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

cling the hostile and conflicting legislation OF the States
upon the subject. he great Object was 10 have
unorm rules and regulations applicable 10 all The States
And this power thus TO be conferred was jealousy
regarded in the convention by the representatives OF he
rural aud agricultural interest al the country; and unlil
very nearly the close OF the convention there was clause
10 the constitution requiring vote OF two-thds 70 pass
any measure regulating commerce. and 'hai 'oo oy ae
caraory laws merely aud mol looking. as the history OF
the country and The debates OF the convention show, 10
appropriation OF money for that purpose he propo-
ston 10 regulate commerce BY digging canals or build
ing roads made and expressly rejected IN ie con-
venton. Ii the vote OF twolhirds, looking 10 the kind
OF regulation have referred TO, required at that
time, with fewer adversary interests involved how much
necessary is II now when preponderatlng interests
have actually taken possession OF the government!
They may be subserved, but il will be at dreadful
cost, if a constitution has TO be broken, tell gente
men, with deep sincerity, that ] am, in reality. better
friend the constitution of this country by opposing
lasemens of power, than those who resort 10 them for
temporary purposes. There danger great that
which blinds 10 The consequences OF the future, and
there night that has any security unless il has the
guarantee OF protection
The last resort which intelligent people should make
is revolution for the vindlcaton OF their rights and
The greatest dagger of such resort will be disregard OF
the organic law OF existence When it shall be ascer
laned thai this confederacy in the name OF its Union,
shall have survived the constitution OF its existencs.
deserves TO perish.
Mr. BELL Mr. President, the honorable senator
from South Carolina has made very focibe, but hope
not very formidable attack this bill and in rising to
answer some OF his objections, do not suppose that
shall be able TO do away with all OF them in the order in
which he Has presented them because that know would
be impossible Tor shape proposition of this kind in
what you may there will be not only plausible
but strong and real objections TO be urged to it. This bill
plrakes OF the character OF every thing else in egisla
lion and everything that is natural or material l. is i'm
perfect and will be found any plan that be devised
by the ingenious and able gentleman this floor.
when he shall undertake to put together the various parts
OF ameasure OF this description The honorable senator
from South Carolina has denounced this bill the hrst
place unconslituionaas violation of organic law,
and he therefore, opposed 10 H. He has denounced
premature. He has announced in as strong terms as
hac hat hau ntfciap ltuht hafp
guide judgments in sustaining such measure as this
He has denounced The plan before the Senate und
gested one with conflicting provisions He has denounced
merely experimental, and says that have mott ing
10 assure that this great work Is practicable he has
denounced as stupendous monopoly II It shall go INTO
operation and be successful and what think some
what conf cling with his arguments against the meas
ure, he has SAID that il II be failure though 1t nure to
monopoly or private company it is an expense which
falls exclusively upon the United States In how many
other forms he has denounced it do remember, and
will not take time TO look at my notes as attempted to
sketch them down
Mr. President, am in favor of this road. am in
favor OF commencing It's construction at early day. La
The honorable senator in favor OF ii at all II he be not
in lis favor then cannot stand upon equal grounds,
either in taking exception 10 the bill in answering OBJ
econs that nterposed against it, Perhaps ought
to have stated that the honorable senator sounded the
alarm drum Of party platforms and prejudice and IN N
democratic friends Tecollec their obligations, 10 be
found the platform adopted by that party. DE appeal
ed TO the pTeudlces OF those who have stood in this
body for years conendng against system OF internal
improvements by the general government within the
limits OF the Sales and he proclaimed that this bill was
carrying out such practice and such policy on the
part OF the government of the United States From all
these considerations take 1t for granted that the hon.
orabe opposed TO any bill OF this kind that
he is not only opposed now but that he must remain
until the constitution is amended. 1t is true, he has
said that under the provisions OF our present organic
law, this government has Alright 10 make military road
through the Territories of the United States and would
ask what, in these days OF progress. is railroad but
military Ioadi Ii we have right to construct mill
tary road. what useful purpose would inure at this
day III IL not a railroad
Suppose il was necessary in time OF war TO send troops
and munitions OF and army supplies across the con-
lnen through the Rocky mountains and the Sierra Ne.
vada, for distance OF TWO thousand miles, what use at
this day would ordinary military road bel mean
road by which you could drag up the sides OF the
and let them down on the opposite sides, pack
your provisions mules, or draw them with oxen
through the passes That would be what is gen.
orally considered military road and the honorable
gentleman thinks he has objection TO such q road as
that Sir, such road would be behind the times. Ac-
cordng 10 his own argument, would ask the honora-
BILE senator what is railroad IN this age but military
road II the honorable senator will reflect upon the OBJ
lection, | think he will that he will be obliged to
withdraw his objection the want OF constitutional
so tar as II Is proposed TO % run tins Ioaa sxclu
Mr.. BUTLER. My honorable friend will allow me
to make remark in this connexon. have never
gone urher than TO say that would be willing to vote
Tor a aossanoe and survey to see whether MIL
iary road could be made do not know that, after we
should have that reconnaissance and survey would
deem NJ 10 be matter OF p0liCy
MIR. BELL. | remember the honorable senator did
make some such qualification, and seemed TO doubt
whether we could have military road over these
mountain passes. But have anticipated the remarks
that designed to make think there point which
will afford me the best and most effective answer 10 the
honorable SENATOR and that would be 10 trace the history oil
this proposition railroad to the Paclhc from
It's inception to The present time have stated befoe
that am in favor of such road am IN favor OF COM
mencing its construction the earliest day that promises
success with the lights that have before and such
as may be obtained within a resonabe time. ] am not
welded to the particular mode form OF construction
which is provided in this bill II cannot find majority
of the members OF this honorable body concurrng this
proposition. am willing to take what, in my Judgment
will answer the great purpose road to the Pa
/ chic
/ II | had the power Of sitting down and deysng the
best in my Judgment, and bad the power al the
same time, OF bringing TO a concurrence with me ma
lority OF the members OF this body, would frame avery
different bill from this But IL is because was IN 'svos
OF the OF such road as ihs AZ 'ne esr-
est possible day. upon estimate OF me means 0' sue
cuss that appeared reasonable and rauoha,, 'ha e
nv consent TO thi. bill -Four years ago, Mr. President,
gave my consent the project OF MI Whlney and
am not prepared 10 say at this day. that that was
yerv wild ar project considering the lights
thai were before US his bill introduced into
this body majority OF the legislatures OF seventeen
different States this Union brought TO concur In
,he propriety OF making that experiment They did not
look nicely what it might cost the country. They
were willing to give the millions and millions of acres OF
public land which proposed by that gentleman for
tha ~ f,yha ~ have kno