The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-27

euCH COST 10 gel hen IRON The PdcInc Atlantic
ocean! am informed that old fashioned ships carry
freight TO Boston much cheaper than twenty or twenty
fye dollars per ton. know il is said that there is
great difference in point OF speed but have observed
that the average working time for the freight trains on
the New York and Erie railroad abou, nine miles and
traction per hour am told that of these clipper
ships have made that rate Tor days together when within
The regions OF the trade Winds 10 their voyages from
China TO New York. They nearly as fleet and who
can say how much cheaper How, then, is it be sup
posed that bring The commerce of the East over
such route as this And what is that commerce. so far
as we ourselves concerned II is possible that this
might be the cheapest route by which to supply some
points the interior with the commodities of The East
| Indies.
! Bot what is the amount of the goods from the East
Whch II has heretofore taken TO furnish country
FROM emma our imports amount to 81 900 900 from the
British indies $3,333 1888 from the South seas and the
| Pacitc ocean, $2,28S from the Sandwich islands
$loso2; making in all 900, according the
port on commerce and navigation for the year ending the
30th OF June, 1851, which the latest that printed Is
that the commerce which is sustain such route as
this, which is pay any profit for the Transportation
| of it?
Mr. President, what is to be the cost OF this road
why hnd that the cost OF the New York and Erie rail
road IS over 100000 per mile II you take the cost
only of constructing this road but Of occupying it with
cars and all the necessary machinery, believe it will
amount very nearly to $4,000 miles Who supposes
that road through that DESERT through California can
be made for much less than twice that sum- II costs
900 mile to build railroad in New York. will il
not cost more than $1,000 mile in that desert and in
California where labor is four five times high in
The Old States? When You come to take railroad two
thousand or two thousand five hundred miles extent
as some have computed and if you calculate at the
OF SlOoooo or even $4,000 mile, you find it is
teprse at which this government might we'll pause even
! II It promised 10 be ultimately profitable.
Mr. President have doubt but that some day will
come when a communication by land with the Pacific
Will be prohabe and when that day comes that COM
municauon will be made by the demands OF trade. II
Will be made as this beautiful internal Improvement
system which around US made, by the States
and by individuals, without clash warfare between
the different sections OF the counry-wthout unjus,
La that way II will be made and by that time il will be
profitable and beneficial. If, however we commence it
before there is trade or population to support it,
shall fail and thus unnecessarily postpone the execution
OF The work, which, il we had been patient, would have
been accomplished by the demands of trade Whenever
that time comes Stale and individual enterprise will be
found iully adequate to the execution OF the work
know that il is sad that this road is for military pur
poses, and we hear OF It's being finished in five years
was made during year Did il average hundred miles
a year, or seventy miles year3 ! am told not. Upon
this point, however viii not speak with certainty; for
have not been able TO obtain any precise information in
regard 10 it but am informed the average not quite
seventy miles Is il 10 be supposed that through
such country that between the Mississippi and the
Pacihce we can construct road at rapid rate /!
Two thousand miles in five years, four hundred miles
year, at an expense may be. OF 100000. or even TO-
900 mile Why, that would be twenty -eight or forty
millions year.! Could We expend that much money for
such purpose in year Could we raise it Could
we find the labor and the men, and The for
cutting 1t Sir, the thing impossible. If we accom-
psh hundred miles year-if we accomplish the work
| IN twenty years-it would straen treasury !; it
would strain every nerve 10 do it, and by that me and
long before II, California and Oregon will be filled up
10 put at naught any threat OF invasion by any power
which is strong enough 10 inlure Before tina, railroad
IS finished there will be people enough on the Pacific side
TO defend themselves against any threat OF INVASION
In ten years-ay, sir, IN five yeas-it will be alb
surd on the part OF any foreign power which has
strength enoug TO inue Them to talk OF invading them
as II would be 10 invade us this side OF the Mis-
sissippi. SO lar military purposes concerned,
the road, 10 my opinion, IS not necessary Il might
be convenient but nothing more Why, before II could
be accomplished, there would be people enough, and
means enough, and wealth enough on that side OF
Union TO defend it against any assault which might be
Threatened. IL make this road, venture TO predict,
so far as military purposes concerned, shall have
much more trouble in defeading it than in defending
California We should have TO employ troops and
money, and TO much exertion 10 defend that road,
have doubt, from the msrauding tribes that roam
upon the wastes through which il will pass We should
add 10 our duties OF defence BY constructing thus
prematurey, instead oil dim nishing them; and believe
that in doing that should accomplish really useful
purpose for California because should fail IL
10 attempt IL before the wants OF trade required it,
Under these circumstance them il be expected
that We should be willing, in order TO execute this
work. to vest such powers in the President OF the Uni
ted States that should be willing thus TO afford the
temptation and the for the transfer OF such pow
from the Slaie governments TO the general govern
men, and, above all tha, we should be willing TO estab
lish corporation with such tremendous powers this
bill proposes TO give For one, never consent to
it and the only regret feel in voting against il is be-
cause ] know ! am disappointing gentlemen who take
so deep and 80 paONc an interest IN II. My cOnsola
lion is however. that believe am serving them and
their States better by voting against this BILL Than
should If were 10 aid them in commencing this work
premaurey and al such immense hazards TO the Of
constitutional government
/ Mr. BUTLER. Mr President promise my friends
on the other side that | going 10 speak with
view OF defeating this bill BY the lapse OF time. have,
however, few remarks TO make n reply 10 my honora.
Bile friend from Kentucky, tMr USDsRwooD j for |
think approxlmatng very nearly 10 the principle
which he has laid down; and doubt very much wheh-
er the system OF policy upon which about TO
embark can very well be vndicated except upon the
omnpotence, the parliamentary omnpoirnce, which he
has chosen to attribute Congress. shall ms far as
can, illustrate what intend TO say upon this subject by
a proposition somewhat in the concrete
| About 1895 or 1896, South Carolina commenced the
great enterprise o opening communication between her
Atlantic border and Cincinnal apon the Ohio. She
ever dreamed that she could effect that object
without the concurrence of North Carolina, Tennessee,
and Kentucky and perhaps Ohio. But according to the
views rpessed to-day BY the honorable senator from Ken
tuckv in what attitude would he have Tennessee, kentuc
Ky and North Carolina exhibited Why, according to ms
doctrine, If North Carolina Tennessee, or Kentucky
had refused South Carolina the liberty OF passing throuh
their borders he would have appealed 10 Congress 70
compel those sovereign States 10 yield the right OF way
by virtue of this implied necessity, or sun sUohse'
ppon IN, the wisdom oil Congress
should superscde the sovereignty ot tnose os- over
which South Carolina wished TO pass or, ne cannot
disc uise The operation of hs ptincipe understand
him il was that when sovereign state refused 10 an
Cher The nrIvIepe TO 90 over It's borders Congress,
by The sword II need be, should open channel and
highway Ought not TO be asonished at hearing snch
et,nes on ths floor And has II come 10 this, that the
dgnitv and sovereignty OF the separate States OF this
Union are to be absorbed by congressional npotency
and is the federal standard TO be raised IN any sovereign
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