The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-06

/
| Mr.. GWlN should like 10 ask the senator ques-
ton. There three hundred thousand or four hun
fred thousand Inhabitants in California This road runs
through uninhabed country. There are millions OF
people this side OF the mountains and only three hun
ded thousand four hundred thousand 10 California
How can there be enough OF travel and commerce from
these people support the road in the manner be sup
poses
| Mr., WALKER. There are by this time half million
OF people IN Wisconsin The Senate at the last session
passed bill granting TO that humble State humble SIR,
would seem only in the estimation OF members OF Con-
sess out proud IN her Consciousness and IN the es
imaon OF the world, and in real native
ing 10 her alternate sections of land and what cond
tons That her settlers and citizens should pay
hunred per cent more for the sections reserved to the
government; and thai bill, besides, imposed her the
task and burden OF transporting the roads, for the
construction of which these lands granted the mil
nary stores and the soldiers of the United States and the
transportation OF The mails upon such terms might be
forced upon her That bill imposed all these burdens
upon Wisconsin, or her company which 10 construct
the road But even that poor and meager favor could
not be extended to her Ii crushed in the House of
representatives; and, sir, must confess that Il was
crushed by the action OF one OF her own representatives
untahtully representing that State II was crushed by
an attempt to dowhai' Not to discharge his duty to
the State, but TO ingraft upon that bill an amendment
which required the construction besides these reads OF
hty thousand miles OF other roads in the United States
Tie did fail in that but there evident indsposition
on the part OF Congress TO grant even that poor favor to
WISCONSIN,.
But here. the youngest and one of the most brilliant
SISTERS OF the family Of States comes n-and none s
disposed to concede her more brancy than land is
other States contenled That will not do for her.
she is OF golden opinions She says the construction OF
roads within her limits immensely costly, and that she
must have superior favors Tor the purpose She must
have only alternate sections but she must have them
without the price OF the reserved alienates being in
creased one hundred per cent She must besides that
nave from The government bonus OF $00 900 per mlle
IN five per cent. bonds 10 build roads within her limits
apd II that be done, she ls Tor requiring the Post
nascr General when he contracts with company To
construct the road, 10 pay from thirty 70 hiy millions in
the OF fifty years. Is this equality Is this what
IS meant by that provision OF the constitution which SAYS
that States may be admitted upon equal foot
s with the original States? Why. sir, is mockery
LISA mockey in the face OF Wisconsin and OF the other
States which have been treated in the manner in which
have described, when they cannot even receive the
poor pliance which have mentioned II s asking 10,
much from those who have been thus crushlngy dealt
ty. 10 do this. ! canno, do il. cannot 90 for It,
But TO come back to the point from whence was
diverted by the questions which have been asked, re-
peat, if the argument of the senator from Tennessos
be worth anything, i is proof ths. the road through
these States will not pay. In Sates as before re-
marked, make roads without any OF these aids from
the government We make them because the commerce
them pays; and do it with little any cost 10 the
government Yethee. the greatest railroad in the world
which it is claimed is 10 receive upon II the transit OF
the OF two continents and the internal OF
ommece not OF sufficient Importance to warrancaplta
lists in undertaking il but that this enormous bonus must
be gwen which other State get That sr is the
best argument which could be made against the road
do not believe the argument believe the road can bs
made, and believe will be made, and all ask is that
the bill shall and maintain throughout such
il which connects the two exremes OF the Union,
upon the Pacific and upon the Atlantic
As sure you permit this company to expend the
money in California, in Arkansas, in Missouri, in Iowa.
IN louisiana in Texas, sure will you stop the road
there. II will then result in being an Iowa. Missouri,
an Arkansas, a louisiana Texas road, and Caifor-
MIA road. Now, II these gentlemen homeland
believe they are, claim for them this attribute-they
ought with the OF to claim that this bill should
be framed as TO secure the construction OF the inter-
mediate link between the western boundary OF the Mis-
sissp ppi States and the eastern boundary OF California
The amendment OF the senator from California Mr.
WELLERl secures that, and nothing else than that can
secure IL. Give the company, repeat, the power TO
spend the money in the Sa,es, and as sure as we live
and move and have being when the road reaches the
frontier OF those States, you will be LETT without the con-
struction OF any road the Territories over what
claimed 10 be desert Where, then, ask, is the ma
onal character of this road Il is nowhere. 1t cannot
be found.
But YOU have BY The means proposed in the BILL given
that California which you refused TO every other State
of the Union. You give them clear gift OF one-hslf
the lands, and proportion OF $4,000 oooor, what
equivalent, arbitrary contract for carrying the mails,
which amounts 10 that or as much more Tins is asking
US 90 little too far cannot, and VIII not do IT.
Mr. SHIELDS. | wish 10 make few observations,
and shall iry 10 make them calmly possible, in re-
ply 10 my friend from Texas. We charged with kill.
ing this bill Now, doubt whether there isa member OF
the Senate who is desrous TO see the road con-
strucied than am My colleague has showh the same
disposition But should like 10 see the honorable SEN
ato meet ibis single point Here are $4,000 600 pro-
posed to be given Tor the construction OF the whole road
Tbe probable distance is about three thousand miles
Mr. BELL Not 80 much as that but the distance de-
pends upon where you run IT,
Mr.. SHIELDS. Suppose I runs from the Mississippi
river to San Francisco
Mr.. COOPER Then il will be about three thousand
miles.
| Mr. BELL Two thousand five hundred
| MIR SHIELDS Ii will be nearly three thousand miles
king the detours The company that commences mat
road we will ST Louis, or at some other poat on
the NJ ssssippi gets equal ratio Of the 2ooooooo tor
eyey fifty miles completed Is not that so II gets four
6nhs OF The land for every fifty miles The company
goes on till ges into the Territories II will already
have been paid all proportion Of the money four -hhs
Of the land, and by the time the company reaches hs
Territories where j, requires five times the amount OF
money complete the road that requires ~ the States
The road will be abandoned no, willing to charge
anything on the gentlemen who prepared this bllI 90
not charge any improper motives on them, ahno"en
and Others have been charged with improper mouves;
but will say that there never proJect devised WIN
more ingenuity enable the contractors to tke apou
half OF this money Tor constructing me ROAD 70 ne oses
and then abandon the enterprise nj the very psoe whste
requires an immense amount OF money 10 cons"uct' 'ne
i road u:;
Nj SHIELDS Does any man deny that the company
p.t ratable proportion of the money from the time IT
Commences the road until Il ends IL
/ MIR RtJSK No one denies that
| Mr. BELL. | do not wish 10 reply to the honorable
senator from Illinois, and therefore would ask the priv.
ege of saving few words The bill, admit, did
provide that the company should have raabe amount
and four hlihs Of The land want to know II that would
build the road
| Mr.. SHIELDS, In The States
Mr.. BELL That is the point. Would that builc tne
road Pfesumng ihaiit would not what would be ihe
motive Of The company TO stop at the termination OF be