Washington telegraph., 1849-12-12
PACIFIC RAILROAD.


at the request of public meeting of the
citizens, appointed delegates to bear the
proposition of Capt. Pike to the General
Assembly at Nashville, and to ask that
body to memorialize Congress to favora-
bly, consider the same. They also re-
commend primary meetings throughout
Tennessee and the adjacent States to
examine the plan, and to petition Con-
gress to adopt it. The following Memo
rial embraces the plan proposed by Capt.
Pike, and we take pleasure in recon-
mending it to the attention of our readers.
To the Hon. the Senate and House q
Representatives Of the United States
Of america. IN Congress-.
Your Petitioners, citizens of the State Of
respectfully pray:
That the Congress enact, that there be
appropriated whatever amount OF moneys
may be necessary for the purpose OF bulld-
ing a Railroad from the Mississippi river
to the Pacific ocean, to be raised by laws
secured 10y pledge Of the proceeds of the
That it be enacted: That said road con-
sist of two branches, commenced at one
time and carried on simultaneousy-One
from Meuphis or some other proper point
in the Southern States Oh the Mississippi.
connected or to be connected by Railroad
with the Southern Atlantic cities, and
one from ST. Louis or some other proper
point in the Northern States Oh The Mis-
sissippi; connected or TO be connected by
Railroad, with the Northern Atlantic
cities-uniling at some proper point west
of Mississippi or Arkansas, and thence
running hy single line by the best prac-
ticable route, which shall afford equal
facilities and equal advantages to the
Northern and Southern Atlanuc cities, 10
such point Oh the Pacific ocean III Cali
forna as shall be most eligible i'll respect
TO commerce and the interests OF the diff
ferent sections OF our Union.
That it be also enacted: That such
Road be built and put i'll operation, and
bridges erected over the Mississippi at
the terlnini with the funds of the General
Government, at the earliest practicable
period.
That it also be enacted: That from the
passage of such laws, all moneys there
after payable 10 any of the States under
present or future laws out Of the proceeds
of the Public Lands, be retained by the
Treasury of the United States. and therein
placed TO the credit OF such respective
States; and also that a certain per cemtum
of the future proceeds of the Public Lands
be in like manner retained, to the credit
of each State aud Territory in the Union,
until such Railroad be completed and in
operatiom and that the whole residue of
such proceeds be pledged, and lrevocabIy
devoted 10 building such Road. or repay
ing the money obtained OH loans tor The
purpose of building the same.
That it be further enacted: That so
soon AS such Road is completed and put
in operation, the whole cost thereof be
ascertained, and divided into as many
equal parts as there may then be States
and organized Territories III the Union,
as it becomes State, entitled to purchase
one such part of the Stock of such Road,
by paying to the General Government
her ascerlained share of such cost, which
payment shall be made first by the APP
preparation thereto, of the sum which
may then stand to her credit in the
National Treasury, and the residue III
cash, or by bonds Of the State secured by
the hypothecatiOn aud irrevocabIe devO-
moneys III future coming to such State
from Public Lands, and of her share Of
the profits and nett receipts OF such Road.
That it be enacted: That it, after the
expiration Of ten years, from the comple-
ton of such Road any State shall have
declined to take her share in such Road,
the same be allowed TO be taken and
purchased by important cities in the u.
States. or by corporations or individuals
III anv of the Slates-;ha. such cities.
corporations and individuals shall never
have any will III the direction of such
Road; aud that before selling any part OF
the stock, the Congress shall fix and de-
terinine the rates OF freight, toll, and pas
sage on said Road and bridges. :
That it be enacted: That said Road
be managed by Board Of Direction.
equal in number to the States OF the
Union leach State which takes her
share of the stock selecting one Director.
i'll such manner as she may by law pro.'
vide, and the others being appointed by
the President of the United States, who
shall also appoint The President of such
Board. a
That it be also enacted That if other
branches of such Road are at any time
built from ether points OH the Mississippi,
the Lakes, or the Gulf of Mexico-one
from point in the Northern States, and
one from point in the Southern States
shall always be commenced aud carried
forward simultaneously and such new