The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-18

nUIlcy
for the construction OF railway Some doubtless
there IN this chamber. who ready 10 contend
that we had better give them fifteen millions oil acres
OF land 10 become homeseads for the landess and
homeless. What is this twenty millions in money, and
how is 1t TO be paid Ii is supposed that the road
cannot be constructed in less then i've years. Ia that
event, bonds OF the government the amount of -four
millions of dollars will issue annually Probably the
road will not be built III less than ten years, and that
will require an issue OF bonds amounting to two mil
lions year; aud possibly the road may not be finish
ed in lees than twenty years which would limit the
annual issue OF bonds 10 million The interest
upon these bonds al five per cent, will OF course
have be paid out OF the treasury, treasury in which
there is a surplus OF twelve or fourteen mil
lions of dollars. When the road completed and the
whole amount OF twenty millions in lands paid, ma
king the whole sum advanced by the government forty
millions, the annual interest upon them will only be two
millions. And what is that Why, sir. the donations
and beneyoences the allowances OF claims upon fmsy
and untenabe grounds and other extravagant and un
necessary expenditures that granted by Congress and
the executive departments while you have overflow.
ing treasury Will amount 10 the hall OF that annual
ly The enormous sum OF two millions is proposed to
be paid out OF The treasury annually when this great road
shall be completed Ii is Tremendous undertaking. tru-
ly! What scheme What extravaganza! | under
sucled principally by private enterprise, has been not
less than thirty millonsbeween thirty and thirty tire
millions OF dollars. That work was constructed by the
resources OF single State giving aid occasionally 10
company which supplied the balance OF the cost. un
derstand that the road from Baltimore 10 Wheeling when
Il shall have been finished and lis furniture placed upon
Soo'
ness what extravaganza, then, Is IL Tor the government
OF the United States TO undertake 10 expend forty mil
lions for road from the Mississippi to the Pacific
Mr. President, honorable senator says the amount
is not sufficient to induce capitalist to invest his money
in the enterprise Others again. say it is far too much
than afford TO give for the construction OF
the work. Let us see which is right The government
is TO give twenty millions IN all out oil the treasury for
the roads we issue bonds. and pay five per cent inter-
est annually upon them, and twenty millions in lands,
which amounts TO cost TO the government OF two mll
lions per annum
What are the objects to be accomplished A daily
mail from the valley OF the Mississippi the Pacific the
free transportation of all troops and munitions of
CURED for The protection and defence OF possessions
ON the Pacific, which we could not bold three months in
war either with England or France without such a
road BY building this road accomplish this further
object This road will be the effective and powerful
check that be nieposed by the government against
Indian depredaons and aggessons upon frontiers or
upon each oterthe noEtern Tribes upon the southern,
and the southern upon the northern. You cut them III
two. You will be constantly in their midst, and oi
their INSTRUMENTATION and hostile depedations You
will have line OF quasi Notifications, line OF posts and
stations, with settlements on each side OF the road Ev
cry few miles you will thus have settlements strong
enough TO defend themselves against ntoads OF the In
dams, and constituting wall OF separation between
the Indian tribes composed OF white population, with
their hands This object alone would perhaps be
worth much the road will cost; and when speak
OF what the road will be worth in this respect, mean to
say that besides the prevention OF savage warfare The
eHusion OF BLOOD II will millions OF dollars TO the
treasury annually, in the greater economy attained IN
moving troops and military supplies and preventing hos
tiltes.
have said thai this road when completed will cost the
government annual expenditure OF two millions of
dollars have said that one OF the objects secured by
this road will be daily mail between the mississippi
and California. What do you pay now Tor the trans.
mission OF the semimonthly mail between the Atlantic
and Pacific coasts About 100000 annually, and you
semi-monlhly mails TO Europe and back, even after de
Quoting all The proceeds you receive from hostages The
two together amount TO about Sl,750,oOo
But TO repeat part OF the Argument, honorable
more in land. BE II so. That ~, you grant lands
which will be worth that amount, only because the
road passes through them, and which you could IN no
other way realize that aVount out of them But set
down the lands granted 10 be equivalent TO $4,000,
600 al this time, and upon which interest will have TO be
paid out OF the treasury when the road is completed
that will make the whole annual charge against the gov
eminent two millions In return for this the govern
ment gets daily mail over the whole extent OF the
road--all troops and munitions oil war transportedEa
saving in the quareTmasieTs department OF the army
alone OF at least million OF dollars aud besides these
advantages, the commerce Of the whole country extend
eds the whole interior OF the continent settled and made
productive peace preserved with the Indian tribes, and
the Union cemented and bound together by bands OF
One further idea ~ regard to The transmission OF the
mails is worthy Of notice What would il cost TO get
weekly mail by the routes now IN use between the AT
lanc and the Pacific | appfehend II would cost as
much more annually. the interest upon the whole
$4,000 900 proposed TO be given for this railroad.
ing the lands as money. memorandum has Just been
handed 10 me, stating that contract has been recently
made for four hundred and odd thousand dollars carry
The mail from New Orleans 10 San Francisco. by way
OF Vera Cruz and Acapulco. That would make the
whole charge for carrying a weekly mail from the At
lanc To the Paclhc alter making all the deductions from
the hostages, SllO0 900 At the rate oil charge,
daily mail could not be carried for less than ss,000,
600.
have been thus partic alar in noting these things, be-
cause want TO show where which side the balance
will be found in the adjustment OF the responsibility ac
count between the trends and the opponents oil this
ure-whch will have the heaviest amount TO settle with
their country.
For myself, am not welded TO this particular scheme
Rather than have road would prefer TO adop, other
projects. am advocating which supposed
than any other think great honor is due 10 Mr.. Whit
ney for having originated The scheme, and having OBJ
tanned the sanction OF the lag satsres OF seventeen or
eighteen States OF the Union. Rather than have the
project fail would be willing to adopt his pao. 1t may
not offer the advantages for speedy consummaon
OF the work bat still we would have road in prospect
and that would be great deal But II gentlemen to
rise here in their places year after yearand this is the
Nth year from The time we ought 10 have undertaken
this work--and tell US IT is just time TO commence
survey. we will never have road. The honorable sen
ator from South Carolina lMr BUTLER says there ought
TO be some limitation in this idea of progress when
garded spur to great activity and energy in gen
Grafton, wha, shall do IN our day. He says we
have acquired California; have opened mp those rich
regions western borders, which promise such mag
nihcent resnts and he asks not that enough for the
present generation Leave II 10 the next generation 10
construct work OF such magnitude as hIs-requnng
forty millions OF dollars from the government Mr. Pfesi
dent, have said that II the condition road no
road, would regard one hundred and fifty millions OF
dollars well laid out by the government for the work
though have idea that it will take such amount
Eighty or one hundred millions OF dollars will build the
road
But with regard to what is due from this generation 10