The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-03

no longer fit to be intrusted with the business
of the country. He seemed to think that hence
forth every important question should be re-
ferred to the discretion of the Executive. Sir,
| have as much confidence in the incoming ad-
mnistration, dare say, as other Senator'S.
look to the Executive, soon to be inaugurated
for wise prudent, benefcent, skilful conduct
Of our public affairs but am not one of those
VINO propose to abdicate our constitutional
functions in favor of any President. believe
it is the duty of Congress to make the laws,
and it is the duty of the Executive to execute
the laws. am not willing to confer upon the
President Of the United States, under any cir
cumstances, and least of all when no end of
great practical Importance is 10 be attained by
so doing, the power Of organizing corporation
such as that provided for by this bill am
not willing TO place at his disposal fund 80
enormous Why, this bill provides for an APP
preparation of twenty millions of dollars in the
first place, and then, in addition to that, for
the appropriation Of fifteen millions Of acres of
land, at the lowest estimate of money and
value offers to the company which you pro-
pose to incorporate by its provisions, forty mil
lions of dollars. The capital of the company
must be at least one hundred millions The
road cannot be undertaken with less than
that Now, am not disposed to create such
corporation, and furnish two-fifths of it's CAPT
tai, substantially as bonus to insure the con-
struction of the road
1t is said by the honorable Senator from
Texas, that this amount of forty millions is only
to be appropriated as the work proceeds
Grant it but still the road is to become the
property of this corporation, and they are to
have the forty millions. 1t makes no differ.
ence, 80 that the road is built whether the for
ty millions be paid at the commencement or
on the completion of the road The only OBJ
Ject OF withholding payment is to insure the
construction of the road
Now, why should we not avail ourselves of
the information to be derived from these sur
veys and explorations! Why legislate in I'D.
vance OF the information essential to prudent
legislation! DO Senators say we cannot legis-
late even with full information before us 2
Every one admits that we have at present no
sufficient information in regard to the different
routes by which a road may be made to con-
meet the valley of the Mississippi and the Pa
citc ocean. That is true We have no suii-
cient information at present. We know very
little as to the New Mexican route, uia Albu-
querque, and through Walkers Pass We
know still less, perhaps, as to that other route
which goes up the Arkansas and through the
South Park. We are best acquainted with
third route, which goes through the South Pass
And we know one thing that though the New
Mexican route seems to have received the spe-
cal attention of Government, and has had the
favor OF more extensive explorations by Gov
eminent officers than any other, the voluntary
explorations OF the people the emigrating
masses whose travel has made highways to
California and Oregon, through the heart of
the contncnt-have been through the South
Pass. What emigrant has ever voluntarily
travelled from the Mississippi river to San
Francisco by Albuquerque, by Zuni by the
Colorado, and by Walkers Passg
My friend from Arkansas says people have
travelled from the Rio Grande to the Pacific
through Walkers Pass, and found it good
route. | am strongly inclined to the opinion
that If lac will examine carefully the facts he
relies on, he will be apt to correct his impress
sion that the route he refers to is the same with
that designated in the bill of the Senator from
California which is the ono am speaking Of
But however this may be, the fact remains
beyond question, that the great route of emi-
grafton ~ that through the South Pass. Let
It not be said, however that 1 am urging any
said as an argument in favor OF the northern
route, or OF the middle route, or of the southern
route. | am only stating these facts to show
that we have not sufficient information to en-
able US to determine the proper route now
And If wo have not, the President has not
What, then, should be donel Obviously, what
any prudent practical man, having q similar
private enterprise in hand, would do ascer-
tain tho host Ia Ia H..
mini. IL it shall be found that those termini
are Memphis on the one side, and San Fran
cisco on the other, and that the best route is
through Walkers Pass, ! pledge myself to 20
heartily and cheerfuly for that route. If on
the other hand, it be found that another route
and another terminus in the Mississippi valley
are demanded by the public interests, am
willing TO trust the sense Of public duty, which
must govern the decisions of every Senator, for
the right decision in favor of the best route |
go, and | believe the Senate will go, for the
cheapest, safest, most direct and most expcdi-
tious route no matter where it u.s.
Mr.. President, this is no sectional question.
BY no ingenuity, by no process of torture even,
can it be converted into a sectional question
No man expects more northern terminus for
this road than Independence, Missouri Well,
Missouri is identified, by her institutions, with
the Southern States; and if you look at the
map you will 6nd that this town of lndepend-
ence is nearer to the Gulf of Mexico than il il
to the northern border of Minnesota or Mich.
igan* ! repeat then, this 10 no sectional cues
ton. The word sectional ought never to be
uttered in connection with this road. Let us
ascertain the proper termini and the proper
route, and make the road where it ought to he
made.
Mr.. President, this amendment contem plates
another object and one, in my judgment of
very great Importance. That very provision in
it which has been especially denounced by the
Senator from Connecticut seems to me to be |
the one which ought especially to recommend
it to the Senate. The bill of the Select
Committee proposes to give $40, 900 900 out
right to the corporation to be created. This
amendment provides, on the contrary for re-
celving proposals from individuals and compa-
MES for the construction of the road The Sem
ator asks, who will make proposals under the
when they know nothing about
the route! Let me ask, in retarn, who will
make proposals under this bill, IL they know
nothing about the routel The objection, If
valid at ALL is fatal to the bill as we'll az to the
amendment But we all know that proposals
are made and works undertaken upon general
only. 1t is very easy for a compa-
ny to determine what amount of money or land
will form sufficient inducemcnt to embark the
necessary capital in the construction OF road
between certain termni, and on a given route,
without minute information as to the precise
amount Of excavation or embankment requir-
I'd, or the exact measurement Of every curve
and grade
What is wanted is q general exploration and
survey, general information Us to the charac.
fNoTR-I annex some measurements, made at
my request by friend
Independence Is $50 miles from the Gulf Of Mexico
our southern boundary.
Independence Is CTS miles from the northern
boundary Of Minnesota, aud 900 miles from tho
northern boundary Of Michigan ON the South shore
of Lake Superior.
M,ks