The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-02
In CONGRESS- OF THE u. STATES
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 81, 1853.
LIN CONTINUATION ]


Mr. WELLER As | do not propose to discuss The I'M
porant question that is presented for the consdera
ton OF the Senate, may DC well enough Tor me al he
outset to make motion which will make this discussion
in order believe motion 10 reconsider, unler The
rules Of the Senate is privileged notion and desire
now. during the pendency OF the motion OF the senator
the amendment of the honorable from Illinois
adopted Saturday eyenngnot because have changed
my mind The subject bat for the purpose of incorpo
rating the principle contained in the amendment in The
bill in such shape as to make it practicable.
Mr.. CHASE. | rise to question Of order
Mr.. WELLER. wish to know whether i, is in order
now for me to make that motion
Mr.. CHASE. That is the point which was about to
raise. a#03
The PRESIDENT. The Chair is of the opinion that
the bill must be before the Senate before the motion can
be made; and if the motion reconsider can be made ii
only be entered upon the journal for action hereafter
Mr.. BADGER. hope by common consent that course
Mr.. WELLER. There is difference of opinion be.
tween the President and myself to the construction of
the rule. have always understood tina, motion to
consider was privileged notion and could be made
any time But desire to say word or two in reply TO
what has already been said upon this subject and what
have to say may be CONSIDERED il you please as reasons
why the motion OF the seu2Or from Wisconsin should
not now be adopted
The adoption OF that motion mus. necessarily supersede
the Pacific railroad bill, which the unfinished busl-
ness OF last Saturday. My object is 10 get up that bill.
in order to satisfy. If can the committee who originally
reported it. that they have become unnecessarily alarmed
in regard TO its condition, They have taken it upon
themselves TO say that those of who the other day
voted for the amendment OF the honorable from
Illinois have defeated the bill Now, what was the
proposition OF the senator from llnois was that the
$20, 900 appropriated under the bill, should be
pended exclusively for the construction OF that portion
of the road which runs through the Territories Now,
the from Texas has ask ed will the lands on each
side OF the road in the States through which may pass
be sufficient to constructt! Let ask my friend from
Texas il he ever proposed that the government Of the
road never supposed iii that t. such was his % intention
am sure the bill conveys no such idea. had supposed
that the work was 10 be undertaken by contractors, and
that order induce those execute it, the
government undertook give $40 900 in money and
certain quantity of land. six miles each side of the
road in the States. and twelve miles each side i'll the
Territories.
The senator has asked whether grant of alternate
sections for six miles each side would be sufficient to
complete the road in California Let me ask did he ex.
pect that the miles would do the other States or
did be intend that this government should pay for the
whole OF the road Certainly never understood the
bill but the object was that the general government
should appropriate certain quantity OF land and
tain amount Of money in order 10 induce contractors 10
complete the road IL certainly does not propose to give
any lands to California or any other State What differ
does make the contractors whether they expend
$40 900 in the Territories in the States OF the
Union The President OF the United States s authorized
under the bill to make contract The government, re-
gading ths great national work of immense mportance,
and which is TO advance the interests Of the whole
country makes an appropriation OF land and money to-
wards its completon. This, sir, is all But now the
senator says the bill IS emascuated and dsonted, be-
there is offered TO be incorporated within prn
ciple which requires the money to be expended within
the Territories OF the United States II the vote the
adoption OF that amendment shall be reconsidered,
PROPOSE II seems 10 that it would be very easy mat
ter TO put this bill again in proper shape It's joints
be readily put ogether requires but two amendments
10 do and II the senator from Texas bad not already
made up his mind that the bill dead, should under
take TO call his attention TO The two amendments which
intend 10 propose TO the third and sixth sections of the
bill II will not require, think, much time TO demon
strate that two amendments will make this bill far
practicable than il when from the hands OF
the seec, committee. We sometimes unable TO per-
ceive the defects which exist in the work OF our own
hands. Gentlemen apt 10 think that bill which
they have spent much time and labor is necessarily
perfect that no improvements whatever can be made
In this think they mistaken. Man, after ALL is fall
Mr.. CHASE Mr. President, wish TO make a ques
lion of order whether this discussion shall proceed II
10 perfectly clear that II does proceed we cannot take
up the homestead bill to-day therefore desire TO pre-
sent 10 the Chair for ts decision, the question whether
a discussion upon the merits Of bill which pend
lnK Saturday IN order upon motion to-day TO take
up another bill
The PRESIDENT. The Chair has decided several
times that it ~ no, in order.
Mr.. CHASE Then trust senators will be confined
within the limits OF order.
The PRESIDENT The senator from California has
moved and be proceeds upon the ground
that that is privileged motion.
Mr. CHASE. The question then made whether
hst was privileged motion or not, and understood the
being already pending motion to postpone all The prior
order: for the purpose OF taking the homestead bill s'o
consideration.
The PRESIDENT. The Chair i. OF the opinion that
the motion is privileged thus far at least that it may be
entered upon the Journal but that s not subject 10 dis
cusson until the bill shall be before the Senate. That is
the practice which has been adopted for the purpose OF
saving time, that a motion may be entered because af
Ter two days eapse motion TO reconsider can be
tered or entertained
Mr. BORLAND. | would suggest that the senator
from California Saturday moved reconside ration,
gave notice that he would IT, which, il to me,
amounted to the same thing
Mr.. BADGER Let the motion be entered.
The PRESIDENT. II there be no objection, the mo-
ton will be entered on the journal.
There being no objection, IL ordered.
Ni Mr.. WELLER do not know that attain The OBJ
isct which have in view by simply having the motion
entered desire the question TO come up before the
Senate, and II the Pacific railroad bill be actually dead
desire that il shall be decenlly buried We owe least,
decent respect 10 It's dIeoined" remains wish 10
be understood by everybody that think there is ye, vi
,siy enough in II 10 run locomotive. | there
- plenty of life in il yet II the doctors who have bad
charge OF il do not now abandon II. There IL such a
thing as being scared before you hurt DO not seDa
ors think that giving six miles each side OF the road
enough TO justify the contractors in going on with the
TOAD II not, let land be voted II shall receive
my support. Bot am against the principle which was
incorporated IN this bill OF erpending public money in the
CONSTRUCTION OF road through a State. will not say
s' - unconstitutional; but, at any rate, It is prnc
" ~on, carried out by the COVE must lead to
.ne moe o,sasrous results and ultimately involve
n.uona' treasury in bankruptcy desire, therefore,
10 AVOID that question by requiring that the sac 600 600
appropriated by the bill shall be sycln.;velv eynended in
me CONSTRUCTION OF that portion of the road which runs
mrou4n sne erfitoes OF the United States, and If sen.
ators DO moi mink That the land granted within the State.
snoLen, ,s' us" propose TO appropriate more and,
nsNs snesay sAo, snali vote Tor H. However much
may desire the construction Of hi. road am no, xvIIino
TO aacr6ce PRINCIPLES long chershed 4, "a =,