The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-11

wAsmseros, D. C., Feb. 8. 1851.

WAsHINaroH, D. c., Feb. ., 1851.
ID Me E1it~ Of tAs Republic:
Objections are urged against action At this scs.
sioo the bili nov before Congress 70 carry into
eject my plan for the construction of railroad 70
the Pacific, on tho ground that there has not been
adequate satisfactory surveys 20 a. to dctermins
the route, or the feasibility Of any route That the
nation ought not to embark in such an enterprise
unless its complete accomplishment can DO guar
anteed. That on my plan it might and probably
would be continued for eight, ten, or twelve hun
drsd miles; then il might stop, and would be Of no
use or value to the nation. That, before CON-
menciug such work, the Government should or
der tho different proposed routes to be carefully
surveyed. and estimates made of the probable cost
Of the work, &c.
i now propose to answer these objections in q
manner which, think, should satisfy every UMPIRE
JUDGED mind.
First. lam not q little surprised 70 find that
those who have heretofore been considered strict
constructionsts Of the Constitution, opposed to the
Improvement of rivers and harbors, and every and
any work termed "xnternal Improvements, I" are now
coming forward and proposing even that the Gov
eminent should undertake 10 mako surveys of a
route and estimates for the cost Of railroad to the
Pacific, and moro astonished that il should be ser-
ously proposed that the Government should under
take the construction Of such work at all.
Secondly. find that generally these objections
and propositions are from those who desire route
which will give to some town or city in which they
arc particularly interested commanding influence
over the whole work and its operation.
That such feelings, motives, and interests do
let, and will exert an influence to gain their point
il not surprising for it IL natural; but do not
expect that statesmen and PATRIOTS claiming TO act
for the best interests of the whole Of great nation
like ours, upon subject too like the one before us,
~1.s .rl IF
the world, will be influenced BY such motives or
interests. However, II il il believed that the people
will sustain those who propose such work as
Government work, and thereby sanction the COM
b. accomplished a. Government sDork, scould cost
not than $500 900 000 and involve the nation in
debt; the interest which could be provided for
only ~ Psrpesu,S burden and tag the labor anI.
create and put in motion political machine,
which ~ such in the hands of any party would
draw under its more powerful influence the smaller
local interest of the nation, and not only control
and absorb the almost entire legislation of the
Union but also control all the different un-
til final consolidation Of all would be attempted,
aud then our whole political fabric would tumble
into ruins. If there are men who believe the
people can be led into such vortex, and also
believe that their car float safely and tri-
umpbantly through the elements which they arc
proper that explorations and surveys, with esti.
mates, should DO made by the Government, and let
the people sec and know what they are about being
led into.
with an army Of Government engineers and at
tendants, with another army of Government de-
pendents, and with five or ten millions expended,
even without any progress in the work. i requires
no prophet to foretel that it would be difficult to
stop the continued appropriation of millions upon
millions; always. too with the prospect for the
complainant Of the work lessening with each new
~fz rrr..ert how.ver tbcr. mad u. M f..r ,het
Congress will sanction any such enterprise by the
Government, or even authorize surveys and esti-
mates to be made for a work which it will not en-
bark in as a Government work, dependent upon
tho treasury directly or indirectly for means At
tho last six sessions, in both houses, six different
committees have reported against undertaking
such work, and even against making surveys
and estimates BY the Government. Il may be that
these reports have not been read by those who now
propose surveys by the Government.
While my plan is pending before Congress there
can BE- no danger but 80 500, ss as my plan is no
posal Of the public lands to such an extent that
they cannot be made available for means to con-
struct the work, then the issue must be made be-
tween Government work and no road ut all. And
it may be that those who now oppose my plan de-
sire TO defeat it. and believe that the necessity for
the work il such, and the desire of the people
it commenced so strong, that they will even sane
ton it as q Government work. and suffer it to
be made the capital for the Presidency. Should
there DO any who are influenced by such objects
and motives, hope the people will discover it in
which would end if permitted to 70 on in debt, en-
barrassment, and final ruin o the Union. But
there is no plan except mine before Congress which
would not depend, directly indirectly the pub
lie treasury upon the credit Of the Government for
to execute it, and there has not been and at
present will not be, found committee in either
house of Congress that would recommend the adop-
ton Of any such plan and as my plan is the only
one which has received the sanction and recon-
mendation of q committee in either house of Con-
gress, because it does not ask for any appropriation
from the treasury, either for surveys or for the
work ITSELF and docs not involve any constitutional
question as to the carrying on and operating the
work, in the provision ofmeans for il, and avoids
all the local difficulties which would attend any
attempt on the part of Congress to Ak upon route
for such road and as do not ask for or desire
any surveys by the Government, it would seem that
the question OF the necessity for surveys is not
before Congress to decide act upon. The true
and only question IL, shall my plan' which has 70,
by, two-thirds Of the State Legislaturcs-has been
strongly recommended by public meetings in
many fthe principal cities Of the Union--has been
approved and its adoption urged by tho press of the
country. almost universally, and the only plan
which has been recommended, or reported in favor
Of, by committee in Congress; shall il be adopted
at this session, or shall 1t be abandoned forever!
And then may come up the question, shall the Gov
eminent undertake to build railroad, by direct
appropriation from the treasury or from loan Of
the Government credit! And the question of sur
vcyBs oettmatesp ana LOCATION OF routes would Iol-
low; but il tho Government not to undertake
its execution, the people certainly will not require
surveys OF routes and estimates for the cost of q
work which they intend shall not be undertaken
by the Government; the opinion of the Legislatures
OF many of the States of the press, and of the peo
pie. has been already fully declared to this effect.
My plan proposes direct purchase OF lands from
the Government, at stipulated price. to be paid
for in money into the treasury, and the road is to
be built by me az an individual enterprise, the
Government having nothing 70 do with the build
ing or its operation, except TO that the terms
and conditions of the sale in all particulars COM
piled with, and the rights and interests of the peo-
pie secured and protected, but the Government
running no risk, or becoming in any way rcspon-
sibe for the accomplishment Of the work, or for its
success. BY this purchase make the lands pur-
chased the basis for means to build the road, still
under the control of the Government, and they can
be made available for means only by constructing
the road through them, which would increase their
value for settlement; lnnds remote from the line OF
the road could not receive any particular benefit
enhancement in nrice or increnaed demnnd for act