The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-05-11

AcTioS or THE CONNECTICUT LIslsIAruRK ON THE
NoRwALI cArAsTRorHE-In The house OF representa-
tives ON Saturday alter formal business was trans
acted,
Mir Smith OF Sharon, presented resouiion, author
izng The appointment OF JOINT select committee 10
sde that portion OF his excseneys relating 10
the prevention OF railway accidents, ard the appointment
Of general railroad COMMISSIONER aud 10 presenting
the resolution, SAID
Mr. Speaker, there occasions when the tongue
can but eeby express The feelings OF the heart, and Ian
guage poor give utterence TO The profound
lions which press upon The sensibities Within few
b ief hours the pubic mind has been stirred up with
be shock of earthquake, and The borrbe udings
passed with Lightning speed, many heart, but momeR
before Joyous ana happy, has been filled with mourning
desosiion, and woe II IS hard 10 leave this bright and
beautiful world when has partially blunled the
power Of enjoyment when disease has FRUSTRATED the
forces of natuTe, when The tear OF sympathy falling
upon The pillow OF the dying and the hand OF affection
smoothing the passage 70 the dark and narrow house
Under The most kindly and favorable clrcu nstsnces
even supported By thai hope which anchor TO the
SOUL poor human nature shnks back appalled, from
with the king OF lerrors But 10 meet him
without preparation, without last farewell TO all
hold dearest upon eah when perhaps the heart is beat
ing high with dreams OF success aud antcipslOns OF
pleasuFe-in moment, in The twinkng Of an eye"
with terrible crash, awful conyusise shndder 10
be precipsied headlong into the dark and unknown u.
ure this is indeed taste the bitterness Of death
The shocking, heart-rendlng catastrophe that ha.
CURED within The borders OF State far surpssses
in lis horrible destruction any railroad accident that has
happened in this country, pfovsrbsl Il - for
and wicked disregard Tor human life. MIR Speak
er. will not call Il accident; bat upon my responsibility
a man, and representative Of the people de-
nounce il wholesale, bloody, murJerous Ia
my opinion. the wretch whose brutal heedlessness g
norance caused it should be hung upon gibbe higher
than Hsmans and exposed 10 the scon and e1eerson OF
outraged humanity.
Mr. Speaker said by foreigners that our country.
are such haste 10 get through life. intent upon
The acquisition Of wealth full OF stirring enterprise
that such dreful caiamites produce su momeniafy
shock, and are soon FORGOTTEN m the hurry Of business
atatf III "a AL
and pas experience affords melancholy evidence OF
The correctness OF the assertion
Steamboats, burn sink, and explode railroads
and mange their and hundreds and Yet nobody
10 blame their captains, engineers, aad conductors
the most innocent OF individuals, and are ~hew sshed
from every color and shade Of responsibility
am aware, MIR Speaker thai action OF ours
susge this eparsbe calamity or give back 10 weeping,
hear. broken friends the loved and the lost The future
all that is LEFT us; and we shall be reerean TO our
trusts, shall deserve the condemnation oi the evil
ized world, IT, with spch n before us, do not
pass sufficiently Stringent to render 10 impos-
slbs, in all coming tune, the repetition Of such cruel and
Mr.. Beckwlth, Of Lnchheld. in secondng The resolu
ton OF Mr. Smith remark ed that the subject had been
presented for the consideration Of former legislatures
bat yet satisfactory action had been bad 10 regard
10 T. In many OF the STATES OF this Union, and IN Eng
and especially general railroad COM ssonefs were
APRON t~d whose duty il 70 visit Of disaster,
and publish reports OF the which led TO
them and suggest the proper remedial measures The
result had shown that the number OF accidents had
fpraliy decreased and those du unaNotdahy happen
were not 80 bloody and terrible formerly IN this State
such board OF commissioners, composed Of learned ard
scientific vnen. mprriousy demanded IL would be
no disadvantage 10 railroad conpa2ies II would only
insure the employ meai by them o experienced and
competent agents. in whcss hands The lives and property
OF our citizens would be safe. As citizen and egl-iator
OF the STATE, he hoped that some pronm and efnceni
measures would be taken ia reference % ibe matter.
The question put on Mr.. Smiths resolution, and
carried unanimously,
MIR Burr of Hartford. offered resolution appointing
oomniee TO proceed the OF the recent st-ler
al Norwak and report 10 this Legislature a. as cary day
az possible The causes oI the terrible calamity passed
and Messrs Beoswilb Of Lichhtld, bisseil o Sharon,
and Haley Of Norwak, were appointed
pt introduced imposing a toe oi sl0oo9 ioI
each person killed and heavy penalties tor injuries caused
by csfelcssness railways.
In the senate sso resolution was offered 10 appoihi
a committee OF senator aad three members OF me
house vast the vi the late disaster nj Norwas
10 inquire into the facts connected wilh ~ II was dt-
hated by Mr. Harrison, who spoke vers iorciby and lee
inrly on the subject He urged the necessity OF mme-
date action to check the osieiessness ~ railroad com
panies and their employees fhe subject was too i'm
porsnt 10 he uaec with neglected say longer The
resolution wsS passed.
Mr. Hyatt was appointed on the part Of the senate.