The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-18
IN CONGRESS- OF THE U. STATES,
Th,raeth Congress Session.
SATURDAY. FEBRUARY II. ls49.


SATURDAY. FEBRUARY II, ls49.
SENATE.
The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a
communication OF the Secretary of the Treasury COW
erng report from the superintendent of the coast
vey IN relation TO the survey OF the coast OF FLORIDA
which was ordered 10 lie on the table and be printed
MEMORIALS
Mr.. CAMERON presented two petitions from citizens
and females OF the State OF Pennsy lvana. asking the
adoption OF measures for aboshng slavery The Dis
tric OF Columbia, and prohibiting the introduction of
slavery into any territory belonging Ia the United States
Also, three petitions OF citizens OF Pennsy lvaaia. ask
ing the abolition OF slavery and the slave trade in the
District of Columbia
Mr.. c. also presented petition OF citizens of Penn
syvania asking that the ordinance OF 1857 may be adopt
ed in the organization OF territorial governments by the
The motion to receive these several petitions was
dered TO lie on the table.
Mr. c. also presented petition from citizens of Penn
sylvania asking that the price OF the mineral lands of the
United States may be reduced to the minimum standard of
other public lands; which referred to The Committee
Public Lands.
Also from citizens of the same State asking such
amendments of the patent laws will secure to paenees
the benefit of their Inventions which referred the
Committee on Patents and the Patent Office
Mr. c. also presented petition from William Greer,
asking the patronage of government 10 work entitled
"The Mirror of the Patent Office of which he is the
publisher; which was referred TO the Committee on Pat
ents and the Patent Office.
Mr. c. also presented the petition of William Chap
man. soldier in the last with Great Britain asking
mtee on Pensions.
Mr. C. also presented the memorial of Evelina Porter
widow of the late Commodore Porter, asking that bill
may be passed for her relief, granting pension for five
years consequence of the death OF her husband from
the effects of wounds and sickness received and
ed while in the line of his duty in the naval service of
the United States which referred to the Committee
Naval Affairs
Mr.. WESTCOTT presented the petition OF Stevens s.
Ellison and other citizens of the United States asking
that they may be protected against foreign niracon OF
Their patent right Tor machine
regular forms.
Mr. w also presented petition from citizens of Mon.
roe county, New York. asking the enactment of a law
for the protection of American inventors against foreign
nfractoAs of their patent rights both of which petitions
referred 10 the Committee Patents and the Patent
Office
Mr.. BORLAND presented memorial from citizens OF
Arkansas, asking the adoption OF measures for the
structon OF railroad from Memphis to the Pacific
ocean; which was ordered to lie on the table.
MIR. FOOTE presented the memorial OF Jesse f. Dow,
for himself and associates, proposing to open
the Pacific ocean by Of road over the isthmps of
Tehuanepec, condition that the United States will
thorze them, for valuable consideration, to transport
the mails and other property of the government said
road which referred to the Committee on the Post
Office and Post Roads, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. +. stated that the memorial very interesting
from gentlemen OF high character and ability, and
appear in the report of proceedings the morning paper,
and would not therefore, ask its reading.
The following is the memorial:
To the honorable Senate and House Of Representatives Of the
The memorial of Jesse r. Dow for himself and his asso-
ciates respectfully makes known, that your memoalst,
was convinced practicaby and propriey bring
the trade of eastern India the American
nen in the northern temperate by of
road and an iron horse
Your memoriast would not does he assert that he
first contemplated western route TO India for Columbus,
many years before sought path to Cathay through the
Islands OF the Caribbean sea, and Sch ,san Cabo, AID
host of others, Chinese route amid the icy ribs OF La
orador and the frozen pillows OF the north.
Your menoralist, therefore while he seeks not to be
venerated pilgrims Of the deems it nevertheless due
truth and his honor declare in The legal phrase
the first protector of central railroad from the Mississippi
valley TO The Pacific and that before had made
estimated the cost and promulgated the plan of such
trail railroad, opening our vast country commerce and
civilization, the prominent idea of the Anne rican mind
Tor the present century he nevertheless, in of
newyacqured possessions III California, deems it of the
highest sd III ,ha, i ihar speedy SAFE cheap and
eller the merchant and the of arms between the At
lantic and the Pacific waters
For this purpose and in this view he proposes tempo.
ray route from Pensacola Gulf 1850 nilcs) and
@ ne o aosds no IN
Maine, to Wilmington, North Carolina and finished
done at small expense and with lii le trouble, While the
builders laying down n 600 millions OF pounds Of
niles in engt-throush the heart of our country. There
is, according to Lieutenant Boyle of the navy, who
IL feet OF water low and ii feet high full tide in
SAID arbo-a depth sufficient for any steamer sailing
vessel requisite for that trade and the gate oTeluane
pee, the sandbar that extend. It's Threshold
be easily removed by simple dredging machine, with
but lte labor and small expense The line of
cunning from Panama, via San Francisco, Oregon city.
might easily be made to commence at the Gn OF rehuan-
epec, saving l200 miles in distance the Pacific shore,
and making for their compensation by addition
vi trips.
This being effected, your memorast proposes by
IF prSaie enterprise the consenof Mexico, and the aid of
some of herclzens to build and keep tor the
often after its completion, suitable plank road
the Isthmus OF Ienuantcpec, which,
ion With lines OF steamers from New Orleans and Pensacola
passengers, mails troops and munitions OF could be
carried wheels, propelled by animal power, fourteen
lays from Portland, Maine, and in days from Pensa
cola New Orleans, and this, without binding
government by enanglng alliances with any power,
calling for any other action its part than yearly appro
priaton OF money fair alton Tor good and
faithful service promptly rendered. The line OF this road
lis healthy timber IN quantity can be procured there
with and the Inhabitants mostly OF tue Indian
raceends 10 Americans, excellent iaboers and honest
The services OF these be had at tom four
TO six dollars month and after the ompleon of the
road they will guard II from robbers and pirates from either
sea.
Your memorialist, in connection with gentlemen of
peence aud unlimited is authorized
say that contract can be made between them and the
United States Tor period oil for this service
The that proposed be the
service by the way of Panama and that bonds the
faction OF the government will be executed for the faithful
than Panama and while shortens the distance
2305 miles, enables the passenger enjoy the
blessing OF health. and puts him days his des
uned port, San Francisco.
From Portland, Maine TO Wilmington, North Carolina
rail Dad running through eleven States and connecting
with their capitals snow in daily From Wilmington
10 Manchester, South Carolnu road is being built. From
Manchester connected with Charleston road is opera
Aalanta Georgia From Atalanta West Point,
railroad in progress. From West Point Montgomery
Alabama, railroad is finished /; and from Montgomery to