The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-21
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
PACIFIC RAILRoAp.

The House resumed the consideration of the res
olution from the Committee on Printing TO print
hive thousand extra copies Of the report OF the Com
Inittec on Roads and Canals in favor Of Whitney's
plan for a railroad from Lake Michigan to the Pa
cifc.
Mr.. ROBINSON, Of Indiana, said that the ques-
ton before the House simply TO print five thou
sand copies extra 81 the report II was an ordinary
motion even On ordinary subjects, much less on a
great subject like this, which had occupied large
share VI the attention Of the people. Whether the
views Of the Committee on Roads and Canals were
right not, II seemed due 20 them that the report
should be published. II better plan should be
brought forward, and meet with the wishes of the
majority, 20 ct IL be- BY searching into the subject
can arrive at proper conclusions lie knew bot
parallel to the position Of the gentleman from
Missouri, Mr.. BOwLIS.) The illustrious collea que
Of the gentleman at the other end Of the Capitol
(Mr. BEsToS,) two or three years ago, when
citizen vi Illinois introduced like bill and report
made like opposition to IL. The gentleman from
Missouri has followed in the footsteps Of his lustri
Gus predecessor; and hence be thinks that he can
discover fraud real rear. horse, and he catches
him by the tail II the committee bad reported
any thing for Presidential capital the House would
not have heard the thundcrs Of the gentleman from
Missouri, whose speech on this subject marked the
starting point OF The next Presidential campai On;
and If he (Mr. RI had other object in view but
20 head the gentleman, lac would cut loose from
him. The gentleman had delivered a lecture on
orthodox Democracy, bot he the last man Of
the House 20 whom he (Mr. R.) would 70 10 learn
the orthodox political faith lie had not il was
true, been in Congress 30 long az the gentleman,
but he had voted for no grand scheme Of internal
improvements, which had received the veto of the
Democratic President
Mr. BOwLIN said that let that be "a il might
80 help him God be would never vote to give Whit.
poy ninety seven millions Of dollars
Mr. ROBINSON remarked that tbis was lie
Satan reproying sin There were but two plans
one by the Government, and the other by Mr.
whitney. He opposed 10 the Government be.
ing committed 10 the scheme, and he would cross
any mans path who would attempt to make out OF
il Presidential capital. Therefore he took the other
because il was not piece Of political machinery
He admitted that the committee did not draft the
bill they found il a. IL was adopted by other com
nittees of Congress. He understood that the orr
tsinal bill was not drawn by shrewd lawyer, but
BY Mr.. Whitney, and underwent supervision by
jected, among other things, 10 the bill, that Thu
Government, with single sweep Of the pen, CAV,
Mr. Whitney ninety.twO millions Of acres Of land
when the fact - that the Government does not give
or sell him an acre. The plan proposes 70 put mo-
ney into the treasury, not 70 take IL out The plan
was a celebrating and self sustaining machine
Mr. Whitney thinks that il he can make the road
ne can pay himself for doing lie thinks that he
can carry population 20 the country through which
the road would pass. This IL the plan The bar
gain il all on the side Of the Government. In no
event can the Government lose, but even gain by
A failure. There were no objections Of the gentle
man from Missouri founded in TACT. II so, Mr.
Whitney would relinquish such features Of the bill
az would lead 70 the abuse unprecedented. lie asks
only for so much land viii enable him 70 make
the road. He cuts himself OF from all sectional
and political associations. Both sides Of the ques-