The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-27


such were the conflicting local interests connected with
The different routes proposed TO unite the valley OF the
Mississippi with the Pacific ocean. you never could anti
cipate-no matter how national the work no matter how
much such eonnexion might be needed by the general
interests of the country, no matter though you might
have the most accurate surveys and the most perfect de
neaons OF the routesihat the local interests OF the d
feent conlendng States and parties could De SO lar over
come as TO enable you 10 pass bill through Congress
the construction OF The road over any par
ticuar route Well sir, is II just is II generous to the
President of the United States, at the commencement OF
his administration TO place him in position where he will
TO the odum and The oboquy and the OPP
position arising from having to decide between these ri
val interests Yet that is The position IN which the bill
places him.
II the reason given by the senator from Iowa be cor
rect and probably isf these difficulties for
the local divisions upon the subject are so
greatand il the excitement in relation TO the matter is
so great that you pass bill through Congress
that account-surey II you require The President OF the
United States, as single individual, going beyond the
line of his duties, 10 decide between these
fcng interests and to that hich
human passion and enlsts human interests you will
cessary give him heavy responsibility at the very Com
President elect OF the United States may not, under your
bill, this responsibility il he chooses to
but at any rate you are giving him high dscrelon-a
discretion which involves most serious responsibility
do not believe he would fear 10 encounter it. but at
least he should have the oponand that all my amend
ment provides-of saying whether, under the circum-
stances he thinks it advisable that he should make that
decision whether he should refer the question back to
Congress- which the appropriate tribunal Tor the purpose
OF deciding it, You should give him that discretion at
least, and that would show something like confidence in
him. But the section now 49, you give nm dscre-
ton which, in the hands OF a corrupt man, would be
very dangerous. have such fears in this case but
as the section now stands you impose the duty upon him.
and you limit his discretion that you compel him to
perform IT, unless he should take the stand which II is
possible he may take, that the law is in its
provisions, and therefore that is not incumbent on him
TO carry II out.
do moi want to place the incoming President in po-
sition where he viii be subjected to feelings OF hostility
and enmy the part OF any OF those who have aided
creton OF saying whether he will determine the points
OF termination OF this road-wheher he will select the
route of the road, and encounter all the local prejudice
and all the opposition arising from that selection, or
whether after he has Investigated it he will refer that
matter back to you. Why not allow him. after finding
what these rival routes and what is the extent OF that
opposition 10 which have alluded 10 say whether he
will go on or not II he should fnd he must find be-
fore he could decide that there any route SO de-
cidedy superior all the rest that he ought not 10 hesi
tate but decide without reference TO Congress- he would
do SO But if be should find such conflict OF opinion in
the reports OF the engneers-sach doubt and uncertainty
the proper route 10 be taKentha he should not be
willing 10 assume the responsibility Of deciding ne ought
e have power to send the question back where right
fully belongs, and where IN my judgment ought 10 be
cised the first nstancethat is, TO the Congress of
the United States H. however, he should think differ
entity his act would be binding Surely, sir, those gen.
emen who have supported that party to which he ia at
ached and who have aided in bringing him into power,
cannot wish 10 place him in position OF such response
biIity without giving him the option of declining that
sponsiblity II in his judgment il should be better that
he should do My amendment goes 10 that extent, no
further.
DRY stock He is not afraid of responsibility.
Mr.. HAMLIN | concur very generally in what has
fallen from the senator from Delaware. certainly will
vote for no bill that imposes duties upon the President
such as are designated in the first section of this bill
They do not, in my judgment. appropriately belong to the
chief executive officer of This government; They are
wholly OF another class and character OF duties. You
have your War Department and your Navy Department,
your ordnance bureau your bureau oil yards and docks,
and in all the contracts into which thus government en-
tefs in all the details oil these branches OF the public
vice, you have proper officers 10 make those conrscs
and 10 discharge those duties When voted as citizen
TO make franklin Pierce President Of these United States.
did not certainly suppose that should be called upon
here TO vote TO make him the president OF
railroad company a railroad corporation. But before
the question is put upon the amendment oil the senator
from Delaware, ask hun to listen 10 suggestion which
have TO make. desire 10 put this bill IN such shape
10 enable 10 vote for II, because am IN favor OF
the general proposition. ! propose to insert, alter the
words President OF the United States, IN the hrsi sec
ton, "to nominate TO the Senate three commissioners.
whose duty it shall be" that the section shall read
that il shall be the duty of the President of the United
States 10 nominate 10 the Senate three commissioners,
whose duty il shall be to be constructed, &c
My object is TO impose upon these commissioners, TO be
nominated by him and confirmed by the Senate, the very
duties which the bill imposes upon him. would sag
gesi my friend from Delaware TO allow the vote to be
taken first upon my proposition and then II be rejected,
he offer his
Mr. BAYARD. The proposition OF the honorable SEN
aior from Maine Mr. HAHus is, understand, TO dele
gate TO three commissioners the power oil Congress 10
determine question which the honorable senator from
Iowa Mr. DoDeEl said Congress could agree upon
am unwilling TO delegate such power al all but It
must be delegate let il be TO the President All ask
is, that II you give TO the President 10 whom You are
willing TO delegate so extensive power, who stands
elected by unparalleled majority OF the people oil thus
country and therefore doubtless entitled TO great conf
dence also the option the discretion 10 say whether be
il willing TO assume the responsibility you throw upon
him. am 80 entirely opposed 10 The adoption OF The
amendment OF the honorable senator from Name that
shall press my own in the first place.
word to the remark OF the honorable senator
from California, Mr. GwIsl | agree with him that the
President elect OF the United States in my opinion, be-
longs the Old Hickory stock, and cannot help think
ing that is because ba belongs TO the Old Hickory stock
that this bill pressed for the fear that hereafter
II should come under his supervision, 1t might require
greater vote to force ii through with lis present prevs-
ions than i possibly can hope TO obtain have no
fears OF the rmness oil the President elect II is not
that ground that object 10 the provisions but think
that when you ntrus discretion 10 him and impose upon
him and extraordinary duty, IL would be but
common courtesy TO give BIN the option OF determining
whether he will exercise that discretion, refer back
to you after he has bad the surveys made ask Tor the
yeas and nays on my amendment.
The yeas and nays were accordingly ordered.
Mi. DAVIS wsh merely TO say 10 the gentleman
from Delaware that bis amendment is not necessary II
Is not possible that any part OF this road can be located
before Cor gress shall meet again nj the next session.
There will be abundant opportunity for the President at
all times TO refer the subject Congress, he finds it in
any way embarrassing TO him, before It 10 possible for
him TO any OF the duties proposed TO be conferred
upon him in regard TO the location OF the road The
ndment, therefore, cannot better his condition in the
least
a - ~ l..