The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-23


bill He had dssliaed taking The paternity q the bin butt
understood him ha he would leave take such course
with tas my judgment would sanction"
SO far this goes it is literally true yet il fails 10
give full and fair view OF that position bad said 10
my colleague what he stalled, aud had said more aud
Il was, as had told him, TO say u more 10 the Senate.
hat wished 10 be present when the bill should be con
sdefed had said TO my colleague. and wished TO say
TO the Senate that this bill TO make ~ real character
conform 10 lis ossSte purpose OF bill for the benefit
OF Arkansas, required amendment both by striking out
and by insertion, Those amendments J had indicated
were, FIRST to strike our Gao, the first terminus on
h. mississippi, and insert Memphis = and, second, 10
add TO the bill the road from Ganes's Landing, wa
Camden 10 Faon. | would also have added Helenai
but my colleague had told me that the Hesns company
had abandoned The proposed road from that place. and The
people in that region longer desired it. Thus amended
The bill would have coniomed TO the two which The Sen
ate passed last session. aud which II reasonable to be-
eyo that the House, ii would make any grant al all to
Arkanhas would have ganied If II had ever been asked 10
do soespecialy as they gave very e land, and
hey were What people wanIea, necessary for
their interest These endments, too bad been re-
quested 10 propose, especially that for the 9aness Land
ing and Fulton roed, by those authorised to speak for
that enlightened and wonderfuy energetic company |
hardly think | should actually have proposed those
amendments, or II proposing, should not have pressed
their adoption. Buff had not would have been only
because was assured by my colleague here, and my
colleague Mr. Johnson in the House, also, tha, aay
amendment whatever would prove fatal to the BILL and
thus deprive Arkansas of her as and OILY chance for
railroad grants And to avoid that calamity, would, as
have before intlmated, do violence my eengs
do anything, indeed, short of dlshonor should, how
ever have given my views in full upon the character oil
the bill in its several bearings. For that purpose wished
to be hsrei
And my colleague [ar. SEBAsrrAN] further said
And will say further to my friend from Iowa lMf.
DoDGE that the difference between the bill of my colleague
in the Senate and colleague in the House OF
atives the subject OF discussion in Arkansas
leg sature, and not aware that they have instructed
MS in reference to either But this much know-tha
the legislature has passed act incorporating ibis very
road which this bill provides for aud am acting upo
that an indication of the acquescenca OF the Legislature
In this scheme"
indications of State legislature, unable to say
with certainty and seems to be my colleague him
self for no full and reliable information as 10 any
definite and decided action OF that body upon these ques
tons to have come to either OF us And upon in.
quiry OF my colleague in the House, he seems 10 be
equally uniformed in regard to il.
But so far as what is known OF the action Of our egs
ature may be regarded quasi instructions" this
subject II strikes me the very reverse of what my
colleague assumes As the for my saying this,
give the following as what we do know to have taken
place in the house OF representatives of the general as
sembly OF Arkansas, November IL, 1852
"Mr. Nunn's resolution 10 request Robert w Johnson
our member Of Congress 70 use his best efforts
tain lands to Arkansas was taken up.
Mr. Codweli opposed the esolution, Election up
" Mr.. Rust moved thar bs referred committee "a
inquire into neglect OF duty charged t. W.
but upon the explanation of Mr. Mum, offered this amend
ment.
Rs,o'ysd That nothing herein eonsi@sd shall be
strued into reflection upon the Hon. h. w Johnson.
" The resolution as amended was adopted"
few days subsequent to this resolution was intro
duced into the house, to instruct the
delegation IN favor of the Cairo b,' with the avowed
purpose OF making the ISSUE test the preference
the legislature as between this Cairo project and he
OF roads provided for in the two Senate bills, which,
said, were then, and pending sleeping the
other end OF this Capitol The result was, that after full
proraced, and somewhat exciting discussion, the
house refused 10 adopt this resolution.
But further than this am informed by letter from
reliable source received this morning-though have
not seen the newspaper account OF the proceedings OF the
legislature-tha similar resolution 10 the one which
have read having passed the house OF Representatives
without dissenting voice, was subsequently introduced
INTO the senate referred TO committee, reported back
and adopted in the senate without opposition, endorsing
the house had done the two senaie bills OF which
have spoken. state this with confidence knowing tina
IT comes from source perfectly reliable.
Here, then, in these proceedings resolution wat
adopted mem. in the most numerous house OF the
legislature requesting our sole representative MR. JOHN
soSl in Congress use his best efforts 10 procure thu
passage OF the Senate bills Was not this declaration
of preference Tor the Senate bills the Cairo project
and, pro tInfo an instruction in favor OF the former and
against The latter And 70 make my inference sui
stronger, 1t was repeat, followed with negave-aye
most pregnant negasUs-upon the Cairo project True
my colleague 10 the House is not officially amenable tc
legislative instructions even II be were il is equally
true that house alone OF The Legislature is compe
lent TO Instruct senator But how far the decided
expression oil opinion and wishes by one house, and
that numbering three. fourhs OF the number in one
there is good ground for believing of boh-are tc
be respected, is for each member TO determine for
himself, according 10 his OF duty and the stand
ard by which he measures it, Yet | must be permitted
TO say, with all respect TO my colleague, that cannot
agree with him that in the very face OF such express
sion OF opinion if only by house, il is allow
able 10 infer iism il iasruion to do the very OF
what itregueas.
Again: whether my colleague be right in assuming
that legislature has chartered company for this road
to Cairo which now find to be true, or not, one can
regard the fact of any material consequences for, il
direction, 10 dozen directions, no charter was
would be, refused by the Legislature. Why should be
whatever set oil men propose TO make road and ask a
charter that Injuries no else, why not give to Them
and let them make the trial II the trial prove fail
ure, ii injue but themselves whereas, il ii
prove successful, the community is benefited. For
these State has upon Der statute book what
is known as the general corporation law, under
which, without further special legislation, any associa
ton OF PERSONS by the observance OF the easiest OF
ditions may become "a body corporate &C." for any
work OF internal Improvement; indeed, for almost any
purpose believe except banking which is expressly for
sldden by our constitution But however all this may
be- very that no man, in or out OF Ark ansas,
with sense enough 10 know the way 10 market, would
seriously think OF building railroad from Cairo
wards Little Rock, would any with means enough
10 build single mile OF road, waste il in such
B1tian enterprise
it, Who asked for it : Who wants tl Who will
make il and. made, what would you do with No
body NoDtingi The idea did not originate in Arkan-
sass for, as lar as we may be IN the shack woods"
must defend my constituents against the impu,atiop
such nonsense such scheme this exempli6es
venture 10 say there is no, boy in all Arkansas fifteen
years old who has not much practical nellige
to father such scheme And have no belief that m,
colleague in either house, would upon his conscience
express the opinion or does believe that this road from