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

wisely
kind, TO have complete surrey from one point 70 lhe
other before commencing the work. Then. SIR II any
Incidental advantages which experience furnishes
during the progress OF the work. they be made use OF
But. sr canno, be that work Of this magnitude is TO
be commenced in ths way in the dark.
agree in many OF the suggestions which have been
cihc railroad. think il will be OF The most mag.
nhcent that human genius and human skull have carried
oal and perfected But this is nothing to the purpose
II can only be thus magnificent only add to the
character and The grandeur OF this country by being what
II ought 10 be-as perfect possible. therefore, IN
view OF the OF the country desire that this en-,
efprlse shall be conducted upon such principles as VIII
insure as much perfection possible II 1t be com
pieed II will be, has been stated by my honorable
ecnot project, for il will have ceased to be pro-
ect-but grand and magnificent work. placing US in
that respect above all naons which have preceded. or
which exist with us at present. admit j, but desire
that shall disgrace American genius by hurrying
ward into great enterprise OF this kind, and making
II miserable patchwork thing, when II ought to De one
genius OF the country, as II wih be benehcent TO the
| world
Sir, for this reason, as well as for others. am for
having light before act. am sorry that have de.
tained the SSnat- long as have done; but believed
il was due the vindlcalion of The views which had
casually thrown out that should state my opinions at
| MIR. DODGE, OF iowa Mr. President / was one of
the select comItiee TO whom this bill was reerred-he
least efficient and most humble member OF that commit
tee Without claiming to myself credit Tor anything
that contained in IT, deem It but an act OF justice to
say OF my distinguished associates upon that cCnmiitee
lha, did labor more faithfully, or in more
dsncr spirit, accomplish far they could ac-
complish, the great work committed TO their charge
Day after day. for weeks devoted the whole OF our
mornings to The PREPARATION discus and consumma
| Texas. Mr. RUsK has abored most ndefatlgaby upon
this b besides having gwen much time and thought TO
the consideration OF the general subject OF uniting our dis
tan Pacific possessions those OF he interior and Allan
tic by bands of iron, from the day that the subject was
first introduced ALI know, too, from the extraordinary
success which attended his most management nj
OF the Texas boundary bill, famlliay known as the
ten million biz. that few better understand The du
OF practical legislator or are more faithful and IN.
| tinng in their discharge.
| The venerable senator from Massachusetts, Mr. DA-
vIslwhose enlarged experience aud observation touch
ing our railroad system, coming, as he does, IRON stale
literally stIeaked with roads OF this description, and being
more familiar, perhaps, with the legislation necessary TO
protect rights and interests oil the government, the
travelling and commercial community, as well as those OF
the companies having charge OF the woIk-has devoted
his time and talents most patiently and assduously TO
framing this bill, and may appropriately be termed me
|" Mentor OF the committee" every member OF which Will
bear evidence TO the many sage and valuable sugges-
lions which received from HIM.
The distinguished senator irsm Tennessee Mr.. BELL
has thrown whole soul into this noble enterprise and
both in Senate and the committee has brought his re-
search and talents zealousy to the work OF It's accom-
plishment -
MIR GwIN,l and of the time. attention, and devotion
which ne has shown this work, 1t is unnecessary
should speak, they familiar TO the Senate and the
whole country.
NV purpose in making this allusion to the committee
TO whom all the various projects for Pacific railroad
referred is to say that, excluding myself humoy
conceive that The Senate, and especially those who
friendly the enterprise should receive the labors OF the
select committee with something akin TO a generous
confidence" The North, the South, the East, and the
West were fairly represented, and proud say that
never the least exhibition OF sectional selfish
feeling manifested bv any member OF the committee in
the preparation OF the bill aude with pleasure to this
fact because il is well known that there are four five
rival routes, all OF which have their friends and cham.
pions; and because the bill OF the special committee
has been allacked-boldly and bitterly atiacked-foI
that feature in which consists its chief exceeace
in my humble judgment mean the provision which
conhdes to the incoming PresdeIt OF the United
States after the most thorough geographical and to-
pog raphcal reconnaissance, the designation OF the
iermlni and general route OF the road. | have saia
that this OF the best provisions OF the BILL and
reterate it, because, with the lights which that high Off
Ger will have before him when he comes TO determine this
momenous matter, he will be much more likely to make
the proper designation than would Congress Besides
SIR as fast friend TO this measure, who is neither
Ito be coaxed driven IRON its support II IS my solemn
conviction that upon the retention OF thus provision de-
pends the life or death OF the bill lou cannot fix The
iermin or route of this road in any BILL and then gel
votes enough 10 pass it, No, SIR not with all the
veys and estimates Of cost general and particular that
ever have been made that ever can be made-and the
There are, believe, a, least five con,endipg lines
routes, over which IS proposed TO run railway from
the valley OF the Mississippi 10 the Pacnc ocean.
These are, beginning at the North
FIRST From Green Bay, IN Wisconsin, 10 Pugets Sound
in Oregon with a branch 10 California.
Second From point in Iowa, on the Mississippi
rlyer via Council Bluffs Fort Laramie the South Pass
IN latitude deg 80 min morrill, Salt Lake city, and then
by the trail through pass IN The Sierra Nevada
IN latitude about "a deg north, to San Francisco.
Third From St Louis 10 Albuquerque, latitude IS deg
north on the Rio Grande thence 10 Walkers Pass,
near the parallel, IN the Sierra Nevada thence
through the valley OF the San Joaquin, to San Fran
cisco
\ Fourth Either from St Louis, Memphis, yicksburg
southwest corner Of Arkansas, or Maagorda in Texas
TO E Paso.on the Rio Grsnde and thence by the Gils
at its junction with the Rio Colorado and thence via
the Tohone pass abou, latitude 80 deg north, through
the valley OF the San Joaquin, to San Francisco.
This las, line, by way OF III Paso and the q la is be
leyed by many TO be the most practicable but i
passes large part of the way through the Mexicap
States OF Chihuahua and Sonora Many able men, and
believe Mr. Whitney among the number, think the first
named route, notwithstanding its hyperborean locality
the most feasible and advantageous
Now, SIR these lines of route all have their supporter
and advocates and II is not my province 10 sssa 10
dsparage any OF them But have to say that which
DO know. Fix any OF them arbitrarily and by name
in any bill either before after any number of surveys
estimates and the friends Of all the others fly from the
support OF the bill They will give for that the route
desgnsteds too far north, Tar SOUTH 10 the
geat purposes OF uansit and commerce II will be alleged
that the corps OF Typographical engineers high that
corps deservedy stands IN public estimation, by whom
the surveys will have been made governed by
hona or other improper Considerations and motives, and
To this there will be added many other for oppo
sition. But few, u any, Of the opponents will the
Gated as TO subserye the immediate local interests OF the
lobieotng members State and constituency Marx you
Ine contention TO which now allude wond be among
the friends OF the bIltbose friends whose votes and