The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-22


as DEMOCRAT, knowing me 10 be Of the stricesl
school They thought proper to confer their votes upon
me- and they did not do II blndfoded. They knew
my political opinions. They are in accordance with
The sediments OF the people OF the State | repre-.
sent 90 lar as regards the powers OF the federal gov
efament. have no disposition 10 alraign any ind,
vdual Tor the vote he may give here. Any who has
noticed the course that has been pursued here IN refer
snce TO thousand questions will have discovered that
many gentlemen who call themselves democrats ocea,
sionaly governed by at least liberal construction oil
the powers OF the federal government was elected by
wings and democrats, IL is true Nor do see that that
Is anything material But can say that any wing
who voted for expected that would be governed
IN this body BY any other than strict construction oil
the powers OF the federal government My political sen
tinens not dsguised--they are known. shall not
reort upon the would II had been elected
by tribunal not within this government, or even BY
wings entirely IL is matter between my constituents
and myself And what has that TO do with this question
Look 10 my votes here and elsewhere and judge by
them.
Mr.. GWlN. You attempt to preach 10 us on the sub.
MIR. DAVIS. We have fallen into perplexty, MIR
President. which is easily ioreseen. The you
any particular point, you will find that the Senate will
have differences OF opinion about IT, Ii you seek har.
mony OF OPINION you have gol 10 come back to the con
sidera,ion OF the point which | raised the other day
you must come back 10 the location OF sing trunkoi
single roadaDd you not only separate yourselves
from this magnificent scheme OF branches but you must
separate yourselves far you from the perpexy
growing out OF different opinions here in regard TO
the rights oil States And il you reduce 10 single
through the Territories OF the United States think you
can find something like harmony OF opinion here Limit
yourselves 70 single trunk, as main road. from which
branches will undoubtedly dverge hereafter and there
will be some degree OF unanim'ty.
But how are you 10 accomplish that In the first
place, what occasion is there for any Limitation what
ever? Why should you embaTrass yourselves with
naming any point whatever /! And why should not lha
matter be lett open and free 10 the investigation of those
who locate the road, commencing it first at such point
outside OF the States they may deem best adapted
commence great commercial highway, upon which the
transit OF merchandise and passengers shall be found
most facie and best adapted 10 the purposes OF business
And sir, may not observe that If you commence a, a
point OF that description, and 90 eastward till you
to the line OF State, at Is undertaking sufficient to
it, Why. sir, it is undertaking under any circum-
stance 10 build something like two thousand miles of
road--the precise distance am not able 10 state.
do not propose 10 go INTO this subject TO any great
length but The next proposition which presents itself is
how are you to locate this road, and how the pabc
to lave that is TO be put down in the best
and most convenient, and most economical spot That
is question not quite easy OF solution but can
some ways in which it can be accomplished can per-
celve that 1t a company is 10 undertake this work,
they will have great interest in this question And
see also that The United States have great interest
in it. and could point out plan by which those two
interests could be combined to locate way and to
tabsh it. Well II you can get over that difficulty
and think you will find yourselves obliged before you
get through with this subject 10 consider both OF these
interests in locating wayf you get that diff
Guilty and put down aroad-whch is not easy mat
ter Tor you have the questions which raised here 10 set
route is 10 be determined and hope my friend from
California [Mr. GwIN] will take no offence if say to
him this entirely easy thing, though doubt not
that practicable way will be found and lei me say
him, that if his way is the best as he states TO the
Senate it is the great feasible way-hen il will be
adopted Examination will show the proprey OF taking
thai route. But apprehepd these mountains may be
passed al various places and in various ways, but not
without much examination much consideration and re-
Fiction. II will be done with great care, and after
very particular and detailed of the graphi-
cal features OF the country; WE'LL when tina, is done,
and you have overcome all these difficulties, what next
is to come Then come the means OF accomplishing
this great obectthe sum OF money which IL necessary
TO accomplish enterprise OF this sortand that BY
no small in magnitude. Now look mainly
10 the public lands fund 10 accomplish this thing
and II II can be done by any appropriate means within
the reach OF the government for one, quite pre-
pared TO adopt suitable and popular TO estab
sh one highway between the two oceans. That is all
hope TO do for the present; il probably will create 9th
And that highway desire shall begin a, the best
point over the best route and terminate at the best
place.
Mr.. BADGER. Aye, Tell us that
Mr.; DAVIS That question, as have already sug-
gested, would have left open 10 future inquiry. There
is occasion for trammellng anybody Well, sir, the
road cannot be built with the lands because the lands
must first be converted into money! and the great inquiry
il, how you accomplish that ?--what way are you
to bring il aboul You cannot Immediately reduce these
lands TO cash and get on with the operations OF business
That slow IN It's operations and in great measure de-
pendent for It's upon the very construction of the
road itself But how you TO bring II aboul Well,
confess ! throw it out merely idea, that do not
powerful effort OF strong joint stock company; and
think that you viii be compelled, instead of giving power
10 MIR. Asa Whitney, Mr.. A or c ID, you will be
compelled from the condition OF things, 10 place il in the
hands oil JOINT stock company-a company that sub
scribe shares that raise money wherever Is 10 be
found TO carry on this enterprise, aided always, as sug
Gested, by grant OF land and with the future hope and
expectation OF converting these lands into money hope
somebody will see feasible scheme than this bat
confess at presen, that strikes as half so
plausible that OF joint stock company, which shall be
authorized TO raise money by subscription TO carry this
work in the usual and ordinary manner, being aided by
the public lands and TO extent under the control of
the government: for the interest which the government
puts this road authorizes the itself TO retain
control in the direction and execution Of the work.
Now, when come 10 vote upon the amendment pro-
posed by my friend from Ohio Mr. CHAsEl wish 10
leave this entirely, stated Inc other day, open
where il shall end wish TO have il left open in order
that the best places may be selected know the moment
you come to inquire where you shall begin there is
struggle IN regard 10 these different places not advan.
tageous for themselves the places best adapted to
the commerce OF the copny-to the great in,ercommun
cation which will be opened beweeStbe oceans and
confess 10 you that have predictions for any place
whatever have desire that il should be located at
point than another, so be that attain
open as TO the terminus the other way. ] am quite will
ling il should reach the western side Of those
talns point another The point is immaeria to
me- if be that answers the great object in view,
hope, therefore, that those gentlemen who have this
matter IN charge WILL IN regard TO the question OF loca
ton, leave entirely open and Free order that the road
may be located in the best possible place that be
lecied.
Mr. CHASE Mr. President, as the usual hour Of
nj mt