Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-03-09
Senator Dodge.

In the Senate, February 10Th. the Deficiency
bill being under cons deration, Senator Dodge
took occasion to max an earnest and elaborate
defence of the Pacific rairoad project, of which
we have merely spac. enough to present the
leading features.
Well may the greatW est be indignant at the
tuniust treatment wlich she has received at
good reason may Iowa conceive herself to be
the victim upon whom the acme of that injus.
tee has fallen.
But let it be remembered, and to their last
ing honor, that the Iowa delegation in Con
gress have cxerted /, our behalf every nerve
and sinew TO the fultst extent Of human ca
pacity. They have feared no odds, shrunk
from no responsibilities, Stunned no vexatious
and burdensome duff in their endcavors to
secure for us that PAD atal favor which we, as
one of the Youngest bildren in the confelera-
cy, are entitled 10 rkeve.
Thank God the bur is nigh at hand w hen
the preponderance influence and power in
other sections ofthe taon shall no longer bear
us above the reach 4 our rights, in tie scales
of an unequal justice,
But to the worthy ia lluding to the
provision of the biz w con6des to the
President the designation oi the termini and
general route Of the road, he says:
! have said that this is one Of the best pro-
visions, of the bill, and reterate it, because,
with the lights which that high officer will
bav h.f Jim bu 10 to LAT, mi nc
THIS momentous matter, he will be much more
likely to make the proper designation tan
would Congress. Besides, sir, as fast friend
to this measure, one who is neither TO be
coaxed nor driven from its support, ii is my
solemn conviction, that upon the retention of
this provision depends the lie or death of the
bill. You cannot fix the tcrmIni or route of
this road in any land then get votes enough
to pass it.
As reasons for this assertion he assigns the
number and variety of routes proposed, all
having their firm supporters and advocates,
and continues
Now, sir, these lines of route all have their
supporters and advocates; and it is not my
province to assail or to disparagc any one of
them. But | have to say that which | do
krow. Fix any one Of them arbitrarily and
by name in any bill, either before or after any
number of surveys and estimates, and the
friends of all the others fly from the support
OF the bill. They will give for excuse that
the route designated is too far north, or too far
south, to answer the great purposes of transit
and commerce. 1t will be alleged that the
Corps of Typographical Engineers, high as
that corps deservedly stands in public estima-
ton, by whom the surveys viii have been
made, were governed by sectional or other i'm
Il prlt ions and rnn,ivps and m tins
there will be added many other excuses for
opposition But few, if any the opponents
will avow the true objection, which would be,
that the road is not so located as to subserve
the immediate local interests OF the obiecting
members Stale and constituency. Mark you
The contention TO which now allude would
be among the friends of the bill; those friends
whose woes and harmonious action are de,
manded for the success of the measure. Now,
all who want road can and do pull together,
being at heart f,r The measure, and willing 10
run the risk of their favoritc line of route be-
ing selected by the President, as in his opin-
ion, the best one. Hence, | regard the amend
ment of the Senator from Pennsylvania Mr.
BrOadhead as directed at the existence of the
BILL l trust that IL will be So view cd by all
the sincere Friends Of this great highway; and
that 1t might receive at their hands that con
domination 1t so richly merits | am perfectly
satisfied mat there are several practicable
routes; and with this conviction | am for pro,
crossing with he read. | be ieve it to be the
greatest question which now concerns our ma
ton, and wish to commit the Government TO
It's constructon-ay, and beyond the possibili-
~ oil backing outlet the cost be double triple
or quadruple the amount which the bill propo.
ses to appropriate.
He considers the objections to the bill that
1t gives too much power to the Federal Execu-
tive as IlI-lounded, and refers to an instance
still fresh in our minds.
In high party times, remember, when such
power was conferred upon the President, with
a view oil facilitating the admission Of a State.
inc men opposition gravely asserted that 1t
was giving 10 the Executive the power OF ad.
mittihS n new state; that it was q bold increase
OF Executive power and patronage, dc. Time
has shown how unfo1nded these apprehensions
We're; and if this bill should pass. | feel that
hazard but little IN saying that the same great
afoI'er VIII IN IKE manner falsfy the lugubri-
Gus predictions OF It's opponents.
he touches in strong and fearless language
upon the unweorying yigilence of Great Britain
in looking out for commercial advantages.
openings and locations, on the American Con-
tInent' as contrastcd with the too fiequant
halting and hesitating upon our side of the wa
ter in measures of the most vital woight.
The magnificent results of thi, enterprise
when consumma;cd, the dcsirabIeness of our
Oriental trade already rich and dazzling and
the policy OF banishng from the consideration
of this measpre,alI local preutices and selfish
seetional,sm, embrace nearly the remainder OF
! these elaborate and patriotic remarks.