The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-22

sesuo upon lhe supposiuon hal tnose honorable gen
leneh who assisted 10 the compilation OF this bill had,
and now have, such authentic and well. established Ia
formation ia regard 10 this point and the section OF coun
W over which hls road IS proposed TO be carried and
The passes through the Sierra Nevada and the Sierra Madre
mountains, to s4sy them that this the best plan
that could be devised But nevertheless, would IT not
be Wise and iucious 10 allow greater latitude than Is
now allowed by this bill TO the officers OF the govern
neni or 10 the company who may construct lhis road 10
select Tue location OF this road at their disceton win
such limitations upon that discretion as we may see nj
10 impose think shall have to allow this greater
altitude Tor discretionary action in the location OF this
road and them If the pass through the Sierra Nevada
pointed out by this bill be the most appropriate one, and
the general route designated by this bill be the most Judi
cous one and the most likely TO be consuced, the
most economical, practical, aud useful IN all respects,
may not the friends OF this road, and the friends OF this
particular route, rely with confidence upon the expecta
ton that the road will be finally located as II prescribed
40 this bill But, whether that be not, think we
will be obliged 10 the risk or have no road provided
Tor during ihe present session OF Congress
Now, IL the honorable from Ohio will give me
his attention for lew moments, will propose 10 him,
instead OF The proposition he has made, accept OF
which will suggest to him very briefly. ] propose TO
strike OF the eighth and ninth lines OF the first sec
ton these words 90 point ON Red rver at or near the
southwest OF the State OF Arkansas; and then
the preceding portion OF the section, which author
izes the President enter into contracts &c, propose
amend by inserting in the hlh line, alter the words
s The President 10 hereby authorized the words
with the lights afforded by the several official explora-
tons and Others which have been here
toore made with the aid Of such iurher examinations
and surveys of particular mountain passes or sections OF
country posed present distractions OF serious ma
ture he may think proper to have made hefeaeT 70
designate the temni and the general direction or route OF
railroad connect the valley OF the Mississippi and me
State and Territory of the United States upon the fachc
coast keeping in view, in making such desgnaton econ
omy Of construction and distances easy grades a
at the same greatest facilities for branch oa TO
connect with Lake Michigan, St Louis Memphis New
Orleans MalagoIda and also some sale ana conmodous
harboI upon the coast OF Oregon
Now instead Of striking oat portion OF this section,
proposed by the honorable senator from oho and m
serng clause Tor locating the eastern terminus OF ths
road at point between Independence Missouri, and
Kanesyile, Iowa. propose that the President-wh the
lights afforded him by the several official explorations and
which have heretofore been made many
of them by officers OF high character the Typographical
engineers and others, and published to the Word-with
these aids and with the aid OF any particular or especial
examination and surrey o. example ANN ,ns obs phss
pass that may be considered practicable through the
Sierra Nevada leading to the valley OF the Sacramento
or San Joaquin any other pass which may be pointed
out as deserving further examination reconnaissance
and survey OF any particular section OF country ihough
which may be proposed TO run this road, II not
now sufficiently well known-Wilh all these aids, pro-
pose the President shall designate the location OF This
road The further examination and survey which ne
may want will be OF particular passes, brought forward 10
his attention. and which lmay be conlended are me most
convenient and udclous, upon the whole, Tor this road
But before he makes his and alter he mas got
all lights to which have referred, he must also take
consideration the shortest possible distances, the
cost OF construction, eaey grades, and all nose
things which affect despatch, economy IN running upon
tns road and further than that, he must TAKE inlo
Into consideration, at the same une the best connexions
by the grades, cheapness oil construction, and
ehorness OF the length of the lines by branch road run
ming from the western terminus OF the great road or from
points upon the main trunk isel, WITH Lake michigan,
which branch will include that great eastern and northern
line of emigration spoken OF by the senator from ONO
that great line OF commerce, the great and avoe line OF
communication OF all the States north and east-lhat Is,
The best route which will afford communication with Lake
Michigan, and the series OF railroads runaing parallel
with Inc lakes and through Iowa, He must also take
consideration the great central railroad whose ierm
nation is 10 be at Memphis IN my own Slale out winch
is not necessary to in this amendment because
if due regard be given to the connexon oil the roads
norhwad and eastward with the roads from the south
ward with the railroad communication iron Charleston
Savannah, New Orleans, and Texas, this will be sutf-
ceny indicated by It's Importance.
Now, that Is the proposition that ! make-that the
Pre- sldenl with the lights before him and the
try and with such other lights he may deem
with regard particular passes and particular sections
OF county, shall make the selection OF the route OF the
ain trunk of thus road subject 10 these limitations. and
with due reference TO those objects which have reced
viz practcab,y, cheapness despatch, and tacle con
nexion with the great northern line oil railroads The
western railroads. and those OF the South and Southwest
suppose il would be possible for the President
TO make such selection would be perfectly impartial
and give equal facilities TO roads IN the Northwest and
in the South west. That is not con,empated-itis not
To be expected. Neither the Northwest nor the South
expect equal justice when this selection must be
made conionahy formation OF the country, as far
as that possible and lar the position OF this
or ba, pass through the Rocky mountains the Sierra
Nevada shall be deemed adordng the greatest facI-
ties for communicating by branch roads TO CaliorDa aud
Oregon say it is to be supposed that, in the seec-
tion of such road the President do equal justice TO
the interests and wishes OF each respective section Of the
Union Blu, he approximate TO II, and that is all that
we can expect now, because the tormaen OF the coun-
try The passes the barriers liked by Nature in
snrmountable obstacles will control him more less,
and cause him throw the road north south. these
obstacles may turn out TO be less formidable in
the North or South
We all that upon this proposition OF the hon
whether shall have or two roads, because think
oresee that unless do something of the kind pro-
pose shall at this session OF Congress at least, do
nothing and though may AT some future time be
PEELED by dire necessity by the condition OF The country,
and impending difficulties which may then arise, TO
slruc railroad yet wherever At may be, north south,
unless there is some latitude OF discretion given 10 in
dependent power, either to the executive or TO some
coporaied company, to select the route Of this road sub
ect to certain limitations, which we may see III TO inn
pose upon that discretion, difficulty may aiise and
dissatisfaction be created between the deren, sections OF
the western country.
And while am up, beg leave TO call the attention OF
senators 10 another thing The Senate is not full at
present. know, and am sorry for IT, We this is
number Of the members OF this body Some great ques
ton relating TO foreign affairs would be much more
attractive to them than this is. WISH however, sena
tors present. not for the purpose Of listening to
thing because may say IT, but because their votes upon
this question will tell in some way other; and desire
to have the question maturey considered by them before
they upon il and think the consde ration which
propose TO present IL entitled 10 weight IN the
decision of this question. What wish to cali their
tenon to is this II we do not enact some law OF this
kind this session. and provide that this road shall be COM
menced during the present year, the whole matter will