The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-24

Heels OF Carthage Phenleia, fefsia, anu E$yP we.o
among the ancient routes of this commerce Constan
nopls and Alexandra among It's more modern chan-
nes and Bruges and Antwerp in the nofth AND Uenoa
and Venice the SOUTH the means OF spreading through
Europe The discovery OF the continent OF Ametca is
said scarcely have consoed Columbus Tor the passage
which II obsrucled 10 Asia and from that day to the
round, through, or this formidable obstacle. lhe
wonderful progress OF the arts and especially the omnp
uenee Oh seam now place IT in the power OF the men OF
'hiS uaS ahd generation to accomplish the work M
ms road VIII to great extent supersede the present
% Harm ana aa % voyages round ne Cpss
IN conducting the commercial and business intercourse
| between ~.
st The western States of the valley Of the Mssis-
spp, with California, Oregon, and Eastern Asia rs.-
81. The Atlantic coast Of North America, and a large
portion Of the Pacific coast of South America. \ =.
3D.. The north OF Europe, and the Pacific coast of
| North and South America. Nh
| | will not lire the Senate with detailed statement of
the statistics OF the value OF the trade Of the States and
countries referred 10, but may give such statement in
report OF my remarks hereafter The simple announce
ment oil the names OF the several countries Interested
~ the road will demonstrate the necessity OF its consrac
ton. .8 81.
Mr. Presidents the most important event in the modern
history OF the worlds progress was, think the exodus
OF that vanguard OF Americans, principally from my
own anu adJoining western States, IN lo43, VINO
planted themselves on the Pacific coast. Insignificant
as this little band OF pioneers appeared to De. con-
sequences OF vast magnitude have been produced by
their westward movement and greater destined to
| flow from IL. Their possession aud occupancy of the
valley OF the Columbia. that forced the settle
ment OF the long standing controversy with Great Britain
and recognition that we had any rights upon the Pa
chic foothod obtained in Oregon, and the possession
OF California became only question OF tune. Mexican
violation, Tor twenty-five years, OF the rights of c
zens, and her shedding of American blood upon American
soil precipaled that ataurteous acquisition 70 our ierIito
rial limits many years perhaps in advance OF the time at
which 1t would have become ours by the same process
that Texas did-by progressive course perfectly honor
able aud proper. and founded upon the moral and intel
lectual superiority OF our Already bill has passed
The House oi Representatives dividing Oregon and ere
atng Territory out OF the northern portion of IL, to
ho andmn alxy call ah
hope aad doubt not ii will receive the sanction Of this
body. In few years lmsaense population will grow
and China and other parts of Asia, lines OF
will be established, aad our citizens possessing all
the lights OF the present age. cannot fail TO make deep
aud most beneficial impression upon that country and
people, the advantages OF which will be reciprocal
beg not TO be understood sayug that this bill is
perfect know that il is not and there are some
amendments which, if proposed, will meet my hearty
sanction will cheeriully vote 10 strike out the moor
poralon clause aud Tor express prohibition against
the exercise, by the company who are 10 construct IT. OF
any Thing in the shape OF banking powers such
given, bu, would like TO see the possibility oil their ex-
ercse guarded against The means and the powers
cessay TO carry the enterprise are all with which
wish TO the company clothed indeed, if il were not
for the success economy and speed with which private
companies have carried forward these railroad enter
pses in our old States, should decidedly prefer that
the whole road should be made by the general govern
men and be exclusively under lis management and con-
troll But the slow progress and -success OF the Cum
berland road would seem to admonish against the
latter plan admit that the construction OF this road,
like every internal Improvement measure, whether OF
general local character, is fraught with difficulties
and liable 10 abuses such know from the past his
tory OF these works, constantly mperil their fate But
this 10 only argument for increased vigilance on the
part of the legislator, and honesty and hdey on the part
OF the public officers having charge OF these works, in
distant and remote parts OF the country
The arguments against this bill apply with much greater
force against river and harbor appropriations. With
these, besides their liability to abuse, Is the very great
difficulty Of determining whether they are national or
local For one, have always maintained that, when OF
, he
priations from the national treasury. Now, ask II
at all probable, in the OF human events there will
ever before Congress measure which is more cer
anly and surely OF national Importance than that now
before US! think None 10 compare with in ma
tonaty, or in any other point OF view Its whole line
will be within errltoy-the United States owning
nearly every foot of the soil over which II will run All
the money expended in the construction OF the road will
be for the benefit OF citizens and all those great
incidental benefits everywhere impaired to the value OF
the soil by iboroughfares Of this so the building up oil
cities and towns encouragemens to emigration from both
extremes OF the world will inure to the benefit OF our
own country and our own citizens. do not believe that
this government, has the right TO grant charter Tor such
within @ ae % o Sas xSo hsGoe bs ns D
ders of any Sale unless such State shall by formal act
assent thereto aH.
But the right of the Uai,ed States TO aid chartered CON-
panes OF States for such purposes has least the
ion OF precedent in their subscription TO the Louisville
and Portland the Delaware and Chesapeake, the Poto-
mac and Ohio and Dismal Swamp canas and IN the
exercise OF this right subscription in the present In
stance is made prescribed conduons such as the d.
mensoDs and strength OF the road, and The privilege 10
transport the mails and munitions OF war Tree oil charge
that Pennsylvania, like other States oil lhi:
Union. al early day precpated into ruinous and
expensive system OF internal Improvements appreciate
the vigilance which would induce my friends from that
State lMesss BaoDHrAD and CooPrR] to guard agains!
such abuses the part of the OF the United
States Bot, sir, not this rather the result oil that
rolling system which undertook TO provide every place
in the State with railroad or canal, than IN carrying
on, If you please, her double lmprovemsns-canal and
. railroad-throueh and the Aegbany mountains
from Philadelphia to Pittsbugs II my information be
, correct, such was the case Would that senator Mr.
BRopHEAp1 or his colleague Mr.. COOPER, who 80 ably
addressed the Senate few minutes in opposition TO
this be willing now TO give up their exPensve
canals and railroads with their deep cuts, tunnsng ana
inclined planes, and resolve his State and people oack
ain into the condition in which they were before tneee
improvements made Do they not very ~ ucn p'e
Ter these works. premature and unwise though some oi
ihem NAV be- than return the pack horse. the bell
team and the stage coach Although the construction
of those great works may have saddeA Pennsylvania
with an onerous public debt cannot doubt that the bsne-
s and arising from them more than counter
balance the evils OF that debt
MIR President besides the intrinsic merit OF this meas-
ure and the deep interest felt its success by those
whom in part represent, it Is commended 10 support
from the fact that IL hercely and bitterly opposed by
those who have failed show their oppe
si,ion every western measure. Prominent among
these is my worthy friend from Georgis Mr. DAwsor
whose smiling countepance and sonorous voice are al
ways and heard upon this floor in opposition to every
measure OF internal Improvement IN the West Our dif
erences this regard do not in the slightest degree les
my respect and kind feelings for him, nor Tor my
worthy friend from Maine, Mr.. BRADPURy1 who usually
anI hath, vbpfn2 nd