Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-03-22
WISCONSIN RAILROAD GRANT.
Speech of Hon. John Letcher,
OF VIRGINIA,
In the House Of Representatives, March l, 1854
iH reply to Mr., Disney, Of Ohio, aad others.

OF VIRGINIA,
In the House Of Representatives., March l., 1854,
i@ reply to Mr. Disney, Of Ohio, aad others.
Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that the pol
icy which has been adopted with regard to
thus bill, indicates very clea,ly to the House
the necessity for thorough examination
of all the measures of this character which
are presented for our consideration. 1t
seems to me that this policy proves conclu-
sively the propriety of referring all such
measures to committee ofthe whole House,
where an opportunity may be given for
discussion and investigation in regard to
their merits.
Now, sir, here is proposition which has
been brought into this House, and without
giving aay member an opportunity of ex-
aminiag into its details, or .he principles in
volved in it, motion TO stop debate Is made
by the chairman of the Committee on Pub
lie Lands, (Mr. Disney,) after a speech
from himself, and after another speech from
member who is interested in this road
After two speeches upon one side, and
none upon the other, an attempt is made to
gag everybody who is opposed to 1t, and
rush it through the House under the opera
tion of the previous question.
Sir, ii this proposition had merits, II Its
various provisions could bear the test OF
careful examination, if the considerations
which were alluded 10 by the gentleman
from Wisconsin (Mr. Wells) Oh yesterday,
could bear the light of single moment,
would such course as this have been a.
dopted? | was struck with the avowal
made upon this floor yesterday, by the gen.
tleman from Wisconsin. L do not know
what part of the State he comes from
A MEMBER. From Milwaukee.
Mr.. LETCHER. Yes, from Milwaukee.
He told US that he was opposed to this bill !;
that he had opposed it in committee, but
that he intended to wait, under an under
standing with his colleagues here, to see
whether contract was to be eXecuted.--
What contract? What contract has been
made between these parties? What is the
understanding alluded to, by which the vote
of member upon proposition he dlsap-
proves of, is so Influenced that in may be
cast in favor of it, provided other parties
w,ll do something as an equivalent?
Mr.. EASTMAN. feel it my duty to
interrupt the gentleman.
The SPEAKER. Does the gentleman
from Virginia yield the floor?
Mr.. LETCHER. Oh, certainly. | shall
not practice on hm what he wanted to prac-
lice on me-
Mr.. EASTMAN. desire to correct a
Ia rf foc To coff ba m N
right as he goes along. did not under
stand my colleague as saying what the gen
teman has put into his mouth, and, with
the leave Of the House, will read what he
did say. Mr. Wells said:
''TAe gentleman from Illinois Mr.. Wentworth
has called upoa sa sag whether acquiesce ia
this measure. would reply that have been
opposed to it. | opposed it before the committee.
have no hesitation in saying that it is geaeraliy
considered as anfavovable to the Milwaukee and
Lake Shere interests. The bill, having passed
the Senate, came to the House. The majority Of
the committee were in favor oft. The rest ofthe
delegation from Wisconsin were known to advo-
cate its passage and had concluded not to make
open opposition to it on this floor, with the under
standing that ing colleague would also remain
SILENT and that we should leave the House to pass
presented by those not immediately Interested
| have adopted this course, too, ia the hope that
il would secure favorable consideration to other
bills, which would directly benefit The interests
which more Immediately represent"
That is what he did say.
A MEMBER. All but there was some
thing more after that.
| Mr.. LETCHER, Wait moment, and
will read it for the gentleman.
Mr.. EASTMAN. Yes, he went on fur
ther to say, in answer to question wheth-
er he would vote for the bill
81 suppose have the right to answer affirma
lively, or negatively, or neither. In the present
coadtiOn of things, prefer not to answer at all,
but to wait the further action Of the House"
Now, where is the contract that the gen.
tleman alluded to- As for me, know Of
no contract. have made no contract
| state, as / stated before, that live in
remote part ofthe State. am as favora-
Bile TO one railroad as | am to another to
the Milwaukee and Mississippi road as am
to this, and to this as am to that but what
say is, that one should not be passed at
the expense of the other. | have made no
contract am above contracts. am not
to be bought, and neither am | to be atim-
idated.
Mr.. LETCHER. Here IS what the gen.
teman omitted TO read:
''Mr. DISNEY. desire to ask the gentleman
from Wisconsin whether he intends TO vote for the
bill now under consideration 2"
"Mr. WELLS. have some question about it."
Why had Mr.. Wells ''some question" a.
bout it? Had not he already acknowledged
that he was opposed to the bill? So great
was his opposition TO it, that he even went
before the committee and manifested his
opposition to it by seeking to defeat its in
production into this House by its passage
through that committee. What then, is it
that induces hlm to announce to this House
that he has "some question about i. :" 1t
is the mere fact that he and the other gen.
tleman from Wisconsin had agreed that nei
ther should say anything And, by the
way, with that agreement, how comes it
that he Mr.. Eastman makes a speech to-
day in favor of the bill, and then moves the
previous question: How can that be ex-
planned?
Mr.. EASTMAN. Iapprehend that there
is more than one gentleman from Wiscon
sin. Does he allude to me?
Mr.. LETCHER. There are three here.
| take it the gentleman on the other side of
the House is in for it rather deeper than
you are, from all can see, Laughter.
But, sir, the gentleman over the way tells
us that thess<S nothing in this bill which IS
calculated to conflict with the interests al
ready created by legislative acts in the
State of Wisconsin in the establishment of
other roads. Now T shall endeovor to sat- |