The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-22


ever is referred the is killed for this Congress
Anu no gentleman look upon il and draw other
conclusion than that this IS sle-blow 10 destroy IL
why The senator iron South Carolina [Mr BUrLEEl
and The senator from Virginia Mr.. HURTERl wish this
bill 10 90 before that committee
Mr. BUTLER, (in his seal) Why 80!
MI. GWlN. Because do not think you intend 10
sole iof y thas my opinion. Laughter But
know my friend IRON Indiana intends 10 vote Tor the bill
and so does The senator from Michigan Mr. CAss j and
therefore do not understand why they wish have il
referred 10 committee. Why Mr. President, you may
have considered IN whatever committees you please
and they would report no bill that the Senate agree
TO. We shall have TO frame The bill here-t must be
perfected here by discussion | am not disposed inter
fefe with the proceedings Of the Senate in other matters
al all but wish the Senate TO dispose OF the Pacific rail
road bill confess have a deep interest ia this meas
ure--l in the bill which have brought before the Sen.
atebut you may strike out everything after the enacng
clause, and il will satisfy me, if only accomplish
the main object OF getting road AT the time.
am confident that no committee can control the action OF
this body and The way 10 get road established. 10
get the the statute book is 40 on and consider
the question: 10 ascertain the views OF the members OF this
body, and come to conclusion. | am entirely opposed
10 putting this aside to make for the Texas
bill, although do not intend to discuss the question
Mr.. BU LER, | wish to say one word in explana-
ton. The honorable senator from California Mr. GwIN]
seems TO that shall vote against the bill he has
brought forward think it very probable shall vote
against the bill as il is; but hope am devoid
OF judgment as not 10 have my power give prefer
IL Il
an, matter 10 decide what bill or what amendment |
should vote for | may have choice between different
bills and may vote for bill and not for another;
may vote Tor preference to another. think that
very fair. But the senator must not assume that he
knows 100 mach of my political opinions. Perhaps he
thinks that stick to the constitution rather too tightly,
and that more enlarged view of the subject would be
more likely to attain his object Laughter
Mr. WELLER. agree with my colleague that if we
intend 10 accomp ish anything by acting upon thls bill
at the present session OF Cong is necessary keep
il before the Senate. The farest way, me,
Is to have full and free interchange of opinions here,
IN order to ascertain what is The most practicable way
to construct the proposed road. | assuming that
majority OF the members OF this body in favor OF
the construction OF railroad from the Mississippi valley
10 the Pacific After there has been free rchange
OF opinion here, we readily decide what plan will
be the most acceptable 10 majority OF the Senate, and
then, N my opinion, the proper time will have we'd
refer The whole subject 10 one of the regular commit
tees OF this body, with view to the perfection OF the
plan III accordance with the views thus ascertalned
| The senator from South Carolina MIR BUTLERl is
ranked among those who oppose this measure; and my
friend from Virginia Mr. HUNTERl belongs to the
class OF politicians. In my Judgment If their views were
strictly carried out, ii would render this government
very imprac,icabe machine. think il is highly Import
that this subject should be kept before The Senate in
order TO ascertain the judgment OF each senator with
gard TO the most practicable route AS have remarked
upon previous OCCASION am welded to no particular
scheme. and no particular plan. There some other
p ms which would prefer 10 The one proposed by my
colleague desire 10 have road and desire to have
that plan adopted which, in the Judgment of the Senate
will be best calculated 10 accomplish the object in the
shortest possible time. What good possibly result
from reference OF this subject TO committee, after it
has been but partially considered We ought continue
the discussion until we ascertain the views OF senators,
and then refer 1t 10 committee, with view perfect il
IN accordance with those ascerlained opinions.
With regard the constitutional power involved in this
question, trust that we have high regard for the
constitution as the senator from South Carolina claim
to be As strict consruclionls be Isl but il | could
not demonstrate the power of the general government,
under the constitutions to construct that railroad should
fail to demonstrate what perfectly clear 10 my
mind But this IS not the proper time 10 discuss that
question. regard the proposition of the senator from
Virginia as calculated to defeat this bill for the present
Congress. do not know whether it intended or
not but think that such would be the inevitable effect
Mr.. HUNTER What proposition of mine does the
senator refer to- have made proposition that am
aware Of
Mr.. SHIELDS The proposition to take up the Texas
debt bill was made by the senator from Indiana. [Mr
BRIGHT
Mr.. WELLER | thought il was the senator from
Virginia am ready to dispose Of the Texas-debt ques
ton; but as the railroad bill has been taken up and par
tally discussed, II will be profitable to continue
the discussion until we ascertain the views of the
loHly OF tue Senate upon II.
Mr.. BORLAND | shall not enter into any discussion
on the merits OF the Texasdebt bill but shall simply
give the reason why shall vote against the motion of
the senator from Indiana. Work steadily and as faith
uly as we may upon the Pacific railroad bill, we have
no time to spare, IN my opinion during the remainder OF
his session-tha is, II we entertain any hope OF passing
this bill and deem It OF so much more Importance than
any and all other measures now before the Congress OF
the United States, that shall vote against the PROPOSE
ton 10 give anything else precedence 1t, Tor
one hour
MIR WALKER The senator who has Just taken
his sea- has very nearly expressed the views which
| entertain; but | wish 10 advert TO an observation
made by the senator from Texas. He said that these
creditors have been before Congress for twelve months,
asking that we should take up and act their petition
and decide upon it. Why, sir they but private claim
ants. will concede that II is hard enough that they
should have been here twelve months asking justice
the hands OF Congress- but how many hundreds there
who have been here not only twelve months, but ten fl
teen. and twenty years asking justice II seems 10 me if
there was not collection OF these credorsif they had
not eDDe, as II were, IN Embodied form, the subject
matter OF their petition would larger in our es
nation, than various other claims on the government
which are now, and have been for a long lime, before
Congress We cannot get one day in the week, 1t
seems devoted TO their considerations and yet il now
proposed upon the instant, at the demand Of these cred
TORS TO set aside everything else matter import
ant as this railroad BILL and their claim the prefer
and act upon TO the exclusion OF all other business
am ayerse to pursuing such course and am one
OF those who will stand by the Pacific railroad BILL be-
eying as do, that II II is sent from the Senate chamber
now, 1t will not get back to be acted upon during this
sion.
shall vote against the reference of the railroad BILL for
the reason that concur in tie opinion expressed by the
senator from California, [Mr WELLER that commit
tee can report proposition upon which there will not be
as much discussion as upon the one now before us II
IS one OF those things which committee cannot settle in
The hrst instance. II " one OF great magnitude II affects
the interests OF every portion OF the country and every
portion desires 10 have something 10 IN reference
IT. Alter II has been before a committee week, and
they have matured II well as they mature any
proposition, and has been brought back here it will be
but week lost, for the whole discussion will have TO
be gone over that will be elected by such bill My
opinion is that II there be majority in The Senate will
N pni had haiti toap