The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1849-12-28
and Terre Hautc Railroad.

cennes Railroad, to Terre Haute, was taken
up in the House. We give the debate below
from the State Journal:
ByeMr. Wilson, from the committee on
canals, &C., bill relative to amending an
act Incorporating Railroad from Evansville
to Terre Haute ordered to be engrossed-
ayes sc, noes q.
| The rule was suspended and the bill read
third time
| Mr. Goodwin moved its indefinite postpone
nent; lost-ayes 25, noes 70.
| Mr.. Withers remarked that the bill pro-
posed to construct railroad from Evansville
to Terre Haute. Ii would be remembered
that some years ago the State transferred 10
her Bondholders her interest in the unfinished
portion of the Wabash and Erie canal. He
asked if the bill passed we were not tramp
ling upon the most sacred right Of the Bond
holders. Was not the arrangement with
them beneficial one to the State? 1t is our
duty to carry out the contract on the part of
the State. Other conduct will affect her
good faith. Her honor is at stake. He could
not countenance the bill.
Mr.. Greenhouse said he did not, by his
speech, expect to convince this House except
of facts that are facts. The gentleman spoke
of good faith. He asked if we were under
obligations to the foreign bondhoders.--
Have we not railroad charters running in
every part of the State Can any gentle
man here show that we have forfeited our
faith If they can | will 90 with Them
| Tie objections were trivial and fallacious,
raised to defeat the bill. Ifthey were adopt
ed he !elt like resigning his seat. The truth
was the road didn't Iun through Pike county;
if it did. very little care wonld the gentleman
(Mr. Withers) have for neutrality-suspicious.
and bondtoders. He had had quite time
in electoneering the gentleman from Davess
(Mr. Goodwin.) He had promised to have
the road turned through his county if he
would vote for it. He concluded by asking
gentlemen for Gods sake to pass all railroad
bills where the honor of the State was not
affected.
lIr. Carnahan of P. contended that the
gentlemen of this house were bound to regard
the honor of Indiana. The matter was too
serious to be made farce of He lived on
the Ohio river and was interested in this bill!
bat still he was willing to sacrifice his section
al feelings for the good of the whole State
The arrangement with the bondhoIders was
good one no man denied it. Those bond
holders have kept their faith. A cry has
been raised because side-cuts have not b cen
made. Thatcry arose from sectional feeling
| If means are expended in their completion
|
vile. He came here to represet the interest
of Posey county, but he would also protect
the interests of the whole State.
Mr.. Niblack remarked that he conceded
with the gentleman from Posey. Deeper in
terests were involved in this bill than the
simple charter of railroad.
Mr.. Murray noticed the objections to the
bill. The first he had heard Of the forfeiture
of our faith with the bondholders was from
the gentleman from Warren. They had not
kept their faith: why should we be more re-
gardiul to ours when such regard would deep
" affect the welfare Of the whole State a.
Why should we say the progress of internal
improvement tor their sakes Was it right |
that we should refuse charters for railroads |
and plankroads ? Men had cited Mr. Butler
as Indisputable authority on this question:
but, because of him, should we prohibit the |
citizens of any portion Of the State progress
ing with any work they might deem best
The name of Charles Batter should not be |
held in terror over the heads OF this House |
Mr.. Shepard answered the objections Of
Mr. Withers. The journals of this House
will show that last winter, members sat still
and never once noticed the out-held terror of
Mr.. Butler. He spoke in reference to our
violation of faith. Ifby this bill we violated
our faith now, would we not do so two years
henee2
Mr.. Alley thought gentlemen too scrupu-
lous in their regard for bondholders.
Mr.. Edwards was well satisfied the House
was convinced the bill ought to pass. He
merely rose to answer some objections made
by the gentleman from Posey, (Mr. Carna-
han) He lived at the proposed terminus O
this road. But he nor his constituents were
interested in this bill. There was not man
from the northern neighborhood of the road
lobbying for the purpose of terminating it at
Terre Haute. 1t was a stale objection, he
knew, that of violation of State faith But
he knew that Mr. Butler didn't care anything
about it. The road was to be located twenty J
miles distant from the canal. The principle :
generally held was that railroads and canals
were not rival improvements. Whence then
could come the injury to the interests of the
bondholders? No; the secret of the oppo- /,
sition of the gentleman from Posey, (Mr. =
Carnahan. was as charged by the gentleman
from Vanderburgh, (Mr Greathouse,) upon
the gentleman from Pike, (Mr. Withers.) He
wanted the road to run contiguous to his own III
county seat, west of Evansville. That was +
the reason in truth.
Mr.. Dougherty explained the reason Of his
course upon the question. Charges had been Il
made upon the floor, that were indecorous a
and unbecoming. Every member here had e
a right not only 10 entertain, but also to ex- O
press any opinion he might honestly entertain :
more particularly where the question was
of a nature like this one, fairly admitting of
a varianc Of oppion He denied that he