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

IN. have
The broad ground Is laken that with money enough all
these dheulues can be overcome Yes sir, the federal
treasury Is TO supply water level down mountains and
provide all the other agencies that may be necessary Tor
The construction OF This great road. wish to be under
stood that do not take the ground that some road may
not be practicable for has said if you will give
an engineer money he will go anywhere and under the
light OF science. which is blazing out from so many
sources. do not know that there any physical i'm.
possibilities in the way of the genius OF man Develop
mens making that will supersede water or steam
motive agents The facilities OF communication from
one part OF the earth 10 The other 10 keep pace with
the demands OF man.
Here allow me TO say thing in reference TO what
fell from my honorable friend from Massachusetts [Mr
DAvIs] yesterday and he said il with philosophical
turn OF thought that admired at the time and that is,
thai does SEEM the great providence OF God that the
facility OF communication from one country 10 another
has kept up with the progress OF discovery The
clients thought the pillars OF Hercules the ultima thule OF
the earth but no the compass discovered
than Columbus found America aud scarcely had Amer
lca been discovered when the means OF opening
municaiion between il and Europe were found. Scarce
ly had that been effected when this great power OF steam,
to which the honorable senator alluded forth, and
may be reserved Tor another power TO carry
dry land, where there is no water may be that the
discovery OF caloric as a movee power is which
will enable us 10 fulfil thai beautiful providence Of God
that man shall not be stranger to ii he consults The
great principles Of science and truth II may be that this
motive power willsuppy the place of steam, and that
can 10 the great Pacc ocean by the and OF fuel aone
only requiring waller 10 supply the wants OF man. say
may be SO but when urge these things with too mucA
rapdy under this doctrine of progress lei me tell gentle
men that there is danger in the temerty OF acceleraon
You have no right 10 anticipate for poseri,y what per
haps postey may accomplish with the lights before IT,,
when il shall be properly called upon act and under
take TO say, with arrogance that may be regarded as
somewhat pesumpive that you can do It better than II
do for itself For myself prefer trusting the ord
nary method of getting round California in thirty days
by steamship navigation for some time yet TO come than
20 rush headlong into The field OF wild experiment
And in any point OF view, If my vote is TO have any
influence the measure, and forced vote for
one route or the other, wish TO have some latitude In
my choice. | do not wish 10 be compelled TO give de-
cison upon route alone. | want light. want
the information OF scientific and practical men, With
the light at present before me, am not sure that would
not select several routes in preference 10 this But
upon that subject do not commit my SELL and Tor very
obvious reason, that may not have the bodness other
gentlemen have exhibited of their readiness to leap
the dark My notions illustrated by the familiar re-
mark made concerning children They should craw ii
before they walk" This bill reveses that, and
that the child can run before can crawl II is Young
America, out and out
have in book of heraldry ambition represented
by serpent crawling up smooth column OF dangerous
and difficult ascent The dangers increasing with the pro-
gess OF the ascent, and with these significant words
issuing from lis mouth; Sat cito 81 sat mo This Is
applicable passions than ambition, and ncucates
a lesson of wisdom and caution.
There is another provision of this bill to which wish
to draw the attention of the Senate and the country and
that is The eleventh section Ii that Congress
not only has jurisdiction the subject of internal i'm
provemens by the specific provisions OF any particular
law, but authority TO extend or restrict States and
companies from the right OF making railroads, except in
supordination TO its authority For fear may do in
justice, will here insert the section ITSELF
"sEo. H. And be If further enacted, That Congress
may any time hereafter, authorize individuals,
MES, States 10 form connexion between said railroad
and any railroad railroads under their CONTROL respect
Wely," &C.
States tributaries 10 corporations OF the federal govern
ment
have thus in,imated some OF my objections 10 the
amendment introduced by the honorable senator IRON
Texas may be asked W hat course would recommend
in relation 10 this great policy am under ne response
by 10 give any opinion beyond the subject before us
and the specific which might be required TO cast
my vote. The first question: then the amend
ment offered by the honorable senator from Pennsylvania
looking 10 the information TO be acquired from survey
and Reconnaissance. before any route shall be selected
think il competent for Congress to seek this information,
and It 10 ne assumed that or later road
must be constructed think il therefore wise and proper
that should have all the information on the subject
Besides another point Of view, may be necessary,
one of the means Of fulfilling Obligations under the
treaty with Mexico, that we should have military road
through the territory lying between Texas and Caior
MIA Whether that will be necessary or not will depend
very much upon the information 10 be gathered by
the survey contemplated in The amendment of the senator
from Pennsylvania. And what may be the kind of such
road must depend upon such information.
IT, in good faith road Tor military purposes, looking TO
an actual state OF war for lis employment could well
road to subserve the ends contemplated and whether
railroad or any other kind OF road would depend more
upon the purposes in view than upon anything else
the United States and If such one should be high
way for passengers channel for commerce. there
would be objection 10 IL, because II may be used Tor
purposes than one. According 10 The views OF the
honorable senator from Illinois, military road, such as
the proposed in this bill, will ever be necessary in
times OF peace and whether can regard j, military
road for must depend upon information and con.
unciurc OF affairs which has not yet been presented 10
my mind.
But the fac, cannot be disguised and ought not tha,
this road is intended 10 open commercial comm MICA.
ton between California and the Mississippi river. II is
road for the benefit OF OF the States OF this
ederacy. and by money TO be contributed and by char
ter be conferred, under the federal government II
may be that il have full information-such might
be procured under the amendment OF The senator from
Pennsy sylvana-no such road the proposed here
would ever be built. OF very different character and
liable to fewer objections This survey might be regard
ed than exploration, which is fully war
ranted by precedens.
Mr.. President. | have thus, in cursory manner,
thrown out my views, both upon the measure itself and
many OF the topics that have been brought under dis
cussion in connexon with il. have appealed to the
spirit of the constitution flour forefa,hers. have
ferred 10 the authority Of great names. / have init
the danger, OF dIsegarding the provisions of the
written constitution. have minated the necessity Of
some amendment OF il, with view to accommodate it
the progress OF events and the developments o The age
The worst OF dsspotsms would be an irresponsible de-
mocracy, LETT without restraint to consult the temptations
of interest 10 be influenced by the excitement OF pas
sion. Some one has quantity said that constitutions
and laws deliberately made BY the few when SOBER
TO restrain the madness of The many when intoxicated
Republics may become iyrannlcal, under an unre
strained majority other form oil government can