New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-06
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Report in the House Of Representative from
the Comr.ittee on Roads and Canals
TIE tnstine., Of ne people on he ,ut-ee'.


81 frst sight, the vast scope and naces,s DeA,-
ipes a this great enterprise, that Mr. " nitnsy
appeals q the people Oi the 1iied STATES through
tie Legislatures Of the States through pubic n -ep
lrgs here and there and his msfo rils . C'ls'e,si
he-et0f ore entertained. have hidden over ai pty
Ines a1G sectional PIE qd ces, and o'-ainel 4---
general and almost unanimous rep0nSe o. app7p
bstior Yosr Committee cannot bat think that
this fact il worthy Of great confederation and re-
sre-f The De rvsfing sentiment NJ the resolutions
~ tho two National Conventions held % consider
the subject, during the past year, one az 81 L'li'
and tie other a. Memphis, though they did no- a.
rectlv sanction Mr. Wntueys pisn IS yei' 10 me
orip,cn o. your Committee, strkingy IN accord
ance with is great principles md the respec-ili
hearing given 70 Mr. Whitney AZ Memphis ~ No.e
nj the Convention and the notices OF the press ~
that quarter are Gle srly indicative Of iavofaoie
IMPRESSION made by the consideration OF ms views
The Appea," paper Published az Mempnis' OF
the 30th October last, says: since Mr.. " nitney
hiss been heard. we believe 1t 70 be the genera!
opinion that lis is the only plan that can be carried
out ,..
Several petitions and memorials ilr Railroad 70
the Pacific have been presented % your commit
tee bat TIE voice Of the most eminent men o. me
counirv the public action OF 20 separate osaIes ..
the mon renewed IN ssme eases Tor years aIl
the favorable reports Of special and standing Con
nitees Of both Houses Of Congress. heret3iofe auI
repeatedly made with great I'D annuity an IA ia'o1
Of M Whitneys proposal, together with cor
responding action a great variety OF p1Oic meet
ipps aud corporate bodies, through the length ana
breadth Of the republic, for several years pas-'
sugre uting in number and zeal with the progress
Of time. and submitted - your COMMITTEES, wonld
seenl 10 intimate that the public mind OF ne CON-
try is almost entirely absorbed in Mr. Wn'tneys
plan. in distinction from all others. For some o.
these expressions, see the Documents her1lato
appended
TIE merits Of Mr. Vhtasy's pan.
As to the merits Of SIR Whitney's plan- p'st'rs
ana yelqtre the field OF view Is vast and con- re
b. nsiye.
Frsf. as = private enterprise in distinction from
IS being undertaken by the Government While
il has sufficient connection with the Government -
give il vitality and power IN the requirement OF
the means necessary b carry II on, and a. the
same time 10 hold Mr.. Whitney and his Successors
under ade quate restraints and guarantees stu no
corporation or stock company is created II can
impose no tolls tor the object OF dividends, bat only
fer repairs ana keeping the machinery IN order it
involves no constitutional objections, creates %
executive or Government patronage, oilers 10 IN
ducemenis or rewards 20 political parties per 50,
either 20 advocate or oppose; nor does u ask
dollar OF money from the public treasury al winch
III be seen 10 the provisions and terms Of the Dui
Your Committee therefore view the whole sub
iect Of Mr. Whtney's plan in an entirely different
light from any and all other projects, proposing, as
thew all do, under different forms Government
work, involving and naturally eugenderlng party
questions and sectional controversies, which could
hardly fail to cause their defeat. Mr. WhItney's
plan involves lone Of these questions, It being
PROPOSITION for direct purchase OF the land, az
wholesale on the most favorable terms Tor the
Government and for the interests OF the people
The proposed work is private enterprise, and
disembarrasses the whole subject from coasttu-
tional and all other conceivable difficulties.
Wecone then, 10 a consideration OF the amazing
relief in regard to constitutional and al other
kindred difficulties, which the passage OF the bill
for Mr.. Whitney road will be 70 the people and
Government of the United States. AL feel that
this road is wanted, and must be made. But how
By what means By what agency Your Com
mittee do not see the slightest chance OF carrying
bill through Congress 70 do this WORK oy the uoV-
eminent, on account Of disagreement az to the
powers Of the constitution and even II that could
be expected. your Committee would dePrecate the
dsy when the national treasury should be brought
under such burden so indefinite as 70 the amour.
ar d tme-tbe amount at least ieari1ly great, ana
the time earfuIly long 1t needs no prophet TO lore
see the foOdgates Of corruption that would be
opened by putting into the hands OF the national
Executive the immense patronage which such
measure would devolye upon IT, Your Committee
cannot but feel that it would lay the foundation OF
party and sectional stries which, Tor intrigue ana
Iioleuce have hitherto been unknown IN the ms
tor OF our country ana tDdL Nohu NuafpiA.A1iy
tend not My 70 the creation Of an immense ma
tinna d b. but 20 a career OF financial troubles
from which the chances OF rescue would be nope
less; auo, after ALL that the work would remain
Unfinished, Ike the Cumberland road, by reason Of
the stifss and divisions it could hardly fan to en-
gender. In the face OF the experience Oh Ihe
States OF this Union, and Of the nation, as such,
your Committee need not speak OF the bad econo-
my and reckless expenditures for great public
VI rks in the hands Of Government nor conse-
qufnty Of the imminent peril, in this point Of vlew
which would be incident 10 this nation by under
taking 50 stupendous a work as that now under
consideration. Nor can your Committee see bow
these difficulties would be obvated by lOaning the
rubic credit 70 a corporation for the accomplish
rneut of this design, as is proposed by one oil the
rlays submitted TO your Committee Ihis would
be mere change Of form, and so much worse, IN
the result as that the nation would forever De In
the po~er q this corporation. Your Committee
woaid mos, profoundly deprecate the undertaking
If this Great work by the general Government, Ia
INV form whatever and as to its being taken in
hand by the States your Committee cannot see
how that is possible. What then, is TO be doneI
II has been proposed 10 appropriate the revenue
from the public lands TO this object Beside mat
this is only another form OF putting u on the naonai
,rsa,urv and therefore liable 70 all the objections
above considered il cannot be forgotten that this
branch of the public revenue Is already pledged oy
lsxv m the public debt and consequently that thus
question is precluded by the public faith. Your
| Crmmittee. therefore, are forced TO conclude that
This proposal onnnot be entertained by Congress
Plans ritA0ut moons.
Your Committee have observed that the two
Nstiopa Conve ntious Of the past year. held at St.
! Io1is ana Memphis, to consider this subject were
rrapulous in Their resolutions 70 the importance
of his work: but while they have seemed to pre-
Ger more southern route, or q more southern point
| Of departure, than that proposed by Mr. Whitney,
/ rs.1, ctive plans, except BY dependence On the
ratiosal treasury. This point Of means, IN the
oniouiou OF your Committee, Is the most important
Il All Until this question can be settled, there 10
no use in considering any other. Your Committee
have already concluded that the national treasury