The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-29


that Of the senator from California is, that MIR Whitney
goes rather inlo detail than that senator does
Here is The paper 10 which allude
The memorial Of John Plumbe to the Congress Of the
United States co aans the 1owng Illustrations on this
The following brief letter. which has been repeatedly
published has been satisfactorily and il
therefore presumed that Mr Whitney is unable 10 conro.
vert the general correctness Of It's contentsi
BosroS, September TO- Is49.
TO The CHAMBER Of Commerce, NeW York.
GENTLEMEN We observe that YOU reeomm Whit
neys plan ios railroad to the Pacific We had prevous
understood that were Ia favor OF plan that would
insure the use OF the road to The present generation.
you be kind explain how The Of the road
be obsaned for The present generation by Whneys
plant
lie proposes first build miles of road and (by
the sale OF ands 10 create the means OF building tho
at year bud The first miles, then year
sell the land then three to gethis pay
Thus az the end OF hive years. he viii be prepared (money
in hand) TO build the next ten miles,
According this OF live successive years for each
years make Thousand hundred and fifty miles
of railroad! Il by stretch OF imagnation) it should be
and within the year sell hi, land and get his pay
then will take one hundred and seventy years to
build one thousand seven hundred miles OF railroad.
an sui" ''p' W" ''"he' WILLIAM INGALLS,,
Il. H. DERBY,
]. O. DUNN,
s. 5.f 3 4 As RffEASD'
So SIR q. the senator's plan in reference to Ne means
is Identical and the same with Mr. Whiineys-lhal is
that the road shall be built from the proceeds OF the land
alone According the most liberal estimate furnished
from this letter, il will take 10 years TO complete the
road and that will bring you as before said. 10 the
wear 2023 The adoption OF the senator's bill will have
the effect to postpone the completion of the road TO
that time; therefore am opposed to Ito the means
but not the route. For that reason denominate this
scheme as humbug and not wishing to see the time OF
the Senate wasted in this discussion of Cpractcabe
scheme have made motion 10 refer 1t to the select
committee that has been appointed by the Senate, and
which has taken cognlZance OF this matter nave
done ii produce something practical that will meet
The sanction Of the Senate do not believe that any
senator OF this body bring forward any proposition u
this kind that will receive the sanction OF the majority
Of this BODY until il goes beforea committee composed OF
members who represent the interests that Will be al
fected byl- han v,,o ao..., Tho
reference OF this bill special committee OF TINS body,
because deem entirely unnecessary Ihey have
bill before them n9W anT aG hn ms 70 s say Whole
before them Just much would II we had this bill
before u.s. At the time made the motion TO refer that
bill stated as one OF the why did So tina, we
might be enabled by discussion and the interchange Of
opinion upon this bill to so frame ours as 10 views
OF the Senate The committee could make out bill but
il passes and becomes law il is not only by the votes
Of the Senate but by the votes OF the House OF Repre-
sentatives And do not know how others will feel,
but have been considerably instructed this morning by
the desultory discussion upon this BILL pressed OH as
has been by other business till near the hour OF three
o'clock have learned what will be important to me,
and what have do that special committee, by the
discussion winch mas taken pldCe
facts very important be taken into consideration by
the committee, have been mentioned by the honorable
senator from Missouri, Mr.. GEYER,l having some con-
nexon with the right which the government is to have
in this road.
regret to hear Mr.. President, much about imprac.
cabe schemes and much doubt expressed about this
road ever being built Long calculations have been
made to the time which it will take to build ii. Sir,
the road can be built-it can be built promptly.
Mr.. BADGER. And must be built.
Mr. RUSK hope so. | wish could use language
"a hat believe building this road
would accomplish the greatest service TO the country In
the first place. the construction OF this road will more
than double your domestic commerce II will bring into
existence deal of industry and enterprise that 9TH
erwse will remain dormant II will add to that inter-
course which you have and that important position which
you have upon the Pacific ocean. Ii will make the two
portions OF the country have the same attachment that
adjacent portions have to this government; aud with
out il you cannot expect that attachment to exist II
will save millions upon million OF capital that is now
going out TO be invested in making communication
through foreign counlries-,hrouEh territories that do
not belong TO us-dlverng our people and making them
pass through unhealthy climates. II will save hundreds
upon hundreds of lives simply in the passage between
the portions OF the country. More than that, in the
construction OF this road which perfectly Practicable
you do more towards putting thus country in stale OF
defence and guaranying lis safety than you do by all
the resolutions and declarations which you may make
Sir, there enough in this country-and that fact
is as we'll known to all foreign governments as II IS TO
u.s. and perhaps little beuer-ihere men enough,
physical force enough, to defend against the combined
governments oil the world We are able 10 repel any as
TO concentrate forces at points where they are de-
aTed.
And, sir, IL we want peace-and am for peace-peace
is the mission OF this county, and would go great
ways TO preserve it'll we want peace this measure will
be OF vast importance in that respect The interest OF
mankind and human liberty itself. in my opinion de-
Ponds great deal upon peace IN this country, IN order 10
develop immense and mighty resources. And IN
order ha, peace the best plan 10 have no
posed positions TO admit an enemy AT present we have
them, and everybody knows it, The world knows, and
is therefore useless 10 deny. that we have exposed
Eons, and those OF the most tempting kind 10 the cupid
ty Of other governments. How long could we defend
California in case OF declaration OF war Coud we
defend her for proirac,ed war, with strong maritime
power against us We cannot march troops there. 1t
is utterly out OF the question. Sir you not defend
are hundreds and thousands of my fellow citizens ex-
posed 10 the tomahawk and scalpng knife Tor want OF
defence from the government, while you have ample
physical force and means of every description. and only
want the means OF communication After the constrnc-
ton OF this railroad. how long will it take to throw phys
cal force into California Five days. How long will
take you TO ascertain here at the seat OF government
what necessities may exist IN your Pacific regions Why,
SIR, will take but few minutes Telegraph wires,
matter OF course. will follow the line OF this road
and you can thus communicate with California in few
minutes and be able TO send necessary the hardy yeo
many OF the interior, in case OF attack to any point
where II may be necessary TO defend the country.
Under these circumstances, trust that honorable
bers OF this Senate will take this matter into serious
consideration, and not indulge calculations TO show
that this plan is totally lmpracticabe, without bringing