The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-10


think we may assume that they satisfied thai we
could get bill for the road otherwise Ii has been
suggested 10 out OF the Senate may lLot be made
question for scientific corps 10 decide which Is really
the best one s'No" say because there is ter
minus far superior IN It's advantages 10 the country
all others that is likely that any scientific board
body would unite and then u hey did unite. the agu
men would be used TO show that there very little diff
ference between that terminus and one north OF THAI
one south of it, We ALL therefore, agreed that the only
feasible project 10 report bill without giving Con-
gess the power, making 1t necessary Tor them 10
| lect the road,
Then the question was as we decided. that Congress
could not now, and never could. agree upon it-who
should designate the lermln OF the road The commit.
lee the conclusion, after some discussion aud dill
ference OF opinlon-if may speak upon that subject
that the President was the proper authority TO decide
under influences, and the country would have full
confidence in board of officers Indicated by the
from South Carolina. He seemed to think that the
influence must operate upon every gentleman and upon
every scientific board, and upon every officer We
thought that il might. We thought that the President
(being the highest in power being President already,
the measure OF his ambition being probably full--his
character being so elevated) would be the least
likely Of all public functonares 10 under the SIM
lister influences of capitalists, or what not that he would
have his character, his fame, 10 consolidate by doing
justice to the Whole country, proudly independent OF all
| Influences whatever personal or political
The honorable senator from South Carolina says that
the President may be liable to influences So he may.
Where, then, would he place the locating power Would
he give it to Congress Why, sir in his very argument
did he not advert the influences OF capitalists in the
two houses oil Congresseven the inside influences OF
eapal~for he said Capitalists would find way into this
body Other senators have spoken distinctly and
canddly of the outside influences OF capitalists, The
honorable senator from South Carolina named the large
steamboat navigation companies, and the powerful n-
/ fuences which they WELD He says that our bill has
conflicting provisions. The honorable senator's argu-
ment conf cng in its terms, and not only is his agu
ment conflicting, but is that OF the honorable senator
from Georgia, Mr. DAwsoN.l They all conflicting
When you bring II to this body, we say that II will mol
be likely 10 be free from Influences, political or
otherwise, than the President himself, the Secretary
OF War We thong bt The President least OF all likely 10
be controlled by such inf fences, aud therefore the com
mee placed II upon the President II Is true the nom
oiable senator from Indiana Mr.. BRIGHT thinks II a
very great hardship that the back OF The President elect
should be bnrened with The great railroad from the Mis-.
sssipp 10 the Pacific. with all lis running gear and app
paratus IN addition TO his other great duties and ne pro
tests against the burden being placed upon him Sir
the Incoming President is moi my choice Tor President
lie was The choice OF the honorable senator from In
diana Does The senator fear TO trust his integrity |!
Does he lear trust his rmness and bodness in doing
great act OF patriotism for the country, and upon sound
and pure principles locating this road when he sees that
Congress will not and never can, do II! Is ne man
that would shrink from such responsibility II he is
he Is not fit to be Presiden, OF The United States.
But II Is said he will not have time 10 examine all the
surveys reported TO him | suppose he will not He
must have confidence in some man, as we must have
just the committee said whatever may be the nagni-
tude and responsibility OF the trust, must put conf
deDce somewhere. The President is unit He can de-
eide IT, Nobody gainsay his decision il we vest him
with the authority Congress will no, and cannot agree
upon line OF thousand miles from the borders OF the
valley OF the Mississippi There is conflict OF local in.
terests at every stephereore we cannot agree. The
President is unit He can determine. We must trust
some one. We think we can trust him and there il
more safety In trusting OF his position than mill.
tary board, scientific board, a Secretary of War
any body else The placing of the power In the hands
OF the President, therefore, was necessity we want
the road, for we never get it otherwise My friend
from Massachusetts says that ought not 10 be objected
by honorable senators the other side that give
much trust TO the Presidents for the people have shown
il is matter OF necessity II we could decide among
ourselves, would prefer IT, as the direct representatives
of States and the people; but cam every
atoPs experience tells him.
Having decided that are not 10 undertake TO desg-
nate the ,emin that Congress do it, and that
think the President is the only proper tribunal that
do II, what was the next question that The chairman OF
the committee propounded'l "How shall this road be
bull !" And here again the honorable senator from South
Carolina will find his own arguments conflicting, as he
says the provisions OF this bill conflict, and will the
other senators who have spoken his side How shall
we budn Shall II be done by the government OF the
United States after the proper Reconnaissance and
veys Shall the President locate the route, and APP
pfoprlae sufficient money! Shall the President appoint
ensaeers supernendents and agents oil every descr-
uon TO furnish provisions aud iron, aud timber! The
ration, and to give II monopoly and an enormous profit
and honorable senator's in their places, and others
ont OF them, have said that il will be the most supen.
dous lobbing monopoly that created by this or
by any other government IN the world. Why give II to
| company What do senator's mean appeal to hon
orable senators who that argumen,do mean 10
say that the government ought 10 undertake 1t You
Just now objected TO throwing the immense power the
President 10 locate it, and yet you say government ought
to do it, Will the honorable senator from Pennsyl.
vana who has had full experience OF what bis State has
done IN the construction OF roads, and the management
OF Them, say the government ought to do Senators
from every quarter give experience OF the
kind In the management OF such Affairs by Their several
States.
| know the honorable senator from Georgia thinks
Georgia is TO these things and manage roads very
well We do not know yet how that will turn out IN
the end but every where else, excepting Georgia think
may undertake TO say the experiment has failed Then
would cay 10 those gentlemen II you think the govern.
ment ought to undertake IT, what becomes OF your
gument-used think by the senators from Georgia and
Pennsylvania, well as the from South Carroll
na-against besiowing such enormous patronage upon
the Presldentl II the committee bad made such propo-
sltion, there would have been a great oucry; IL would
not have been unanimous, but think it would have
come IRON all but those who have the highest and NOS.
pecia confidence IN the Executive OF the United States
and the bill would have been crushed III we had
proposed 10 give the Executive the appointment OF the
superintendent, directors. agents. clerks, and what not,
OF such line OF road 1t would have been said that il
was an enormous increase of patronage, and Il would
not have been adopted IN this chamber Yet they object
TO giving to anybody else that is the argument OF the
honorable senators IN part. would like 10 have them
say in whose hands you should deposile this power.
body; we must have faith in TO some extent; we
must have faith in institutions, and thought
ought to trust the President for il could not trust
BIN, whom could we trustl
Then thought 1t better TO put the road in the hand,
Of private enterprise, which had direct interest in it,