Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1849-11-01
From fhe Sc. Louis republican.
MIR. %. III. Smiths Speech.

HAr. %. Ii. Smfth'S speech.
Substance Of The Remarks Of the Hon. Mr. Smith, delivered
before TIE National Railroad Convention at ats session of
Wednesday last.
Hon. OLIVER Fl. SMITH, of Indiana addressed
ton at length upon the resolution declaring that the road
should outside Of the States. We the
entire speech has been prepared length do
pretend TO do justice to the speaker. We happy
however, TO give the substance OF his remarks.
Mr. remarked upon ri>ing that he had intend
ed, until this morning. 10 address the Convention. He had
hoped that il would be necessary for him do He
however, compelled to abandon his original on
aud would now claim The indulgence OF the Convention
while he gave his views upon this national enterprise
Mr.. said the resolution (which he read brought up for
discussion the whole merits of the questions involved in the
objects OF the Convention said he objected to that par
Of the resolution which confined The road the country
beyond the States This, he said was in his view, ptal
work. and he warned the Convention; that if
resolution should be passed by the Convention il bet
this Convention had been called
resolution yielded the questions that the General Government
had not the constitutional 10 construct maintain
this great national work through the frontier States This
doctrine which he could give his
principle which, II maintained by the Convention and Cnn
and mainainance Of Pacific and Atlantic Railroad until
the constitution amended he should in the course of
his remarks, attempt to Prove. He assumed the position,
that in his senses would, for a moment, maintain
that the Government would undertake to make
Railway the Rocky Mountains. 1t great
magnificent enterprise worthy Of this progressive
of the energy high this great nation But
the greatness of the enterprise the strongest
of its accomplishment The American people
heIcuean abors and they found equal to whatever
is required Of them il properly directed. Blu, Railroads
To be madc by resolves He practical
man. ard he looked practical action He came to ST
Louis attend The Convention, for the purpose CT giving
whatever aid he could to proceedings which might result
the construction Of this great work. and he felt bound
oppose all action Of the Convention directed to that
desirable result calculated defeat it, He said that
there difference between Railroads constructed
aud those constructed sub sstum-
grade wi the materials which aight The
easy of construction and might be brought into
BY The Imagination OF the craftsman in beau
ffu language and high sounding terms But roads
useless for practical purposes Railroads could not be
built in the air They had TO be constructed the nth,
and none but practical were 10 be trusted in their
ton construction Science necessary plain prac
iicaI essential to satisfactory results
He said il he FAST and ardent friend of
this great enterprise that he opposed resolution stop
the work the western boundaries Of the States He
gued the question Of the pacIicsby Of the provision
well its constituonalty much length. Among his
positions he said the proposed
Pacific he did specially object except il would
move 10 be immensely costly in its at the enor
nous price of labor and materials lie objected the
point boundaries Of the States the
Of the eastern end Of the line He showed the folly Of at
tempting road $50 miles in the Wilderness
with connecting link between that point aud the Mi,sis
spp he said not reasonable TO suppose that the
State OF Missouri or the State OF Arkansas could mise ten
twelve miins Of dollars 70 construct the road from the
Mississippi through these States the boundary Of
their respective saiesi and il equally idle TO expect
capitalists Of other States furnish the money build the
road until should build
the road, two miles Pacific
would psy d, ideBd the Of construction until the
the Pacific He said all experience showed that Railroads
should be constructed in continuous lines that the iron
and might be carried forward by the motive power
Of the road He maintained that The aim Of The Govern
making the work. should be psralyzed requ
point and he trusted that the Convention would not d.
Mr. then took up the Constitutional question. He
had doub Of the constitutional power of the Government
this national work. and il there such
doubts should interrupt the work they should be mmed
aieiy removed by amendment Of the Constitution. He
believed that the Constitution living in its principles,
that ample powers under either the post Office
commercial power make the road from ocean to ocean
He illustrated these positions and maintained them at
length but he said turning 10 the Presiden the Telegraph
is the only discovery OF modern times. New doctrines
been Discovered since the days OF Washington Iefe
son. Madison Monroe Adams and Jackson. deprving the
American people Of the constitutional power Of protecting
themselves Of improving their internal condition. howev-
naonalwbile they ample powers to invade other
countries, and establish there lie said he
asked II this school Of gentlemen how this was and
answered that had power In this country because
under the Constitution here bu; when be-
yund the United States sailing under the faU Of
nations Mr.. s. subscribed such doctrines, and yet
these the doctrines contained in the resolution before
the Convention He said for the purpose OF the argument,
he would suppose that the principle yielded aud that il
States did gentlemen that they only increased the
located OF the General Government would be struck
powefess by The admission Of California into the Unionf
Constitution for that county would be presented al the next