The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-01

plan for carving out the great enterprise OF connecting
the Atlantic aud Paclhe by new channels OF conmqncs-
ton and commerce believe il is the psn most likely
to command success and that, when completed, the
roads could be placed such footing and the cost OF
freight be made so low that we should oe enabled 10
command large amount OF the commeTcc OF Asia across
this continent, addition 10 the other great object OF
forming with possessions on the Pschc
believe these roads be built by the aid OF the public
lands. and am willing to devote these lands 10 the
tent may be necessary this object II 10 perhaps the
best use IN power TO make OF thembetter far
Than TO have them absorbed in mere local schemea
am not prepared. in the haste OF closing session. to
grant OF 10000 900 in money, in addition TO the
lands proposed IN ihe amendment now under consideTa-
lion. and think this is feeling that Will be likely TO
influence many Others, and 10 defeat the the
House. even il it should command majority in the Sen
ate. We are not without data that may furnish some
guide in estimating the strength Of the different plans that
have been proposed. The legislatures OF twenty -ono
States have instructed their senators in Congress vote
for Mr. Whitneys bill, and---
MIR. DOUGLAS, Gnerposing) How many States
have resclnded those instructions
I Mr.; BRADBURY. Mine has not, and none, TO my
knowledge, in the portion OF the Union from which
come.
Mr.. DOUGLAS Illinois has.
Mr. BRADBURY. Then the senator 10 able to find
one State that has receded fon its st posiioa This
shows that the plan has been discussed and after the dis
cussoa the instructions OF twenty States remain
preston of the OF those States in favor OF the plan
proposed by Mr. Whitney; and bound to believe
that this fact will have lis influence the decision OF
the members who will be called TO act on the ques-
ton None OF the other schemes have ever had such
multiplied expressions OF the favor OF the people upon
their merits,
Sir, the world is indebted to Mr. Whitney, more than
to any other for the great idea OF railroad
the American continent He imbodied and reduced the
indefinite schemes this subject into something like
system. lie gave them form and substance He famll-
iarzed the American mind with the subject, and taught
il to be regarded practicable measure. He has devo
ted some ten twelve years OF an active life TO the at
tempt the people of the United States to the
importance and feasibility OF this vast enterprise and it is
due to him. well the twenty States who have de-
clared themselves in favor OF the plan proposed by him.
| hat A hpulI pcpIV O1 0na,dA
The amendments made in committee OF the whole.
except the reserved at the request of Mr. CHAsE
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question now i. on
the amendment reserved at the request OF the
from Ohio, which is to insert in the fifth section, alter
the words (which proposals" the words may be made
by individuals by any body polite corporate created
for that purpose by the legislature OF any State and the
same"
Mr. CHASE The Senate. by decided vote, deter.
mined that the construction of this work should not be
committed to corporation created by Congress. The
question is, whether II shall be committed TO
poraon created by State On that question call for
the yeas and nays $500
The yeas and nays ordered.
\ Mr.. RUSk. once heard OF An Indian who said he
had found tree which straight that il leaned
over. [Laugher.l think the honorable senator from
Ohio has got into just the same position now lRenewed
laugher.] Can you prevent corporation created by
State coming in and bidding for this work II you
build ship dock, can you prevent com
pany OF individuals chartered by State laws coming in
and bidding for it hope the amendment made by the
Senate as in committee OF the whole will be concur
red in.
The question being taken by yeas and nays on con-
earring in that amendment resulted-yeas ~, nays 10
as follows: alte
YEAsaMessrs; Bell, Botand, Bradbury Brooke. c,".
FSes FisS. Foot, % Geys Gain, Hsmiin. Houston Jons:
Of Iowa. Jones of Tennessee, Miller Rnsk, Seward.
Shields, Smith. spmance, Underwood, Wade. and We'll
NAYs1Me,sIs; Bright, Brodhsad, Charlton, Chase. Chase.
Dawson, Fitzpatrick Pearce. Petit. Soule, and Walk
So the amendment was concurred in.
Mr.. SHIELDS. have an amendment to offer, to come
in al the end OF the third section, as follows;
Provided That portion Of the 900 to be sd-
vanced by the United States shall be expended in,
deemed apply to- aroad within the limits OF any existing
shall be located within any State this Union shall bo
made under the authority thereof to be derived from the
State legislature and not otherwise"
will no, detain the Senate by speech, but wish
TO say this was in hopes that some OF the friends OF
this bill would 10 amend IT before II reached this
o% 30 b 20
To act with regard TO the road within their limits. Every
member OF the Senate understands the amendment; and
will not therefore consume time in debating II. sim
ply ask for the yeas and nays upon IT,
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr. RUSK. All have to say is that the adoption OF
this amendment will disjoln the whole bill.
Mr.. SHIELDS am as friendly TO the bill a. the
honorable senator from Texas; but has been my i'm
preston that this bill would never have received half
the opposition which it has met with If II were confined
the Territories, leaving the States Tree to act upon the
subject within their own Jurisdictions The matter has
been ably and placed before the senate Dy
the honorable senator from Michigan Mr. CAssl that
will not make a speech upon II.
\ MIR. BRIGHT Absence from my seat during the day
has prevented me from participating actively in the man
agement OF tins bill but fortunately, am here In time
for this amendment and tender 10 the honora
bic senator from illinois Mr. SHELDs] my thanks for
having offered it, The effect OF il TO bring back to the
point raised at early period in the discussion OF this
project further tender my thanks 10 the senator who
called for the yeas and nays upon the amendment
wish TO the recorded upon It,. should like TO
what gentlemen protesting democratic principles who
have heretofore drawn a line between themselves and
party in this country known the wing party, who have
stood opposed to general system OF internal improve
by the general government who have subscribed
TO the theory laid down by Andrew Jackson in his ccle
bated veto message forward and vote against
this amendment The effect OF the bill, II now stands
without such limitation is now proposed, VIII be
to launch the general government upon general system
OF internal improvements, and TO land her. where many
OF the States have been under smar system o. leGis-
lation in a position OF ruin and bankruptcy The sena-
tor from California Mr. Gwsl says We are rich. We
are ricb is true and TO remain 10 we must look to the
constitution as guide all such dangerous questions
of power this As legislator desire to make that
instrument the polar star TO guide in my deliberations
and act. here even though subject mysel 10 the mpu-
tation Of being considered behind the tmea in doing
am anxious TO a line Of communication opened
between The Mssissop valley and the Pacific
any other senator present. and announced early
stage Of this discussion tha, held myself all times
ready and willing to vote land without limit along the
line OF the route, but that would not vote money out of
the national treasury for any such object As question
OF power think very clear that Congress apply
money within the States for objects OF internal improve
r,ores, admit there is more room for doubt ~ to that