The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-08

thousand miles. reckon il from the banks OF he Mis-
sisslppi 10 San Francisco $500 miles and when your
surveys and estimates shall be made, winding through
the mountain passes, the railroad necessarily must,
you will find the distance probably greater sill Bat,
suPposlng am wrong IN that computation-though II
was made with the assistance of the from Penn
sylvania, Mr. CooPER,l and | believe we are
rect
Mr. COOPER Correct as 10 the number of miles
Mr.. DAWSON. The senator says right 10
the number OF miles But, then, again. have
tanned anything By surveys, and acting upon
knowledge OF the character OF the countIy' How
great extent OF the country through which you propose
to pass has no wood growing upon -no material with
which you can make your bridges in order 10 pass the
streams How you to get provisions along that line
alter your soldiers sent there 10 protect your aborers
You will have 10 carry all of II miles and miles by
teams over land How, then, TO act while are
perfectly in the dark Let the survey be made called
for by the senator from Pennsylvania Let the whole OF
the facts be presented 10 Congress, and then will
know what TO do. Why shall go into such under
taking this, when all know very well that II we had
bill before appropaling the public money for rivers
and harbos, we would not suffer single dollar TO be
appropriated unless there estimate for 1t? Where
IS there railroad that has been built in any OF the States
OF this Union without survey and estimate Whea
has any Legislative body before been called upon
vote an appropriation anything like heavy this
without an estimate. Never, sir and repeat my
Prise and astonshment that 1t should be urged here that
this bill should pass under such circumstances.
am not gong to give my general objections TO the bill
as stands. because know that the bill before the
body, and Is subject 10 amendment: But have some
suggestions that can make upon this subject Who i
Wiling 10 place The hrst power contemplated by THIS k
in the hands OF the President OF the United States Who
rs willing, IN the language OF senator who spoke yes
terday 10 impose upon him the whole trouble growing
out Of this work The duties oil his Office sufficient
heavy and laborous nearly TO destroy the constitution
OF any in the discharge OF them. And yet you make
hum the supervisor and Judge in these contracts and drive
nim TO the necessity OF looking over the whole oil them
and he refers them 10 second person to report upon
them, be is still responsible.
And have those gentlemen who fearful Of the
patronage OF public officers looked and seen the extent
a n ia " IN IL
dent has almost unlimited discretion. he is obliged to
decide between contractors and give the contract TO the
lowest bidders II IN his Judgment the public interest VIII
be subserved by it, He has right to look 10 the ability
OF The parties and their capacity 10 these Contracts
thereby giving him almost unlimited discretion. Still |
have confidence the incoming President and would not
Tor moment make this ground for objection. The
other is The ground that make The objection upon-he
burden that will be imposed upon him
Now, in relation to this corporatIon-and will not
The question in this part Of the argument as TO the
power OF Congress to create corporations within the Inn
its Of the Slatesl make this suggestion alter this
corporation shall be formed extending over the whole
road, thousand miles long, all ha, part OF the road
lying within the limits OF the States will OF course be
within the jurisdiction of the States. lnasmuch as re-
ceves its power from the general government has not
The general government The right 10 regulate the powers
OF this great coporaon either by extending the grant or
by limiting IL And If we yield the power TO Congress
grant the of incorporation within the limits OF the
States, do we not yield the whole Z And although we
say here in the bill that road shall be run unless with
the assent OF the State yet the question arses Can Con
gress exercise the power the constitution with the
of State Can any Stale take IT upon herself 10
exercise power which she admits by this bill does not
belong to her but which she says may be exercised in
her mis Why sir, who is 10 obtain the right of way
in the State OF Texas through which this road may pass
Is it the Congress of the United States Where is the
provision in the bill 10 ge, the right OF way You grant
the right of way through the public lands and not an
acre OF public lands have the United States within the
limits OF Texas You then have to acquire the right OF
way from the State of Texas, Who IS to procure il
Have made any arrangements about 1t
Mr. RUSk Texas has granted the right oil way.
Mr.. DAWSON Granted the right OF way to whom
Mr. RUSK. To anybody who will build the road
Mr.. DAWSON To anybody that will build the road
under the control OF the United States Has Texas done
lha Has she granted the right OF way TO anybody un-
der corporation granted by the United States
Mr.. RUSK. She has authorized the construction OF a
road through the Stale 10 the Pacific ocean by anybody
who chooses TO construct IT.
Mr. DAWSON. If tina, be true-snd have no doubt
is-sbe contemplated that she going TO yield
jurisdiction over II TO any government but her own ap
prehend
Mr. RUSK She does not do ii by ha, BILL unless she
expressly consents TO II after its passage.
MIR. DAWSON. Let her do so then will Texas give
up all her power and CONTROL and give The jurisdiction to
the government oi the United States
Mr.. RUSK. Prior
Mr.. DAWSON. But that question | care nothing
about discussing This corporation, Mr. President.
tremendous one all know, but the dangers grow
ing out OF II | shall not depict will only say, ii
grant this act OF Incorporation and II is carried into
execution, who becomes the corporation and upon what
temsl The contractors whoever they may be, are The
corporators, together with their associates and
sors; and by the word associates suppose is meant
such persons these may promote TO become
associated with them. Now, upon what terms Who
holds the stock that this company Is 10 put before the
countryl Who authorizes itl Does the government oil
the United States authorize them 10 present stock this
railroad suppose does what they 10 pay for il :
Why, the contractors associates The railroad
is not built by the contractors money The thirty
five millions OF whatever number may be, and
the twenty millions OF five per cent bonds will execute,
be constructed, large proportion OF the road
Who does il inure TO The men who perform the "a.
borhey get the pay for constructing the road and after
il is constructed what do you do You pay them for
the work and then you give them the road That is
precisely what you do. Is there senator here who de-
MES that
MIR RUSK Yes, sir.
MIR. DAWSON. You do not give the road 10 them
Mr.. RUSK. We do not pay for it, though.
MIR. DAWSON BY the bill they hold II for thirty
years. aud then they can resell dispose OF II TO the
government OF the United States, with an advance
OF ten per cent deducting the five per cent on the
twenty millions OF bonds. and the value OF The
land Then the government will only have TO pay
for the additional sum the road may have cost Now,
how much will the road cost '-lhere is the question.
Do know before undertake II how much II
is 10 cost, and how are we to do IL Did ever
men in private life, when their private interests
involved when their own judgment and honor were
connected with Transaction, step INTO such proceeding
without fret understanding what course they were To
pursue Supposng any OF the contractors ialls TO
execute his contract, or any of them cannot procure
sufficient TO connect the portions OF the road To-