Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-28
DEFERRED DEBATE In SENATE
RAILROAD TO THE PACIFIC
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER %, 1858.
CONTINUED FROM LAST SATURDAY.

i
presume there is scarcely member Of this body who
not turned his attention to the importance and necessity
Of such communication the proposed by this
BILL the Importance Of the construction Or railroad
neoting the States on the Atlantic with the Pacific coas
at the earliest practicable period The mode in which
shall be DONE the route that shall be adopted whether
it should have branches what should be its
terminus this side Of the Rocky Mountains and what
the other side, questions rather of detail The
main object and features Of the proposition however,
such that every gentleman Of the Senate have
tied upon in his mind and that is that the road
must say must and not ought tobe built at almost
any cost that the Of this country bear that
the route ought to be asceraned and fixed upon and the
work executed at the earliest date and that the expend
ture shall be considered at being likely to be very
large and yet necessary to be incurred Although the
expense may excessive for the Of this
country yet whatever it may be- if in addition to the land
proposed to be set apart for the road there shall be fifty
millions of money, hundred millions of money
quired from the Treasury such my estimate of the
cessy of this work. in order to hold the two extremes of
the country together that think that would
be economical in view of many of the contingencies that
may arise.
Contemplate the contingency of this country being pre-
cpated into by the passions of the people being,
either rghtfuy wronguly reused account Of nju
res aggressons actual supposed the part of
strong maritime foreign Power. / believe every member
have heard speak these questions has said that the
honor of the country always be maintained at every
hazard Suppose that in order the honor Of
the country should be precipitated into with
either France England to say nothing OF both comb
ed in the present condition of this country Why hun
dred millions expendednow before such contingency may
chance to arise may two three four perhaps
hve hundred millions of expenditure which would be
cessary to regain our foothod on the Pacific
Has any gentleman reflected for moment what
would be the this country of maintaining con-
fct with any Of the powerful maritime States of Europe
for the purpose of defending territorial rights they
exist on the Pacfcwith coast Of six hundred miles in
eItentwth not fort not gun for its defence, with
lines or channels Of communication except by Of the
n ne of a
vastly superior maritime Power?
Sir, have thought great deal upon the subject and
in my opinion it would require expenditure probably
OF from three to five hundred millions Of dollars to pre-
serve honor in those territories and maintain
rights Of sovereignty and jurisdiction if should be
precpitated into war; without overland communi
cation by railroad with CALIFORNIA; either within
territory through the northern States of Mexico with
her consent. do not however, to enlarge upon
this but will repeat that in addition giving all of the
public lands adjacent to the route which may be selected
for this road-or there but which the country
large deeply interested and to them is Of much
consequence where the terminus west shall bel
say it would be economy in addition to giving all the
public domain which lies within the limits prescribed in
the b to vote additional of money So 900,
$780, 900 000 if need be 800 000 000 from time
to time the work may progress
did not rise for the purpose of saying much
have said. My object simply to express my view
of the importance of the subject In my opinion there is
question which before this Senate before
Congress at the present session, and there at
these territories the position
in which this country had placed itsef-consderng its
rapid growth and extension Of dominion thus exciting
the jealousy Of foreign Powers-and considering the
change the passions Of the people this country liable
at any moment to be precpitated into with the
most powerful nation in Europe with maritime Power
ten times as great as our own Such state OF things
has arisen out OF these that consider there
is subject Of more Importance which engross
attention than the present 90 further and say, that
If we do no other business during the present session OF
Congress except pass the appropriation bills the whole
time would be well spent in maturing this measure.
repeat rose for the purpose Of expressing earnest
desire that the particular friends of this propositonthe
gentlemen from the western States who have local
interest in it, and without whose cooperation perceive
that nothing is likely to be done-w follow it up until
the Senate shall to a vote upon and il they had
been agreed before could have had something decided
upon three years ago. they were not agreed
tsrmin Of the road hope they will lose occasion Of
pressing the bill to the full consideration and decision Of
the Senate, that possible it may reach the House,
and receive the appreciation Of that body during the
sent Congress.
Senator from Tennessee has said in relation to the mpor
tance Of this In my judgment 1t is equalled
by question which has been will be presented to
for consideration at this session Of Congress and
shall cooperate with great cheerulness in urging this
measure forward in connexon with the Senator who has
brought it before the Senate Still do not believe it is
expedent proper that should proceed to vote
upon measure which embraces in its details so many
questions connected with the bill before
IL win not be forgotten that there bill reported at
the last session of Congress from the Committee the
Post Office and Post Roads It will be remembered that
the Committee Territories reported another proposition
and it is also apprehend within the knowledge Of Sena-
tors from the information which has been obtained from
tne public press and from individuals who feel an inter-
et IN TINS matter that there still other plans to be
proposed by which this work shall be consummaed IL
@ great work What is the best mode of proceeding!
when Oh the various schemes is that which commends
se 70 tne consideration Of the Government the great
st uegree These are questions which practical and
minds. :.
Now, suppose that before we vote upon this bill IL
would be proper that all these various should be
fairly considered by the Senate for the f
tanning first which offers the greatest security for rapd
construction; which offers the greatest security for
construction within any given period of time and which
offers the greatest amount Of economy to the
These are questions which the Senator from California
has not dscussed proper that he sboud
discussed them. He has looked Mt this ms national oos
tionone connected with social relations and with
But, before we vote upon the bill oon
most fully with the Senator from Tennessee that we
should examine all its details And while am the last
Senator who woudnterpose any objection to it, and while
am amongst those who will be foremost in urging this
matter to consummation, trust that vote win be
pressed upon the Senate to-day hope there are gentle
men who viii examine these details and who will be pre-.
pared to present to the Senate their views length
and II not reluctant always to address the Sen
ste, may be compelled perform that task myself