New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-14

forever for want u trade 70 heeP - 49,. ~ S -
Che importance Of this PoinL ~ h;spy ssnrecisted
=. - - invoives the question whether THIS road
az commercial enterprise, snan pay VI NO. oes
-ha,bar In the prosecution OF It's great uesign u
.haIl be made effective IN turning tne s,ea' JUN VI
,hs commerce Of the world on this line Your
C",nn,ttce are of the opinion that any other plan
,hsn Mr. Whtncy'r will necessarily defeat the
oyeat purpose Of the enterprise, even II II should
an ,hort Of an entire aud stupendous failure They
think that the very greatness OF the result conten-
ated by this principle Of free trans port IS the chief
II not the only guarantee OF the final success OF the
undertaking. + ailing In this, all may tai, ana
orobably will. For how can commerce be greatly
uted across this continent, az such price OF
syansport az will be required to pay the interest OF
The outlay Of capital employed in the construction
of q road on any other plan than M w mtney s
But not a single dollar is required by his Plan' ex'
cent what is created by the NOV ement Of the WORK
Objections.
twill perhaps, be said that 1t is as wen TO take
the public lands in one way as 10 anotner ioF TINS
object. as web 10 appropriate the proceeds alter
,hS,, are sod IS % appropriate the lands to Mr..
WS;tnev before they are sold-oyeroOking, of
.onyse the fact that Mr.. Whitney himself not only
Rvs these lands at fol- value, bat buys them for
This very purpose, when, for the most part there
is and never would be, any other demand for them.
But absurd this reasoning IS, II may not be sniss
IN reply 10 IT, Besides that, as before remarked.
the revenue from the public lands is pledged for the
public debt there is difference IN these two
hypotheses, both in principle and result. AS to
principle one is a case OF actual sale with the
price in the treasury and the other IS case oil an
offer to bay where nobody else would buy, not only
for two or more times the acknowledged value, but
with CONSEQUENT public benefit CT vast extent;
and as 10 the result, one takes money out OF the
public treasury, while the other not only puts 1t IN
there, but puts il in the pocket oil every private
person in the land, 10 indefinite and ncalc1Iabe
aggregate.
It NAV also be said by these directors, that
wherever the road runs il will increase the value
Of those parts Of the public domain through winch
il passes; which is undoubtedly true, II 1t should
ever be finished and answer It's designs But we
have already seez that the chances are against lts
being finished on any other than MIR. W nhneys
plan and ALSO if finished, that no other plan VIII
answer the magnificent purpose OF augmenting
commercial exchanges on that vast and compre-
bepsye scale which will be essential to its support,
and TO the greatest public good, simply because
the cost of transport to satisfy the outlay oil capital
will be too great-thus bringing 70 the ground not
only a stupendous project, but Disappointing It's
stupendous results
And vet again, il may be objected that the sale
and settlement of the territory appropriated to Mr..
Whtney's road will be so much satisfaction from
the sale and settlement OF other portions oil the
public domain. To which 1t may be answered,
frst that here is an actual sale, 10 bring nearly
$4,000 900 into the public treasury; next, that Mr..
Whtney's enterterprise c0ntemplates, and is natu
rally calculated 10 induce, a special emigration
from Europe, over and above what would other
wise come TO satisfy this demand and lastly, 1t
the plan succeeds, without which this objection is
no avail it is impossible that ii should not Ultimate
Iy create more active demand for the public lands
outside Of the Whitney purchase, as well on the
Pacific as the Atlantic slope, through the length
and breadth Of our national jurisdiction.
But all these objections TO Mr.. Whitneys plan,
growing out Of questions to the most profitable
AUGMENTATION Of the public lands, entirely
swept from the board by the fact now staring the
country in the face, 70 wit, that these lands are
now held Of so little account as TO have created
sort of rivaship among some OF our leading states
men in proposing to gre them away TO the first
corners and 10 the first squaters from foreign parts
and from among ourselves and II cannot be con-
cealed that this new notion lsiay0raby entertained
How, then, with 80 stupendous and so beneficial a
public object In view, il be objected TO sell to
Mr. Whitney, for at least twice it's estimated
value that which he requires for the building OF his
road4 In such circumstances, your Committee
cannot but think that it would be greatly unwise,
not TO say absurd, TO object TO this measure,
and resign the entire public domain, free OF all
price, to party striies and partisan leaders. who
viii use 1t only TO buy up political capital Tor them
selves and their followers
Moreover your Committee aware, it may be
said that in case of the failure OF the Whitney
plan much time will have been lost to the Govern
ment for surveying routes and for other prepare.
tions: 10 which il may be answered, that Mr.
Whitney's first efforts, among the hrst, will
naturally be those very surveys which the Govern
ment would desire 10 have made, all at his eX
pense which in case OF his failure, will be availa
Bic to the Government aud it need not be said,
that me asures Of this kind carried by individual
enterprise with the entire interest at stake, will
be effected with greater fidelity, and with vastly
greater rapidty, energy. and completeness, than
by the employment OF Government agents, who
will have no other interest than good pay, and in
protractng the work as long as they can. Besides,
II is to be considered that, if Mr. Whitney is put
of for these surveys and preparations by the Gov
eminent and IT, after all, the Government should
prefer Mr. Whitneys plan as your Committee
believe would be the fact, as the only feasible one
that has been or can be presented, 1t would then
be too late, because the necessary means, consist
ing in the good lands on the way, will have been
taken up, which even is being done with
great rapidly, putting in peril the only plan which
your Committee think practicable. And where |
would Mr.. Whitney then be We shall see by |
and by where he is likely to be, if his present APP
plicstion here be rejected
Finally, it is objected that the granting of Mr.. |
Whitneys request and endowing him with the
privileges Of this bill, would be putting too much
power in the hands Of one man, and giving him too
many and great chances of monopoly aud wealth.
As TO the first part Of this objection, viz too much
power, is only necessary to refer TO the articles,
terms, and conditions OF the bill introduced, for
complete and satisfactory answer. 1t will there
be seen that in al important particulars, the Gov
eminent will forever have absolute and entire con-
troll over the road and Its managers IN all that may
be necessary TO check the abuse Of power and
privilege, and an unlimited reserve power Of future
Legislation for the vindcation of the rights Of the
Government, Of the people, and Of all other parties
against Mr.. Whitney and his successors A stock
company invested by Government charter with the
powers and privileges OF a corporation in such
vast interest as this, would indeed be thing to be
feared. Our National and State Governments
have already had too much experience not to fear
such bodies 1t is for the very purpose Of escaping
from their power, that your Committee would re-
commend the bill now proposed, which treats only
with an individual always in the power of the
Government by the terms Of the bill, and who, on
laiure Of Ia nhl.atin-s tk,ra,r, AnE.,,d E,r-