Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-28
it successfully to the end.

nope may be allowed TO say that believe the great
difficulty consists in beginning IL nobody else shall offer
better plan than this another plan for our consde-
ration, am prepared to vote for this now | am pre-
pared to hear others propose their plans have no pre-
possessions in favor of ths but strikes be very
good one to begin upon and when begin with
i determination TO 60 through, shall 20 through
hope, therefore, that the honorable Senator from Ca
ifornia will insist upon calling up the bill TOMORROW,
that other plans there be any, will be offered aud that
he will not suffer foreign relations political relations
party relations, or any thing else to interfere with this
project until it shall have gone through the Senate Of the
United States.
confess sir that this is the proudest day except one
that have ever seen in the Senate of the United States
The proudest day that in the Senate ws the
day when that honorable Senator and another came into
this body representatives of American State IN the
shores of the Pacific II was the proudest d that
have ever seen in political life.
Next after it, think, is this day, which Sqator
from the Pacific ocean does what all then foiesaw
would be done by Senators from those regions call II up
to the work of extending Communications the and
our defence and protection around them and over
! Mr. CASS. Mr. President, think the exprv1tf8 e(
these general views viii be useful at any rate, wastp
course the measure may Jake ihsve already taken
cason say that estimates the value Of this road
higher than do; and within the constitutional powers
of this Government, all efforts should be directed to
its construction. But foresaw then and sated.nd
is still apparent now and will be yet appa-
from day daythat there is danger Of fritterng
away strength local questions the
minaton of the road.
With respect general idea of railroad to the Pa
cifc in favor of it, and shall vote for it cheer
fully but think cannot vote for this bill it is 1t
is entirely too magnificent for want road, and
for the present want one road and only road, for
is all get The great object is to get
direct steam communication between the Mississippi
the Pacific. do not where you touch the Misss-
sipp because, when you get there wherever you are
you will be in the centre of the country, and you
in day, two days, three days to almost any part
of it. My object therefore, is get direct road from
the Pacific to practicable point the Mississippi
wherever may be best do not know where the route
should be- have not the slightest idea in the world up
that point; at least have not such idea of the
pography of the country would justify in voting in
favor of particular route My impression is this
that general provision should be made in the b in gem
era terms for the by which the road is to be
sruced and then the details should be put upon the Ex
ecutive, and the Executive by proper commission, to
be appointed by the authority of law should ascertain
where the route ought to be- and the whole circumstances
connected with it.
That is my view. totally unprepared to vote upon
any particular route and most assuredy it requires
spirit of prophecy foreel that if you undertake to
make now, what the honorable Senator from Massachu-
sets says ten thousand miles of railroad instead of
making direct from the Mississippi the Pacific
you will have utter failure 1t cannot be done 1t is
great mistake to suppose that any such project be
accomplished now.
Mr.. GWIN. The Senator will permit me to say that 1
only propose five thousand miles Of railroad There WILL
however, be ten thousand miles Of travel.
Mr. CASS If we get direct line from st. Louis
Memphis to the Pacific distance of two thousand
miles, let select that Do not let send off branches
then in other directions, with other apparent object
than to gain strength The bill has strength enough
in the hearts Of the people and such will in
my opinion, weaken the project; for many men would
like to vote for the principle of the who would
desire to the public diverted favor par
ticular place What the honorable gentleman from Cali
forna wants. aud what all want is to unite the Pacific
with this part of the country We not want to dvergs
from point to another simply with view Of gaining
4 he temp
purpose All want is great road to bind US together
and gentleman express himself more strongly upoI
that subject than feel.
There some constitutional questions connected with
the construction Of this road which win up in the
Of discussion and they will require consideration
but the main object upon which nearly all agreed
is the establishment of road by within the
sttutonal powers of this Government. And we should
do it practically that is, in such that
ascertain the proper direction and the proper termin
and the proper mode These points, some of them
which must be regulated by statutory provision and
some, in my opinion, by Executive administration.
Mr.. BUTLER. Mr.. President, the great danger o
this project it seems to is its magnifcence and gran
deur. The idea Of having communication from the At
lanc to the Pacific ocean has its fascinaons doubt
but must be permitted to say that it also has its deu
sons have no idea that generation should antio
pate posterity. The project of the honorable Senator
from California is project which perhaps posery, ten
or twenty years from this time may accomplish; but
say that cannot vote blindolded upon such pro-
position without some knowledge my 1have every
confidence that he has given in the bill the best route
because it has the sanction Of his judgment and nvestga
ton The admirable speech which he has delivered has
convinced that he has bestowed attention upon
this subject than any Of certainly far than
have been able bestow upon it. But suppose has
been ntimated by the Senatorefrom Massachusetts,,
should turn out when you build the road that you have
nothing but the iron and rails laid down. you would
| be like the who built mill, and when he went
to turn it had no water / want something like re-
connoissance or survey want the opinion Of respon-
sble agents commissioners who may 90 out from this
Government; and want such information before me as
will enable me to see how far embark in enter
prise of this kind My motto, have often repeated
il in this body, far regards this progressive age is
cito ST to should like to know, in the first place
whether embark into this enterprise with the
tainty Of accomplishing it,
But do not mean to intimate that shall vote for the
BILL its practicabty be established because have
constitutional objections upon this point, which well
known the Senate. have however, been in this body
long enough to know that have survived the Consttu
on and that all projects of this kind to be effected
independent Of the Constitution If it is to be effected
independent Of the obligations Of the Constitution,
solves itself into question of legislative discretion
Then let have all the wisdom upon the subject
the wisdom which the light Of experience shed upon
il, and the light which intelligent men who may be
ployed to survey this route giveus
1t possible that may exert some influence th;
subject by my vote, because if there be difference be
tween routes, difference as TO project
ther, may cast my influence way the other.
may do so, and many of those who situated in the
same predicament with may be compelled to do
have not the least idea of embarng in this discussion
but think this is measure which requires attentive
consideration.
] II projects are to commend themselves to us by
and will immortaze the gentleman | do not know, as
said before several occasions, whether after awhile