that nothing in those conditions
can be deemed Objectionable.
the original contract, bu, he had il mol in his
pocket, and time would be required.
Mr.. Cameron was opposed 10 connecting the
interests OF The government with those Of these
contractors. And he thought that il this paper was
Produced il could be shown lhi' Inc road could
be constructed in different way, and lar more
favorable 10 The country. he referred 10 The
magnitude OF this enterprise, and insisted that II
was highly necessary that The original contract
should be produced, Tor important facts could
then be ELECTED.
M. Foo.e remarked, it might be found that,
under this treaty, we had The constitutional power
To construct a RAILROAD from The Atlantic to The
Pacif,, Tor military purposes, and incidentally 10
secure TO the people Of this country the adgan-
lagos which had been 50 graphically portray
ed by the Senator from Ohio. II il should
be tound that such road is necessary 10 the de-
fence OF the country, he thought il was within The
constitutional power OF the government 10 con.
struct il.
Mr.. Allen said, that If we had any right, Ivy
treaty 10 acquire The fright Of way" we had The
constitutional right 10 enjoy all The privileges thus
secured; and ne believed that The government had
not only The constitutional power, bul were
bound 10 take The necessary measures 10 secure TO
The people all the rights obtained By that treaty.
Mr.. Douglass replied, that we had secured The
right OF travel across The islhmus, on any road
constructed, al The same rate oil tolls, Nc, AS are
10 be imposed upon citizens o! New Gianada.-
Blu, The sovereignty is retained by New Granada
anL The power 10 Contract with whom they please,
ior The construction .. any Toad they may deem
adviSa bic.
II there is any monopoly, il is established by
the contract between the government Of New
Granada AMI Messrs. Aspinwall & Co. Ali
that we have 10 do is to make The b.st contract
we can for the transportation Of the mails 90
vernmeni supplies, &C., over this road, when
completed BY The memvralis.s. We have nothing
10 do with The construction OF any road, nor have
we secured any power by the treaty 10 construed
my read over The lsIh'nus OF Panama. II Is
neither in our power, nor in The power OF New
GRAND 10 take away the monopoly, II II OF
one, which has been granted IL Mrssrs. AspIh-
wall and Others. Ee thought, however, that The
words "direcied," in The bill, Chat The Secretary
,ha No. Ea IN &c \
should he stricken out.
Mr. Fuo,e referred 10 The immense advantages
secured o Inc memoIialsts by th-ir contract with
The government Of New Granada, and 10 the
large sum which il was now proposed by our go
vcinmeu. 10 pay them Tor tha transportation o.
the mails, &c. He should never favor III. pas
sage Of such a hill, unless such reasonable 'afift
oil rates be established as will save 0Gr clt,Zsns,
in all time 10 GENE, liom oppression and lmposi'
ton. And he deemed il, further. highly mpor-
tant that the fright Of way" which We had 90
tanned. should be kept open-sccrre 10 our Gil.
zens-iorever. This was another object when
should be provided Tor in his bill, tina, there mishl
be no misunderstanding hereafter.
THE translation and printing, As moved by Mr..
Benton, was ordered when
Mr. Baldwin offered resoln,ion, nslruciins
The Committee on Military Affairs, to ascertain.
SO lar as the Same my he pract,cane, ana report
10 the Senate, inc particulars ci The contract eS-
islins between The government ot New Granada
and The Messrs. Aspin~al, Stephens and Chaur-
cey, in regard 10 The construction Of the proposed
railroad across the ls'hmuS o. Panama AMI the
terms on which the use Of said railroad, ior The
transit OF passengers aud merchandise Is secured
10 The government AM people OF New Granada
and of the United States.
This resolution was adopted and then, al cr
some other Important business, the Senate wenI
into Executive session. Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The States were caIlet Tor petitions AMI memo
ras, and number were presented.
The committees were called Tor reports, but
none OF public interest were presented, being
chiefly confined 10 private bills, OF which num-
| Der wefc reported.
On motion OF Mr.. Vinton, The House hen went
into committee OF The whole on the stale OF he
Union, (Mr. Thompson OF Indiana in the chaif,)
| for the purpose of considering the resolutions IL
lroduced by Mr.! V on the subject Of The Ieirr-
cnce OF the subjects alluded 10 in The Presidents
annual message 10 The appropriate standing CEN.
| mitiees OF The House.
| MIR. Ramsey moved 10 amend the lOufih resc-
LUTON, SO as 10 proviie tor the reference OF 50
much 81 the message "a relates 10 The tariffs oi
| 1876 and 1912 iothe COMMITTEE on Manufactures,
| instead OF The Committee OF Ways and Means.
Mr. Cobb Of Georgia moved 10 amend me
amendment 50 that il should read, Ia the Commit
les on Manufactures, Agriculture AMI Corr
merce, sitting jointly"
On these proposed amendments prolracied de-
bate eusued, in which Hessrs. G. }. lnsersoll,
Fl ,lmes OF South Carolina, GenlrY OF Tennessee,
Thompson OF Pennsylvania, Vin!on, Green Of
Missouri, Greeley aud Marvin Of New York and
Fisher Of Ohio parlicipaIet-in The course Q"
which the relative merits of the tariffs OF az and
&c, were discussed a, considerable length, and
with much ability. Without coming to am
conclusion, The committee rose and The House
adjourned