Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-02-25
SPEECH OF a. P. BUTLER, ESQ I,

On The subjsc, Of Rail Road the F.cfc dseered in the
Scnate february s. 1858.
The Senate in Committee vi The Whole resumed tue
considera ton Of The bill for the protection 81 the eneIan
route and ,egrsphlc lne and Tor en- overland mail te
tween The Missouri River and the settlements in CaioTnla
and Oregon. -
Mr. BUTLER said Mr. President: We are engaged in
the consideration of bill of unusual imp tance and y
be assumed, as understand, mat II Is 10 oe Carried
through this body and through the other House. by he mo-
mentum OF It's magnitude. listened, as usually 90
with polound attention. the able and interesting rear
of the honorable Senator from Illinois, Mr. Douglass; but
must confess that when he announced that this was un en-
terprse without parallel IN the history f Inc "o ana
that therefore 10 disregard all The lights OF example
experience usage and precedent felt somewhat nsonshca
AZ the attitude which the American Senate was hkeY 10
be placed by being forced adopt iorcsone conclusion
without The advantage of examination or lhe security on or
liberaton in words all The hazards Of lceie
tive experiment in reference 70 the greatest measure o.
Kind The world has known To borrow The languaTs o
the Senator from Illinois, 70 measure without paa!e
The reason given BY the friends OF this bill why We should
have such lights before as are usually consulled ~
such cases is this is measure whose
puts At defiance everything that has pecctea H. slei ~
the Congress Of the United Saies any other dclloeia
tive body of the world measure, the success oil wnco
mus therefore depend, the chances OF h' II"
.une than the counsels Of wisdom, or ghs OF eAPe
Mr Pesldent have been referred than once and
% the compliment as one OF the gen'ien'en WI"
s' nave constitutional difficulties in relation 10 hs
ne.su''. shall not indulge homIly upon the Consul
% uou: 40, a shall 30 directly 10 the merits ot ms
ut , aei enoen OF all my constitutional! objections
duht been well indicated by several e,her gentlemen Then
s come oiec"Y !" the question What is the bill II i
me 1odes EI"P"soa lha, has been brought be"'c
give my friend from !eAns Mr. Russ for his in.y
Iy. say ills the Enost undi.gui.rd nuuu,rion whgt
has been brought befuro Con.,.ss of The United
States looking 10 system of internal improvements
What lhep are the provisions Of The bill unun which his
proposition IL founded Let analyze Them.
The bill proposes construct road frurn the Msissup
valley 10 some point the Pacific ocean; and how Tho
President ms under stand it, s 10 indicate termni al the
Mssssippi and the Pacific and also the n0unan
,hrouph which tho road is go and then he employ en-
sneers TO fill up the intermediate space by
or 10 make such examinations may be satisfactory him
What noxt2 After president shall have performed this
function of saving where this great channel oil COMMERCE
shall run-of having imposed him powers so eS.taord
nary and SUCH as in opinion do not belong 10 the Ex
ecuye branch Of the Government or ever was ocoe con
ferrpd upon an American Presdent-wo are required 20 ai
ourselves Of all legislative jurisdiction ano cono owe
involving the abiding deetines OF ths Conlsela
cy and perhaps of the world. II Is 10 DC taken iou' m
sphere legislative Judgment aud be transferred 70 IN.
exclusive will and discretion of the ExecuVe-a
heretofore entirely unknown in the history OF fedsra
lion. II is, Mr. President, in my opinion preceae"
fearful import
So much as 10 the mode of locating the road Now as {
tho means and agencies be employed for lis accomplish
They, 10 my opinion as Dhali sho" are e9uah'