The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-18
CITY OF WASHINGTON FRIDAY MORNING MARCH 49, 1853
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN BELL,

SPEECH OF HON. JOHN BELL,
or TENNESSEE.
Delivered IN the Senate February IT, 1852 on the bill
reported from the select committee. for the consruc-
uon OF railroad and teegraphic line from the Msss-
sippl valley 10 the Pacific ocean,
Mr.. BELL Mr. President the question, believe, IA
upon the amendment OF the honorable senator from Penn
sylvana. Mr. BRoDHEAD 10 strike out all OF the bill
OF the select committee except the enactng clause and
insert what has just been read In other words, the
proposition is now 10 commence reconnaissance and
survey Tor this great enterprise vi course II 1t succeeds
il is fatal TO any further legislation at this session OF
Congress upon the subject of the construction Of this
road. Now, want TO have the proper issue made be-
tween the opponents and the advocates OF this great
lepnse as the responsible agents and representatives OF
the county The project OF the select committee has
been denominaled slupendous and monsrous one--as
one OF great extravaganza and reckessness Ii that be
the true character OF the measure, there very heavy
responsibility resting, not only upon the Senate il they
shall enact such bill this bat there is responsible
y attaching to each advocate of it; and if it be half
and monstrous conception it has been
SAID to be- should very speedily if it presented itself 10
my mind IN that light, wash my hands of it, But there
another responsibility, and il responsibility which
attaches honorable senators for their opposition to
measure so loudly demanded by the country and so
necessary Tor It's defence, unless they show that
their objections are well founded 1t is not generally
safe TO get up and make round wholesale objections
measure unless those objections be sustained by
the evidence before Congress and before the country
The proposition contained in the amendment OF the
senator from Pennsylvania is now-in lS53-to com
mence the explorations and examinations of the route
for this great work. as If, during four years may say
five years. since this and vast accession
rory has been made these examinations had not been
going on with or less assiduy, and or less
success as II report alter report had not been made 10
Congress, communicating observations and explorations
as II you had not by your order printed numerous
ports oil explorations and reconnoissances, with expen-
sve charts and maps, OF large portion OF the country
intervening between the Mississippi valley and the Pacific
ocean.
propose to recapituate very briefly the points of OBJ
lection TO this bill and the that be made to
them The first objection is, that before the passage of
such bill that reported by the select committee,
any other projects which have been reported further
poratons and surveys should be made and laid before
Congress 1t is said that we do not know that the
proposed road is practicable, and that is peposerous
leglsate upon subject in regard to which we have
little knowledge In reply TO that have TO repeat what
said the other day, that we have the report of six
seven exploring parties composed OF men OF science.
who have examined many different routes from be-
tween the Mississippi valley westward to the
that intervene between that and the Pacific ocean, and
crossing those mountains at several different passes
Every square mile OF the immense slope from the Sierra
Madre and the Rocky mountains, which only
tension of the Sierra Madre 10 the Mississippi has been
explored and examlnedno surveyed by the chain and
level Tor that is not necessary to this stage OF the enter
prise but the whole OF the extensive plain,
or eight hundred miles from the base of these mountains
TO the western boundary OF the States bordering the west
bank oil the Mississippi, has been carefully examined.
Then, what surveys and reconnolssances may yet be
properly demanded before the President any else
who may be authorized TO locate the route of this road,
shall proceed 10 the performance OF that duty Merely
surveys OF the comparative character and fitness of the
various depressons or passes IN the two distinct
tain ranges that intervene between the Mississippi valley
and the Pacltc-one called the Sierra Madre west of the
Rio Grande, and merged as YOU go north in what Or
dnarly called the Rocky range the other the
Sierra Nevada still further 10 the west. There thus
two distinct mountain ranges and formations which con-
sute the proper range OF the only future examinations
surveys required before the President will be qualified
to designate the route of the road The survey of the
different passes in these two mountain ranges with
the information already possess, will be amply suf-
hcent to enable the proper authority TO establish the gem
era route OF the road For example, II the valley of the
Nebraska or Platte river shall be regarded the most
desirable route for that part of the road which TO be
constructed east OF the Sierra Madre or Rocky noun
tans, then particular examination and survey
OF the South Pass may be necessary be made sho
what will be the grade and probable cost OF railroad
carried over the Rocky mountains at that point II the
South Pass should be found 10 present serious obsta-
Gle, either in the elevation to be overcome and the
shall be found TO be no serious obstruction in winter, then
II would become proper TO examine whether road
ried through that pass could be extended by branch
road from that point into Oregon but that apprehend,
would be found impracticabe; but the surveys and
examinations on this route would have TO be extended
through the Sierra Nevada to ascertain whether there
any practicable pass IN that mountain towards the head
Of the Sacramento valley Ii such pass can be found,
and the OF winter shall be mpedment, and the
South Pass likewise being found in every respect prac
tcabe, then should say that these passes might be
properly regarded as indicating proper route for this
great work.
But if the South Pass should be found practicable only
ny very DedNy or III tne snow IN winter snail
upon inquiry be found to be formidable objection to that
pass then surveys may very properly be ordered, see
whether some other pass the Sierra Madre may
be discovered between the headwateTs OF the
and the Colorado OF the West, which may be free from
these objections am aware that Colonel Fremoat and
his party were very perishDg, and believe some
OF them did perish, IN attempting exploration OF this
pass and that there Is not much hope to be INDUCED of
ITS practicaby The next pass the Sierra Madre,
you proceed south, which will require particular
examination survey, is that through which railroad
up the Canadian Red river would lead This is the
pass already explored by Captain Sgreaves passing
Albuquerque the valley of the Rio Grande, and pro-
ceedng westward TO Zun and the great valley OF
the Colorado OF the West. Then there remains the
passes the route recommended by Major Emory, and
part OF which surveyed by the officers belonging
the commission of Mr. Bartlett, and part by Colonel
Graham We have these three four different passes in
the Sierra Madre range OF mountains to survey, and then
all that remains to be done in making preliminary
nations and will be confined to the passes the
Sierra Nevada range. Walkers Pass has already been
pronounced practicable, and affirm that il the
only that Is in Mat large mountain range but
some further and careful survey may be necessary
OF that pass When the surveys of the several points
passes in the two great mountain ranges which inter-
between the Mississippi and the Pacific shall be
completed then the President will have all the ntoma-
ton, in addition to that which is already supplied in the
reports OF the several exploring parties before alluded to,
which he will require 10 enable him to designate the ter
mini and general route OF the road
Do senators mean by examinations and surveys that
you must have such surveys would enable the con-
tractors to commence their work-the work OF excava-
iimbers &C.. for the road No such survey az that s
necessary required, before the general direction
Of a road is determined upon and established
say, then, that il is not true that we have no sum
cient lights upon the subject to justify legislative enact
me nt providing for the construction OF this road The
of nf he