Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-21
DEFERRED DEBATE In SENATE,
RAILROAD TO THE PACIFIC.
THURSDAY, JANUARY ID.


stabish telegraph line and overland mail TO California
nd Oregon, for which the Senator from California Mr
iwIS) has proposed substitute.
Mr.. RUSK. l hope the honorable Senator viii for
moment withdraw that amendment
Mr.. GWIN. i withdraw IT.
Mr.. RUSK. This bill has been regularly printed and
read and 1t is upon the calendar No believe
desires to discuss it. There is amendment pending TO
that bill which provides for the construction OF railroad
The friends of the special order do not seek have the
action OF the Senate uyon it, When we made II the spe
cal crSer, could reach the bill proposed by the
Senator from California in consequence Of its not being
printed The object at the time was to make the Dill
authorizing the construction Of railroad and branches
aor establishing certain postal communication between
the shores OF the Pacific and Atlantic within the United
States for the protection and facilities of travel ana com
merce and for the necessary deences of the country
the special order therefore move, by unanimous con-
sent, that the bin which made the special order DE
laid aside and that which have mentioned substituted
in its place.
No objection made and the Senate proceeded, as
in Committee of the Whole to consider the bill designated
by Mr.. RUsK
Tit proposes with the view of securing the speedy con-
sructon of railroad and branches connecting the Mis-
sissppi river with the Pacific ocean, at suitable points,
that the President of the United States shall be author
lied enter into for the construction of rail-
road from point Red river at the southwest
of the State of Arkansas, the most direct and
feasible route and if practicable with branch to the
Gulf coast and through the State of Texas to point
the eastern boundary of the State of California and from
points on the western boundary of Missouri and Iowa.
mot within the limits Of any existing State the
direct and feasible route to ntsect that road and with
track departing from that line at point west Of the
Sierra Nevada, Rocky Mountains safe and
modous harbor in the Territory of Oregon For this pur
pose the bill proposes to set apart forever right of
two hundred feet WIDE and quantity Of land equal to
the alternate sections for the space of forty miles each
side Of the road and IFS branches is appropriated to aid
in their construction And for the purpose of facilitating
the extension of that road eastward from its terminus
Red river two lines through the State of Arkan
sas and the other through the State of louisiana
at the Mississippi river with the several lines
of railroads in process of construction between the
Mississippi and the Atlantic board, like quantity Of
land be granted to the States of Arkansas and Lou
isiana And like grant of land is TO be made to the
States of Iowa and Mississippi for the purpose offacat
the extension of the road and its branches eastward
from the terminus the Missouri river lines the
through the State of Iowa. and the other through the
State Of Missouri connect with the principal lines
in process of construction between the Atlantic
board, the lakes, and the Mississippi river.
like grant of hand to be given to the State of Cali
forna facilitate the extension of each of the roads and
branches westward from the boundary of Calfor
mia safe and commodous harbors which shall be at all
times accessible TO the largest class Of going vessels
navigating the Pacific These grants of land
be made to the States of Louisiana Arkansas Texas
Missouri and Iowa, condition that they will commence
the roads within their respective States within year
succeeding the first session of the Legislature after the
passage of this act and complete them within five years
California allowed ten years for the accomplishment of
her portion Of the work Another condition that the
United States mail is to be carried these roads for
ever free of charge the Government and also all troops
seamen, arms munitions of war; military and naval stores
and all funds and property belonging the United States
and all persons official business in their employment
Mr. 9WIN. Mr.. President at the beginning of the
present session gave notice that would introduce the
bill under consideration for the construction Of rail
road to unite the Atlantic and Pacific frontiers of the Re-
public, and which, with its branches, shall reach from the
great inland of the north and the forty ninth para
lei to the Gulf Of Me1ico and the twenty degree
north latitude.
without parallel in the history of the world and yet it
continues to be eminenty progressive The human mind,
not content with its astonishing rumphs in every depart
ment OF natural science aud in the uttaran still
exertng its ceaseess and working energies
Their to UNFOLD the of nature seize and apply
every principle her kingdom that
aid In asserting the triumph Of mind matter Public
opinion enlightened by the extraordinary discoveries Of
the last quarter of century, abandoning enterprises
which previous age had regarded works of advanced
civilization.
The old posth and system of travel
mail communication is abandoned The country track
has yielded the turnpike and road whilst these in
turn are every where giving way to the railroad which
Notwithstanding the progress IL has already made yet
destined produce results to the webeing Of society
moral mental and political-to effect revolution in
great agricultural and manufacturing interests in
trade domestic and foreign that is impossible for i'm
agnation to estimate or predict.
The enlightened nations OF Europe, well Ameri-
pressing forward in this march of improvement
The spirit of the age demands the utmost Of human
erges in this great work Before this iron revolution Of
science natural obstacles vanshng rocks
yated mountains cut in two pierced at their bases ;
valleys leyelled up rivers spanned and mind acting
upon mind is striving to effect discoveries TO
hasten the speed Of the steam-engne and obtain still
greater rumphs in the rapidity Of transit and facilities
of INSTRUMENTATION
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland il
pierced and intersected Numerous directions by the
improved railways and the iron horse, glowing under hi
fiery impulse is there speeding his way by day and by
night at the rate Of twelve hundred miles in twenty
hours. The Governments Of Belgium, France, Prussia
Austria Russia and Italy alive to the Importance Of
securing to their people the benefits Of rapid transit
INSTRUMENTATION and steadily pushing forward tn
great work Of road reformation, whilst SPAIN and ever
the Sublime Porte have become aroused to the mpor
Of the subject.
And what have citizens done in this respect By
Of individual enterprise and State assistance W.
have in the North the Albany Buffalo, and Boston routes
the New York and Ere the Michigan Central and South
ern; then in the Middle States have the Pennsyya
MIA Central the Baltimore and Ohio the Cincinnati and
81 Louis; in the Southern States the Virginia and Ten
nessee, the Cincinnati and Tennessee the Alabama
Tennessee, the Gulf and Western Atlantic the Central
Georgia and Macon with various branches direct and
tera running andfrom the Atlantic the great Lakes
towards the Gulf coast and the Mississippi river besides
the great Mobile and Ohio and the Illinois Central rail
road, the last two forming chain running from til,
Gulf OF Mexico on the south 70 Lake Michigan on tho
north and the others taking the direction generally from
east to west
These routes actual and in progress will form mag
nicent net work OF railways stretching from
the capital of Maine, the northeastern State
this Union, through New Hampshire Vermont Massachu
sets, Rhode Island Connecticut New York New JERSEY
Pennsylvania, Delaware Maryland Virginia. North Care
Lima, and South Carolina Georgia into Florida throug
Alabama, into Mississippi TO Louisiana through OH,
Michigan, Wisconsin Indiana, Illinois Kentucky and Ter
lv havin ~