The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-11
CON G GRESSI0N All.
SPEECH OF HON. JOHN G. DAVIS,
OF INDIANA


The House being in Committee of the Whole ON the state
Mr. DAVIS, of Indiana said:
Mr. CHARxAS Nothing but imperative sense OF duty
could induced me- the present OCCASION to depart
from my usual member of this body Since
have had the honor of seat in this hall have generally
conened myself with devotng my time and attention TO
the practical business of legislation without occupying the
time of the House in debate confident that in SO doing
should subserve the interests of those represent But
the magnitude of the question before and the deep
interest which my constituents feel in its final disposition
seem to require that should not be entirely silent
during its discussion.
In NV Judgment sir no question Of public policy has
ever agated among the people brought before the
American Congress for its deberation and action
momentous in its character consequences which, II
successful is calculated To result in grcatef practical and
astng berrft the entire country than the proposition to
unite the Atlantic and Pacific by railway across
the continent is therefore no matter OF surprise ,ha.
anxiety and soicitude to the result OF our deliberations
upon tho subject
But Sir |. must frankly admit that owing to the en-
grossng nature of other duties it has not been in my pow
er 10 bestsw upon the question that labor and attention
which its vast Importance demands IL Is, therefore, not
my purpose t possible during the brief hour
allotted TO me by the rules of this body to enter ut large
into the Investigation of the enterprise in all its bearings
social moral political and commercial but simply to pre-
sent for the consideration Of the committee such general
views as have suggested themselves to my mind since the
bill was reported from the select committee. Had how
ever the time and inclination to do So have not the van
ity to believe much light could be shed by
question which has been so well and ably discussed by
the distinguished gentlemen of this and the other branch
of Congress who have preceded me. .st
Sir the idea Of constructing railway across the cont
but few years since regarded by the masses as
Wild visionary, and Utopian scheme, having better
foundation for its feasibility than the ncifu maginations
Of the distinguished gentleman from Missouri [Mr BEN
TOM Asa Whitney, Of New York, and few other carly
pioneers in the movement In fact sir that class Of
who fold their arms and quietly sit down in the belief that
human SKILL science and Improvement have reached the
utmost limit of perfection who always hang incu
bus upon The skirts of progress and advancement in every
common country, and who nsnctvely resist with Il
zeal worthy of better cause every attempt TO improve the
mOru social POLITICAL commercial condition OF their
tllowmen, skepcal alike Of the praccablty Of the
project and of the of the projectors whom
they viewed as visionary innovators, s.
But sir time which tries all things has done its work,
and the project of railroad the Pacific is longer
viewed visionary impracticable scheme The North
American mind has not been idle or inactive The people
have read thought investigated and become convinced
That voice which, but few years ago, weak and eff
fenate is strong and resstless in its favor. The
power Of reason, truth and justice has finally trumphed
over doubt and skepticsm and instead Of solitary
voice here and there in favor of the necessity and prac
cabty of the enterprise we find the people, East West
North and South with unanimty hitherto unknown in
favor OF the project This voice. this sentiment has found
its way into Congress- and demands Of the ves
Of the people legislative acton-promp but calm, eau
tious prudent action And sir should this session ter
inmate without having first matured and adopted
prsctic and constitutional plan for its early
nent and execution we shall return among conshtu-
ents without plausible for the neglect of high
and paramount duty and dsappont their just hopes and
expectations.
The national Legislature has been from time to time ap-
peaed to by memorials from than twenty State legs
atures (amOng which is that of my State j by large
and respectable conventions and meetings in every portion
and embracing among the sgners distinguished alike
by their talent their energy and their influence all urging
legislative action upon the subject Prior however to the
last session. these appeals have been UNDECIDED deaf
has been turned these unmstaabe evidences of popular
sentiment except by favorable reports rcsuting in nc
practical acton by committees of the Senate and House
Fortunately however, the aspect of things has changed
for the better and congratulate the country that have
met here again under favorable auspices brighter
day has dawned upon the project and the doubt and
certainty which cast gloom over the hopes Of its friends
fast giving away before the power of truth and the
lights of argument and investigations and, although the
sequel may prove prophet feel confident from the
indications around me, that majority of this committee
are in favor OF giving legislative mid and encouragement to
this noble enterprise. .rts.
Sir the friends of the Pacific railway have additional
of hope and encouragement in the late message
President Pierce confess looked forward to the views
of distinguished Chief Magistrate this question with
than ordinary interest and anxiety, knowing,
did, that any recommendation emanang from him would
not only command great respect throughout the country
but exercise influence upon the action of Congress also
The favorable in which the President has called
attention to this subject the clear and satcmankc
views with which he has presented it. and the willingness
expressed to cooperate to the extent of his constitutional
power uniting, by speedy transit the populations OF
the Pacific and Atlantic States by of railway,
to me causes of respect and qualification and am
are npprovngy responded to by the great of the
pie The views thus expressed by the President SHALL in
the course OF my remarks have occasion to refer
specifically
The Pacific railway is the gigantic enterprise the
world hns ever known, and completed is destined to
revolut0nize the trade travel and of the earth
But magnificent is the project devoted to its
success and grand and beneficial will unquesonably
be its results shall extravagant reckless
legislation TO the exercise of doubtful constitutional
power In order to accomplish it and it, unfortunately, il
shall turn out that without this system of Legislation
and exercise of doubtful power the work must fail it
never receive my support In the language of President
Pierce I'VE can afford to wait but we cannot afford tc
overlook the ark of our safety
Mr. Chairman before this, any other BILL receive
the sanction of majority Of this committee there
number of important inquiries TO be first satisfactorily
swered; the three most prominent of which
lst Does the public interest require the construction
the road
I'd. Where shall il be located
bst2 "
And to these points | shall mainly direct my remarks
anu respectfully ask the attention of the committee
rrS men, docs the public interest require its
unn answer, without hesitation afirnavely 1t is a
common remark that we progressive people, or thai
we i've In age The truth and force of Tho
observation cannot perhaps he apty illustrated than
b brief reference to the unparalleled advance our coun
try has made in railroad ,y;tb;n ,o s r
or fifteen years and to show the relative poqress mad,
by the United States when compared with FOREIGN conn
tries AS to the extent of this Improvement be leave n
quote from late number of the American Railway rp,.s
the following statistical facts
ke The number of miles of railway now in operaton u,or
the surface of the globe (says that ournalj is thirty vs
sand hundred and eighty miles in the eastern hcm
pherc and nineteen thousand aud eighty miles in III,
western, and which distributed folows the United
States seventeen thousand eight hundred and eleven miles
IN the British possessions two and eighty
IN the island OF Cuba three hundred and i,
ahama tnirtyone miles in South America sixty miles