The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-25

In the constitution through which everything can pass
move that the bull be referred to the C0mmiltec Roads
aud Canals.
MIR. PRATT. do not know that should have said
one word in reference TO this BILL except for the position
In winch seems to me the speech OF my honorable
friend from Virginia MIR MAsokl has placed all those
who intend 10 vote for the and who have mol
expressed Their opinions on thus moor. NOW suuni
the Senate and TO the good judgment OF the honorable
SENATOR whether, In reference TO tins measure inc ou
nary rules of parliamentary courtesy have been observed
have heretofore seen that instead OF moving that bill
should be laid upon the table. shosld be recommed
when has been reported here, particularly 10 carry out
project magnificent as that embraced IN the provis
ions OF this bill the friends OF the bill have been permit
ted TO amend ibave been permitted TO place it before
the country that point Of view in which they desire to
present it, and upon which they are wiag to stand be-
lore speeces made against and before the measure
is denounced this has been by my honorable friend
from Virginia;
II the friends of this shall be permitted 10
amend il. they will throw down almost all the arguments
which have been made by that honorable senator
have two amendments myself TO Offer one restricting
the President of the United States in the making of the
contract. and obligag him not 10 make it unless he is
able 10 do for the $40 900 and the quantity OF land
given BY the bill There 49, therefore, 10 be inserted in
the bill, with the consent OF its friends, the express pro-
vision that contract is to be made unless be
made for 0O0 and the amount OF land which il
appropriated in the bill have another amendment to
propose, which restricts the thirteenth section objected
TO BY the SENATOR to give to Congress hereafter at
any time the power TO restrict this corporation, TO alter
il. 70 change II to do wha, they please with i. That
tons which have been heretofore urged to this bill
the ground Of the supposed unlimited grant OF corporate
powsrs-obeetlons' Mr. President, which have been So
made by him the chief occasion for the wholesale denun
citation of this measure in which he has been pleased to
My honorable friend commenced his argument by say
ING that this bill s in effect TO say The King wills it,
But who 10 the King The President Of the United
the prosecution Of this work. or to will that it shall not
be prosecuted. Now. submit, in all cando to the udg-
men Of the honorable senator himself whether this is
provisions of this bin dependent! II is, Mr. President
the people Of the United States, acting through their
representative. who will that this road shall be made
liz the will of the people of the United States,
csed through U.S. which directs the quo mode in which
the road is 10 be commenced conducted. and completed
can zee spectre in it, No King be conured up
by my imagination being created by the which
/ an advocating #
What are, in sober earnesness. the powers which
conferred upon the President of the United States which
termed kngy powers by my honorable friend Every
State legislature nearly every day confers the same
c on the governors OF the respective States What
they The bill incorporates company for the purpose
OF making railroad for military purposes connecting the
Atlantic and Pacific seaboard and it appropriates from
the treasury OF the United States part OF the funds ne
cessnry for that purpose authorizes this company,
cporated for that purpose, with money derived from the
United States treasury the extent Of O0O and
with the land appropriated by the bill, construct the
road II is to be restricted con6ne the appropTa
ton to be made by the government exclusively to the APP
proprations now expressed in the bill, for have an
10 OueI 10 nal eHeCt, winch nave 10
will be accepted by the friends of the bill 1t author
the President of the United States, after have
been made after the paccability and the cost OF this
road shall have been established his satisfaction to do
what To appoint these contractors to appoint these
workmen, who, according to the argument OF my friend
from Virginia. are to carry on this road No. SIR but he is
authorized TO advertise TO the whole people OF the United
States to in and bill for the construction OF this road
and be obliged to accept the bid which is the lowest
If mistake not these the terms Of the bill, and if
do, my honorable friend from Texas correct me.
Mr. RUSk. That is the bill
Mr. PRATT Then what is this kinsly power which
has been spoken OFF 1t is simply that after these several
routes shall have been ascertaned the President shall
ercise his judgment in determining which is the mos,
practicable and convenient for military purposes.
which for the other purposes of the government of the
United States will be useful and is made his duty
to adopt that What further! Has be, then, any
further power He is then advertise, and by that ad
the people OF the country and the world are
called in bid for the purpose constructing this road
and the lowest bidder ia TO make it, From this simple
power OF advertising that all the people OF the world
may in and bid for the construction OF the road my
friend has conured up the fear that making king
of the President OF the United States.
intend to restrict by express provision this BILL 50
that no further money be given out OF the treasury
OF the United States, and no more land than is proposed
In it. My friend that this restriction will be entire
ly nugatory-absoutey inoperative-and he asks 10
point out single case where the United States after
they had commenced work OF this sort, did not
inae 10 appropriate the public money for the purpose of
carrying Hon.
Sir, my own State is a amentable instance, not only
OF the observance of this rule claimed exist by
the honorable senator from Virginia, but of the non-ob
servance also OF justice the part the United States
towards the State of Maryland. SIR, work which
brought my State to expense OF 100000 CON-
menced under the auspices OF the federal government
II commenced at the recommendation OF that great
statesman to whom my friend from Virginia has eo.
Quenty referred-tbe lamented Calhoun. The Chesa.
peake and Ohio canal recommended by him, while he
Secretary OF War; to be prosecuted by the federal gov
eminent That work. prsdicated upon the recommends
ton OF that great entered into by the State OF
Maryland conjonily with the United States and Virginia
After the expenditure OF four five millions of
dollars the joint prosecution OF this gigantic enterprise
ocrac party. which enteraiIs the idea that king is
raised up in every corporation that created, into
power, and the Stale OF Maryland left TO her
resources, and obliged TO expend ten millions
of dollars the further prosecution OF that work Mr.
President the State OF Maryland has every TO de-
plore the change OF federal policy regard to the power
OF constructing works OF internal Improvement which
this democratic party claims have Effected But for the
exercise Of this power that party under the lead OF Mr.
debt. and her people the gevous taxation TO which they
have bsen subjected.
Resncted n the proposed amendment which have in.
dicated the Senate will resrc, this measure the hu
man mind cannot point out any power which will be
given by the bill 10 the President the contractors
which be dangerous TO the country any part of
IT, SIR. il il the of simple corporation such is
created and again by every State OF this Unon
conferng such powers, and such alone, your State
ated by them for similar purposes So the Pres
iden has advertised for the construction OF this road and
10 the bids shall have been received and the
tractors determined on the Presidents power ceases, and
ne has no more authority left The bill gives him no
TURNER control the subject and be at Invested