The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-22

Nleksburg, on the Mississippi fver, railroads " e n
lanle They will be extended in few years, not merely
10 the southern ports OF Charleston and SayanAah pu'
also to Baltimore aud Washington. and other places
There is already company IN my own State WIN ap
pie for the purpose now actually al Work LOT tne
construction OF railroad IRON New Orleans 70 Poh'
the Red river about where this railroad WIN isave
There IS another company organized iof aiioau s,
more direct in Louisiana, with grant, which, WIN
such bills the Senate has passed heretofore, VIII GET
tanly accomplish direct communication irom .ha pon'
TO point opposite Vicksbarg. IN The Stale OF mss'ssp M
There is no doubt, then, that IN very SNORT uhe,
whether this bill passes not there Will Dc TWO afoaas
from the point. thereabous where this fafoaa woau
terminate There are projects OF similar fafoaus ~ M
kansas, also, with the precise state oil progress aue ~
which am not so well acquainted
We have right therefore, 10 assume, as tact aosl'
which there be doubt that railroads IRON lae AZ
lanlic are extended westward, will be extended 10
the OF two or three years to TINS point on tue eu
river, which is two hundred miles due west from
the line where il would cross at Memphis or vicksoufs
and now compare the distance from that point 10 the
point upon The Pacihc coast and venture 10 say
you will Gnd Il less than half the distance OF the
route conempted by The honorable senator from ohio'
[ Mr.. CHASE
Now, | would say to him that il he wishes TO afford
facilities to this northern section OF the country nothing
IL easy Than, as Is contemplated by this b 10 ex-
eBd branches from points upon this route to wherever
necessary to have them 60 The great object oil tbis
bill is provide for every neghbohood or section
OF couatry, but TO provide one great ihoroughiae we
cannot do everything at Let us do what we can,
however and what Is most necessary Tor us 10 nave
now We wish to get a point for the connexon upon
which all know 10 De c0nex-
ion with the vast navigation of the Gulf OF Mexico
and the Atlantic And the great object is TO get
safe and the cheapest possible from that point
to the Pacific. think il would leopard and perhaps
defeat the whole pan TO extend it SO tar north as pro-
posed by the honorable senator from Oho and, Tor one,
no reason it, The advantages of country the
the route proposed by this bill You thereby get eli
mate where you can travel IN all seasons OF the year,
you have country thai is already settled, which will
soon be settled. at all events 1t singular fact
upy rim luh Guh hal a inst al
from which II is proposed TO start westward with this
road what is called .the bend" in the Red river,
Fulton, Arkansas, the river changes lis course at right
angles and directly west for some 400 or 500 miles
extending through Texas towards New Mexico. And
told that the country along this route, along near
the valley Of this river admirably adapted to the
struc,ion of this road. And all know that the very
fact that a river runs 50 far in so straight line,
in direct gives every reason TO suppose
that such affords the greatest facilities tor the
construction of this road We all know that along the
valley OF this river, and along the valleys OF other rivers
there would be greater facilities Tor obtaining lumber and
water. And one OF the greatest difficulties 10 be encoun
cred in extenIng raroids from this side of the country
the other would be the want OF timber and large ex-
tent OF this country directly east oil the Rocky mountains
without it, and, general thing you would Ind more
timber along the and beds OF these streams than
elsewhere Now, the Red river runs In the direction
have staledamost due westior 30 great dslance un-
til you come the ncgbboThood OF New Mexico, II is
manifest that this road be constructed more cheapy
along the proposed by this b than along any other
Besides settlements already extended luTiher west al
United States am not so well informed upon this sub.
ject many other senators may be- but am told that
settlements rapidly extending along the Red river
MIR. SHIELDS would inquire oil the honorable SEN
ator from Louisiana, Mr. Downs, If he is acquainted
with the character Of the country and the pass oil the
through which is contemplated to construct
this road! Has he any definite information as TO the
character OF this passthe Great Pass believe is call
ede
Mr. DOWNS South Pass.
Mr.. SHIELDS. do not mean the South Pass, but the
mass acrOs, Sierra Maure mountains
Mr.. DOWNS am no, prepared with all the details
of information upon this subject But have no doubt,
from the general knowledge of the country which pos
sess that justified IN stating that as good II not
better pass be found in that quarter than further south
have not, however, all the details before me- because
this question comes upon me suddeny and not expecting
it. have prepared myself fully 10 meet ~ But
have doubt The honorable senator from California
can give all the necessary normauoa.
There are many other reasons which could be ad-
vanced against the proposition OF the honorable senator
from Ohio [Mr CHASE Those which have advanced
lew which upon the hrst1mpresslon struck me as
OF weight and conclusive against the feasibility of his
proposition. do not wish 10 have any sectional feeling
upon thus subject, and do not suppose that the honora
bic senator from ONO desired TO excite any by The intro
ducon Of his amendment | have no such feeling my
self upon this subject And II you will show more
practical in the United States than the this bill
proposes will have no objection 10 IL upon the ground
of sectional interests But object TO the proposed
by the honorable senator from ONO, because the face OF
the county, the climate, the distance, and evHything
else, is vastly IN favor OF the route proposed by this bill
agreed TO
Mr. BELL VIII the Chair have the kindness 10 state
the question pending What is the amendment OF the
honorable senator from Onol
The PRESIDENT The question is upon the follow.
ing amendment proposed by the honorable senator from
Ohio, [Mr CHAsE,l viz: To strike out, in the sth and
OH lines OF the fret section OF the bill, the words "on
the Red river, al or the southwest of Ar
KANSAS" and insert the words ION the Missouri river
not below Independence. in the State OF Missouri,
above kanesviIle, IN the Stale OF Iowa"
Mr. BELL do not wish TO take up the time OF the
Senate in saying word that will not lead tend al
least TO lead. practical result upon this subject But
would submit TO the honorable senator from Ohio,
admitting that he is right in supposng that the PROPOSE
on 10 limit The eastern terminus OF this road TO the
point, he chooses 10 call IL, upon the Red river
TOO sectional and exclusive whether his PROPOSE
ton, upon the other hand is equally SO! Both are
ourselves II proposition looks be'al, and in
conformity TO the requirements OF emgraoa, commerce,
and communication between the two great sections of the
United S,aes, does the other proposition also 10 be
beral, and not sufficiently conformed TO these require
ments and no, allowing sufficient discretion TO those who
may hereafter have the designation and location OF the
terminus Of this road--the eastern terminus. submit
that suggestion to the honorable senator for his consid
Grafton. | hope tha, will not come to vote upon
this question until alter serious refecoa and mature
upon the decision will probably depend the
question whether We are to have any road at all, else
two roads proceeding the same time, pari passu one
from the northeast and from the southeast attempt
ing TO scale these mountains at different places That s
the result 10 which you will probably be brought by the
proposition of the bonorab senator from ONO
Now submit to the honorable senator from Califor-
MIA and others who friends oil this bill it now
stands with its eastern terminus and lis western temi
nus and it's branches, il it would not be better 10 give