The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-08

the select committee that this amendment IN order and
as Is also highly important that the bill should be per-
feeled IN all its details, that the Senate may have dis
unclly before them the two main propositions, so that
they can choose between them, will renew my amend,
ment.
Mr. CHASE Then, | ask whether il is in order or
not and desire that the question should be decided by
the Chair
The PRESIDING OFFICER, [Mr DEsAussuRrl The
CHAR Is OF opinion that the amendment IS out OF order
Mr. RUSk. Then withdraw il for The present
Mr. SMITH | will do so, and ask the unanimous
consent OF the Senate TO order IL 10 be printed
No objection being made, il was 80 ordered
Mr. DAWSON | desire 10 say few words upon
the proposition that 10 Immediately before this body
that s, the amendment proposed by the senator from
Pennsy lyania Mr.. BRoDHEADl | am decidedly in Ia.
yor oil that amendment, and wish briefly TO give to the
Senate and the country my reasons for supporting IT, II
has been justly said that no measure was ever projected
IN any government in the civilized world, connected with
internal improvement that was so extensive or magnl
cent as this. Sure am that IN point ot magnitude II is
very great very extraordinary bat that IS not one OF my
objections, wherefore pursue the course that
am now about TO pursue. The magnitude OF the ques
ton is tina, which drives into the course which am
now about to adopt oul II IS strong reason wnere,oIe
should pursue that course SIR do we understand his
subject all It's length and breadth Do we compre
bend the consequences growing out OF Have we any
facts before that will authorize US 10 act understand
ingy? Why, sir, have been taught by my experience
in this body that you would not appropriate thousand
dollars Tor important river or harbor unless you have
a survey and estimate made that you would no! commit
your government TO the expenditure OF money until you
have the facts upon which you 10 make IT, lhen are
we, when this subject before u.s. TO suffer our
selves within the last twenty twenty five days OF
the close of the present Congress- TO be driven into the
adopon OF measure IRON which we are not TO be per-
med to retire | ask you queson-and ask II Tor
Internationally has this bill been drawn IN these
TERMS and why shall Congress pledge itself now, and
place the power in the hands OF the President to carry
this into execution when the surveys upon which he
must necessarily act and the estimates IN relation to those
mountain passes spoken OF by the senator IRON Massa
chusetts, Nh DAVIS, must be presented TO his mind be
fore ne honestly decldes Why don't we wait !
Why don't pursue the course hitherto adopted by this
body -
MIR RUSK II the senator wants answer, will
furnish it 10 him Immediately.
Mr. DAWSON, Certainly.
Mr. DAWSON I presume the reply will be similar
to that given by The senator from Massachusetts, Mr.
Mr. RUSK No, sir; have another one--a very sub
santal one-and one that the senator will have 10 ac.
THE The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the senator from
Georgia give way
Mi DAWSON. Ii the reply is short
Mr. RUSK Ii is very short. The bill as II stands pro-
vides for survey before the location OF the road BY the
President, and Immediately after that is done he Is re-
CURED TO advertise or proposals, and then survey will
be made with reference to action upon tue matter ANA
will show you what the survey will amount to precisely
before through with this exp anaon; and II will
be very short-I will interrupt the senator long.
Mr. DAWSON. cannot yield can see the very
object for which the senator is about TO speak
Mr. RUSK. | wished to say 10 the senator that an ap
propon was made the year ls49 for this very survey
and we have no information IN regard to Il yet
Mr. DAWSON. survey Very we'll Just reler
10 it,
Mr. RUSK You will find il al page -; but, as the
senator insists upon going on, and IS not willing TO give
me opportunity 10 explain now, will do 1t al another
time.
Mr. DAWSON. The reason why am not willing to
yield the floor IL, that tho exp anaon will involve an
entire speech from the senator from Texas This bill
Involves The largest appropriation that has ever been
made by Congress IRON The foundation OF this govern
ment, not even excepting the war appropriations Why
SIR the magnitude OF the appropriation, # this is 10 be
considered pledge Tor the purpose OF carrying this road
through, whether lis very pfactcabty shall be aseer.
aned or not Is such that We ought 10 hesitate long, and
10 msvc cautiously and prudenty, before thus
involve ourselves. have taken some pains to ascertain
The amount OF the appropriation involved IN this bull
The land amounts TO about hiy millions oi acres, which
is proposed appropriate In this bill to carry the
into execution. The money appropriation is twenty mil
lions OF five cent bonds But above all this bill involves
the increase OF the army OF the United States aud most
Tremendous expenditure will be involved by that increase
in the army, growing out OF the character OF the coun
hy through which you are to run this road
Mr. RUSK desire 10 the line in the bill where
an increase OF the army is made.
Mr. DAWSON. That part OF the bill that increases
the army will be found in section fourteen, which reads
thus:
''sEc IA Ind be further enacted That the said road
progresses President OF tue United states shall
the public lands through which It passes TO be surveyed
and whenever IN his judgment. the same may be neces
saty order troops and military escorts TO accompany
and protect the persons engaged IN the construction Of said
road
MIR. RUSK Does that increase the army?
Mr. DAWSON. Does not the gentleman perceive in
instant that pledge ourselves that section to po
tect all those who employed ia the construction Of
this road and where is the army that call
into action and place upon line least three thousand
miles long Sir, the State OF Texas has al this time
nearly one-half the active soldiers employed in the Uni
ted States.
MIR RUSK Yes, sir, and is not half protected
Mt DAWSON. The senator from Texas says that
his State is not half protected There eighteen mil
llary stations within the limits OF Texas to protect
her people from marsuding tribes OF Indians And then
suppose that through wilderness OF two or three thou
sand miles in length all these companies should be in
operation with their laborers, how they 10 be pro-
tecisa by the present army Congress will be called upon
TO the army TO send along that line troops TO pro
teet the laborers every o the stations which will
be at least thirty miles apart Will not that increase
the army immensely 7 And how we, II we pass the
bill as It now is, retire from this obligation that in
cur by our own acts
Then there will be an immense expenditure arising
out OF the fact of which speak, and make il known to
the Senate and the world, according to my judgment
What does II cost the government now TO pay the
penses OF transportation OF the necessary supplies to your
army at Santa Fe and in California; How will you get
your supplies TO the army which s 10 be stationed
this two thousand miles OF wilderness but by dragging II
along by the slow process OF power' And what
Will II cost! What is the number of stations that you
are TO build and the number OF shelters you to erect
to project these soldiers IN the wilderness from the STORM
why, sr, we are going 10 plunge into this enterprise,
and alter in II, those whoare to carry this
through rghf or will say Hare dged