The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-26

draw bills hon the Pacific coast on New York. and from
lhe Atlantic coast on San Francisco 10 unlimited ex-
enl ana these notes and bills by the lawmerehan are
nesousbie With road extending from the Mississippi
10 Tue RACINE there would be no power in this govern
men' 70 prevent these notes and bills passing by delivery
from hahd 10 hand and although you introduce into the
seeuoh clause that is not intended 10 grant bank
powers this government cannot pass law which, with
IN the States, would prevent the delivery Of these bills
from hand TO hand, IN payment OF debts, for purposes
of commerce.
The principal object of this corporation is the transport.
auon oi passengers and merchandise from one side Of
Inc continent TO the other for compensation and that
compensation constitutes the income OF this great com
pahy IL true that the troops OF the United States may
pass upon THIS road, according TO the provisions OF this
Dill and so may the military stores and the public mails
oi 'he United States but there is no compensation to be
pad ior mat The whole income Of this road or OF the
company who construct it, will arise from the ansporta
uon OF persons and property upon II, which is strictly
commercial business
How long will this corporation continue TO exist :
Ihere IS provision in this BILL that after the expiration
OF thirty years Congress may resume the grant upon
tam terms. That is contract between the corporation
and HE government Although there has been inserted a
clause giving Congress power over thai charter, that
clause would not and could operate 10 escnd this
express contract contained upon the face OF the bill
namely that after the expiration OF thirty years Con-
Rress may resume the grant upon making certain pay
ments So that unless forfeited upon the face OF this
bill, by express provisions mbodied IN the form OF
conratt this corporation must exist for at least peod
OF thirty years, and until Congress shall refund TO tLe
corporaors their expenditures the road, with 10 per
cent interest per annum, dedusting the bonds and the
proceeds OF the public lands thus granted 10 them II
would be claimed by the corporation that the only deduc
ton to be made that expressly provided for; that
at the end OF thirty years the whole outlay, with that de-
ducton and the addition OF 10 per cent per annum would
be paidrunning until the period when you refund TO
them the amount, Why, sr at the end OF thirty years
II would swell up TO hundreds OF millions OF dollas and
at the end OF forty fifty. OF sixty years. would go on
still increasing, until ultimately il would reach the amount
perhaps of the national debt of Great Britain.
Congress
money due by the charter and thus break up this corpo
ratioE' Never But suppose 1t should be done, what
would be the condition OF Congress Here would be a
road across the continent, with immense commercial
business and immense income Suppose that TINS road
should be resumed by Congress. could Congress carry 1t
on Could the business OF the transportation oi pas
senge and property be engaged in by this government
And if not, what is to be done with the road Sir say
is upraccable for Congress 10 resume this grant and
carry the business OF this road. This government
never could enter into commercial business OF this
kindhe transportation OF goods and of passengers and
receiving compensation Tor IT, having It's agents carry on
that business stretching from side OF The continent
to the Cher Thus il will be that it would be I'M
practicable break up this corporation, unless IN one
event. and that would be II 1t should prove disastrous
and then Congress would find itself in the same cond
lion with regard to resumng the grant and carrying on
the road which have already indicated So that IN the
first place. Congress would be forced TO indemnify the
and in the next place, would be under The
necessity Of abandoning the road.
But let US look little further AT the end OF thirty,
or forty fifty years. what would be the condition OF
this country' With population veging 10 a hundred
millions with line OF States across the continent en-
bracing the very locality OF this road what would be
your condition You could not avoid receiving those
States into the Union; they must come IN unconditional
ty least with but condion--hat OF republican
form OF government No terms be dictated to Stale
upon its admission into the Union know there
attempt made to dictate terms TO introduce State
upon footing of inequality, and to deprive OF its SOW
eregn powers and the attempt shook this Union 10 It's
CENTRE and trust that similar will never be made
Then ask, what will be the condition OF this country
with dense population, with line OF States across the
continent, with this colossal corporation, with It's hun
dreds OF millions, with this immense commercial business
vast beyond any present conception The contest Is
now going on, and il will soon terminate in the tr
umph OF this country in taking into It's hands the COM
merce oil the world; and the time rs near at hand
when the United Sales will be the leading commercial
power; when the commerce OF Asia, OF Europe, aud of
America will pass and through this continent and
this will be one OF the great channels OF that commerce
Now, are not TO look into iuuriyl Are not
to look at what will be the condition OF the next genera
ton OF who 10 come upon the stage at the end
OF thirty, forty, or fifty years Sir tell you thai the
States which will exist IN The vicinity Of this road, which
will embrace the line OF the road, will make war upon
It, They will not consent 10 have this colossal corpora
ton overriding them IN the hands of the money power OF
this country transporting Tor their proh the great
commerce that will find us way through that channel 10
and from the different continents OF the world. The
States will make war upon this corporation II will be
whether the corporation can exist IL will be a
war whether you exercise the power that you have
reserved in this bill OF regulating merchandise and pas
sengers crossing this road II will be whether
this Of Congress override the sovereignty OF those
states Ii will be with this governmenl-ay sir.
with its own government whether the upon the
stage OF action, by asserting to the exercise OF ursdc
ion OF this kind debs the generation that will then
be conducting the affairs OF the country from erertng the
sua legislative powers oil their governmentfor the man
agement OF their own Internal affairs.
Sir, difficulties every side, insurmountahe di-
hcullies and IN entering into great, magnificent work
of this kind, is TO be hurried through rash and
reckless manner, and in the last moments OF expiring
Congress, when il s admitted that the bill is detective
when you Obliged to amend II after il has come from
the committee 10 OF the most essential points Is il
important that we should advance with such rapidity
that are not 10 regard not only the interests OF the
present, but the interests OF the future Sir, am ad
for this road but cannot abandon the exercise
of my Judgment iorbear 10 look into the future
to see what will be The condition OF those who TO
come after am not willing to rush into the measure,
and 10 present TO the Chef Executive Magistrate who is
take his seat the question how far is his duty 10
ecute an unconstitutional law. You cannot enter into a
Of this bill cannot be complied with until survey has
been made The corporation does not come into exist
until after the contracts have been entered into and
the contractors have become identified, Then the con-
tractors will assume the form OF a corporation. When
that be done Between this and the next session OF
Congress- Does any suppose that the route be
surveyed that the President OF the United States, II he
should regard the bill valid, could enter into a
Tract! Are we unwilling TO trust the representatives OF
he states and OF the people, who are TO come here IN
lew days, with the exercise o the powers OF this govern
Inent or must we press forward now
Sir, Il this bill should be modified as to exclude the
principle OF constructing road within the limits OF
STATE and the odious feature of creating monsrous
corporation than any bank OF the United States
worse than any 6scalIty that proposed in the
District OF Columbia should be unwilling to cast my
yote against the bill Nothing but constitutional OBJ
ecton nothing but setting dangerous precedent would
IN at AZ hts nA tstau nd