The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-06


other States have got
Mr.. SHIELDS But you accompany that grant with
no conditions, no embaIrassmenis,. We know that IN
Missouri Iowa, Illinois, and the frontier States generally,
iaads sufficient build roads This bill not only
gives land but gives in addition what is near sum
Gent to build the road without the land II gives up
wards OF $1,000 mile through the States TO TINS com
paay. and that absolutely But the gentleman says that
may be forfeited The land is given 10 lhemi the money
Is given to Them and when they reach ihat po'uoh "a
coaniry where II Will require ten tunes the amount u
money TO build the road that Will require ese"heie
that is, around the base OF The Rocky mounlalhs-w
they continue III VIII any say hat It is as easy ts
build roads around The base OF the Rocky mountains
through Missouri or Arkansas! Wheh uey Ieach theft
will they not have the lands and the money and can
they not abandon the whole enterprise ana would ihey
Mr.. RUsK Then the road would belong to the Uni
MIR. SHIELDS. believe that such will be the real
effect OF the bill it from the committee and if
would charge Improper motives, would say that such
was the intention OF the gentleman who framed it.
Mr. RUSK. Very well sir the bill will speak for
itself Its language express direct, and unequivocal
II cannot be mistaken by anybody. il provides that.
as soon as the company fail 10 comply with their
contracts, by not completing the number of miles for
which they contracted, all the road, with the running
machinery, everything that has been DONE together with
the telegraph line, shall be forfeited, and become the
property OF the government
Mr. BELL. Their bonds ALSO
Mr.. SEWARD called Tor the yeas and nays on his
amendment, and they ordered
Mr.. BUTLER. Mr.. President do not intend 10 take
up the time OF the Senate by entering into this argument
further, but to make this simple proposition Here is
an amendment coming from New York where capital
has accumulated, and where it is coming like
anche upon this country Perhaps the gentleman knows
OF that capital than do The effect of this amend
ment is to give to the company $50 oOo in addition
TO the $20,o0O000 already provided for And for what
The gentleman does not conne his views OF this subject
within the ordinary limits of ten or fifteen Or twenty
years. but he is 10 look into the State of California
history will disclose It's condition in 1908. What will
be the condition of California then? believe. il the
estimate has been properly made this amendment will
forh tV WARS Uiypy near lv nd hnk
II that be the case will give every temptation to stop
the road within the limits OF the States and not carry
thing brought forward here; but money is to be appro
priated much prefer that il should be Appropriated fairly
openly and honoaby and none OF your cloaks OF 5000
mile for fifty years Tor SO many miles.
Mr.. BELL. ! would call attention to the fact that in
the way the bill now stands we give these lands for the
road and for the road over the Territories we require
the company only TO carry the mails daily. but our
troops and munitions OF war free OF CHARGE Now, how
we to give adequate compensation Tor carrying
these supplies through the Sates Can you stop them
the boundaries of the States and there reshp
hem some other line? Ii you do not, you will have
pay whatever The charter Of The State company may
rquire. Now,is it not perfectly fair that this encour-
agement should be given II puts the whole road on
par IN regard to carrying the troops and munitions OF war
and the mails
country gaze them; let the country this wholesale
species OF legislation, which is in fact, leapng 10 the
dark Gentlemen ask Tor money, and The more they ask
for the likely they to carry This bill. am sur
prised that The honorable senator from New York did
ask 1000 instead of 5000 mile if be had done
that-excep. that perhaps 1t would have shocked some
to carry through this bD 10 carry 1t than IN lis pres
ent form.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. | do not intend to vote, as at
presen, advised for the amendment of the senator from
New York. Mr. SEWARD j and will assign my reasons.
Suppose the Stale of Missouri Arkansas should build
I, road from the Mississippi TO its western boundary
say three hundred miles long This amendment would
require the the State doing that of $50 900
year from the treasury Tor transporting The mail upon IT.
although there might be connexion from It's terminus
On the western line of the State TO the Pacific. That
would be the result, in certain state OF things, OF
The adoption of he amendment. | am not willing
that we should be placed IN such position. ! be-
leve that if you were TO give such bonus, secur
ing TO Arkansas or Missouri SlS0,000 year Tor ma
king three hundred miles OF railroad, II would be
advantageous speculation Tor either OF them, and
that OF them would soon begin 10 build the road
We should probably be required 10 pay annually that
amount for carrying The mail on line along which there
would not perhaps be single saddlebag full OF mail
matter. The value oil tue road for mail purposes
sisis in having continuous line TO the Pacific. The
provides that the money shall be paid when
either of these States shall have made the road to its
western boundary, without regard TO connexon with
that part OF the road 10 be constructed through the Terri
tories and through California, and which may not be fin.
ished for age after the State has completed the road
TO its western boundary. cannot vote for such an
amendment
Sir il il useless for the friends OF the bill TO consume
any more time about it. did not vote against laying
on the table, because am convinced the bill has been
rendered inefficient by the amendments already adopted
4 Ola not vote lOf IL on
willing yet further 10 indulge my friends IN their efforts
TO make something out OF IT, think that those OF us
who have IN good faith endeavored to make pract
cable measure may now give II up, and throw the re-
sponsiby upon those who have destroyed it. | per-
ceve that my friend from Tennessee Mr. BELL has al
ready thrown out considerations which TO enter into
subsequent elections in reference TO this matter, and
other gentlemen begin 10 see II IN the same light.
think that appeal to the people is our only remedy.
Mr. BUTLER. Then move TO lay il on the table.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. No, sir; | will not take that
course at this time because from the vote Just taken,
perceive many OF the friends of the bill II originally
stood seem desirous consider and act upon il,
something valuable might yet be done.
Now, sr want TO present some considerations W hich
are think worthy OF examination. Take the road at
only thousand miles in length-it will be more than
that-but take it at two thousand miles, which is the
most favorable estimate OF distance which you put
upon To sustain those arguments which design TO
Suppose its length 10 be two thousand miles, how
much did the bill of my friend from Texas pro-
pose to give gov rnment stock 10 aid IN its consruc
ton Twenty millions, divided by two thousand, gives
you only $40 900 mile. His bill, therefore, proposed TO
pay $4,000 mile, according to that estimate OF the dis
lance; and ii also proposed that these $4,000 per mile
should be paid pdri pasu with the construction of the
road. so that when fifty miles are finished $500 900
shall be paid, and on. What die the land clause in
my friends bill propose give have made calcula
ton most favorable for The opponents OF the bill II
gives twelve sections In the Territories, and SIX sections
depth in the States have, IN my calculation, taken
il at twelve sections all the way through, without regard
to the fact that in the States IL is only half that quantity
IL you take twelve sections deep side, that will
be equal to alternate sections OF twelve miles on each
sde, whehs proposed by The bull. That makes only
fifteen millions three hundred and sixty thousand
OF land. Suppose it is worth 81 IS an acre and sc-
cordn9 10 the arguments have heard here, IL not
worth hall That It's worth hardly anything. according