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

pTvdtlOus,
passing annually 10 the Pacific coast. called upon
10 delay still further making any provision for road
across that county II IS SAID That we have not the
and that II is premature 10 act now-lhaI
have not had sufficient Reconnaissance TO justify the
passage OF such this. would ask senators
what OF surveys and examination they propose The
senator FROM South Carolina thinks the examination can
Mr.. BUTLER. ] will correct the senator on that
point said that even II The discussion OF this measure
were delayed Tor ten months, should lose nothing by
Ihat delay expect that will take four five years
Mr.. BELL. misderslood the honorable senator; but
being against the bill. and thinking that have not
power TO construct the road, thought il little singular
lnal he should appeal TO Us for delay OF ten months
ne VIII pardon me Tor having misunderstood him,
have said before that delay TO upon this bill at this
session will be positive delay for al least two years
before such an exploration be made proper, be
cause II Will only be al the end OF The next long session
oil Congress thai any could be passed for this
purpose The proposition for the minute surveys spoken
OF by the senators from Georgia and from Pennsylva
would require i've years, II not ten am the more de-
srous OF dwelling upon this point for moment, on ac-
count OF the influence which may go abroad the re-
suit OF this discussion. II the bill should pass which
might produce an impression upon the President himself
that before he proceeds 10 fix the ermni OF this road
IL is necessary have description survey and exami
nation of this extensive country, which could not be ac
compshed in less than five years. want to know what
is the necessity for any survey OF the country from
the western boundary OF the States 10 the eastern base OF
the Rocky mountains?
The gentlemen speak OF having conversed with able
gent engineer will declare that for Ave. six hun
bred miles, there any impeachment which would prevent,
the construction OF the road mean any impeachment in
the shape OF mountains and streams which will authorize
them say tina, the route is impractcable There the
whole range OF country from the base of the Rocky
mountains east TO the Mississippi river, every Of
which, may say, has been passed over, irodden over
and great portion OF il explored by your best scientific
men. What are the only passes upon which road can
run' Either the Platte, the Nebraska, it is called,
the northern fork, or the southern fork taking the north
arm Un1 htFho thap ha
and the southern fork you want 10 pass further south
or il the Platte is too far north, take The Kansas You
pursue that up TO lis head waters TO the pass OF the
Rocky mountains. Ii that is found too Tar north, and
would lead you into the and gorges rem
der the passage mprac,cabe in the winter and you
compelled 10 further SOUTH then there is the Arkansas
and lar that offers facilities superior to either
sthe other routes the slope the Rocky
ains, II is all known. That has been examined and
plored there is difficulty there II that again is too
NORTH there is the Canadian, and that has been ex
piored by Lieutenant Simpson And what does he say
OF the Canadian! de says that for distance OF eight
hundred miles there serious impeachment The con
srgctlon OF railroad i would be worth While il |
bad lime, TO quote his authority, in which he speaks Of
the country from Fort Smith 10 Santa Fe. want 10
read this, irasmuch gentlemen have said "we
light-we have no information, and authority" He
says:
"Wood and alter were generally sufficient and wh.re
deficient. they could be supplied without
by following the directions laid down ia the maps"
That was laid down in them maps tina, is in the route
OF our commerce on the south side of the Canadian
mere IS not only wood but water, and for about three
hundred miles OF country that had supposed to be
desert, destitute OF wood If not of water he says there is
an abundance OF hne timber for constructing road
That Is IN the very heart oil region which had sup
posed was desert. Ii you 20 still further south there
rs the Red River valley part of which has been ex-
plored Sir, | want TO show that senators assume as
facts things which are not facts aud which based
on facts.
Then with regard to the exploration OF the passes OF
these mountains: the South Pass has been surveyed by
Colonel Fremont, believe; Captain Stansbury survey
ed pass still further south, leading over into the Salt
Lake region. Colonel Fremont attempted 10 pass still
further SOUTH north OF Santa Fe and driven back by
SHOWS drifting upon him in the gorges OF the mountains,
where part OF his men persisted The next pass sur
veyed IS that which passes by Albuquerque, by the Zu
nj, and leads into the valley OF the Colorado Cap
tain Sgreaves is in the city, am told and he has made
reconnaissance OF this route under the direction of the
government He finds distractions which an engi-
neer would consider an obstruction SO far as he has
gone into the passes He took up the examination, be-
leye, where simpson left it, passing the Colorado Of the
West, and along IN that direction 10 Walkers Pass
There is SAID TO be pass higher up 10 California near
the principal part of the valley of the Sacramento OH
ers say tina, there is practical pass there That may
De point to be examined yet Then there is the Guada
iupe pass OF which the honorable senator from Rhode
Island Mr. CLARKEl reminds me, which has been sur
veyed and which leads into the valley of the San Pedro
and thence into the valley OF the ella. Nobody doubts
mat there are passes where we could get railroad the
Pacific. There are numerous passes. The honorable
senator from Illinois Mr.. DoUGLAsl said there if
ncable, and the question was which the best OF all
And yet some senators say there has not been any
pofauon, reconnaissance, or survey, sufficient 10 Justify
the passage OF the bill
! now leave that part OF the subject, however, and
refer 10 other objections 10 the bill. SIR have been led
to take some more interest in this question: particularly
with regard 10 the objections taken to-day because
happened to be member OF the select committee which
reported this bill When that committee met perhaps
there were two OF s members who agreed precisely
IN the provisions of the bill which they would choose,
II each OF them had been called upon to report a bill
They took up the important questions 10 be decided as
pelimnares, supposlng that unless mod LITIGATION
OF the bills which had been presented was agreed upon
none could pass. 1t happened that there was no
member OF that committee but thought we ought 10
make an experiment, If you please call it So in the
construction OF such road this from the Mississippi
TO the Pacific ocean Without consulting other mem.
bers OF the Committee, think there three OF those
gentlemen, constituting majority of the committee who
could have put Their fingers upon the ermn OF the
road or, at all events, upon the eastern terminus and
where, II they had the power, they would put it to-day,
with the lights now before them. But these gentlemen,
each rejecting in his mnd and without communi-
eating his thoughts 10 others, what every senator
has seen here for the last four years. if he has been so
long member OF this body, and therefore dis
posed TO allow perfect righteousness TO the of
those gentlemen who talk OF Congress being the proper
body 10 decide where this road shall be located have
night TO say 10 those honorable senator's YOU SIRE
know that that can never be done but think any gen
eman OF large experience here does know that fact and
lei him reec, upon IT. and give full scope TO his
ing powers upon his past experience in the body What
the difficulty three years ago, when the friends of the
measure brought it upi They found, by consultation,
that there was no concurrence IN the Senate with regard
TO the location
The honorable senator from South Carolina says he