Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-03-20

made between these parties? What
the understanding alluded to, BY whic
the vote of member upon propositio
he disapproves Of, is 80 Influenced that
may be cast in favor Of it, provided othe
parties will do something as an equivalent
| Mr.. Eastman. 1 feel it my duty to il,
terrupt the gentleman.
| The Speaker. Does the gentleman fron
Virgins yield the floor?
Mr.. Letcher. Oh, certainly. | shal
not practice on him what he wanted L
pactice on me.
Mr.. Eastman desire TO correct
statement OF fact, and to set the gentleman
right as he goes along. | did not under
stand my colleague as saying what tn,
gentleman has put into his mouth, AMI
with the leave Of the House will reat
what he did say. Mr.. Wells said:
"The gentleman from Illinois MIR
Wentworth) has called to say whether
acquiesce in this measure. would reply
that have been opposed to it. opposed
it before the committee. have no hest.
tation in saying that it is generally con.
sidered as unfavorable 20 the Milwaukee
and Lake Shore interests. The bill hav.
ing passed the Senate, came to the House.
The majority of the committee were in
favor of it. The rest of the delegation
from Wisconsin were known TO advocate
its passage; and had concluded not to
make open opposition to i on this floor,
with the understanding that my colleague
would also remain silent, and that we
should leave the House to pass upon its
merits, after both sides had been fairly
presented by those not Immediately inter-
ested. | have adopted this course, too, in
the hope that it would secure favorable
consideration to other bills, which would
directly benefit the interests which more
Immediately represent"
That is what he diu say.
A Member. Abr but there something
more alter that.
Mr.. Letcher. Wait a moment, and
will read for the gentleman.
Mr.. Eastman. Yes, he went ON further
to say, in answer TO question whether
he would vote for the bill:
II suppose have the right to answer
aflirmatiyely, or negatively, or NEITHER
In the present condition OF things, pre-.
fer not to answer at all, but TO wait tht
further action Of the House,"
Now, where is the contract that the
gentleman alluded to- As for me, know
Of no contract. l have made no contract
| state, as l stated before, that I live in q
remote part of the State. am as iavora-
bic to one railroad as am to another; to
the Milwaukee and Mississippi road as
am to this, and to this as | am 10 that; bu,
what say is, that one should not be pass.
ed at the expense OF the other. have
made no contract. am above contracts
am not to be bought, and neither am
to be inundated.
Mr.. Letcher. Here is what the gentle.
man omitted TO read:
"Mr. Disney. desire 10 ask the gen.
man from Wisconsin whether he intends
to Tote for the bill now under considera-
tionI
"Mr. Wells. have some question
about it,"
Why had Mr.. Wells "some question:
about it, Had not he already acknowl-
edged that he was opposed to the bills-
So great was his opposition to it, that he
even went before the committee and man.
ilested his opposition to it by seeking tc
defeat its introduction into this House by
its passage through that committee. What
then, is THAT induces him to announce &c
this House that he has "some question
about it!" 1t is the mere fact that he sud
the other gentleman from Wisconsin hat
agreed that neither should say anything
And. by the way, with that agreement
how comes il that he Mr.. Eastman) make.
speech to-day in favor Of the BILL and
then moves the previous question: How
can that be explainedl
Mr.. Eastman. | apprehend that there
is more than one gentleman from Wiscon
sic. Does he allude to me?
Mr.. Letcher. There are three here. -
take 1t the gentleman on the other side
of the House is in for II rather deeper that
you are, from all can see. Laughter.
But, sir, the gentleman over the wa,
tells US that there is nothing in this bill
which is calculated to conflict with the in
terests already created by legislative act
in the State Of Wisconsin in the establish
ment Of other roads. Now, | shall en-
deavor to satisfy the House, from
map which l have before me, that Their
is a direct and positive conflict; and TIA
if Congress shall step in and pass this bill
in this shape in which it has been intro
duced into this House, it will lend isel
to the accomplishment OF destruction o
the private rights and the pecuniary in
terests of various individuals on the line o
the Milwaukee and Madison road, which
have been embarked in that scheme
What is it they propose to do' Unde
this bill they propose to grant lands TO {
railroad which is called the Rock Rive
Union Valley railroad, that commences a
Chicago and runs northwest to the towI
Of Janesville. Then, sir, 1t runs north
west to Fond du Lac. Then it runs near
ly in north direction for some twent,
miles. Then it runs in rather north
westerly direction, somewhat zigzag, t.
the point on Lake Superior.
Why is it, ask, when road is pro
jected, (the Mississippi and Lake Shore
Railroad from the town Of Chicago direc
to Fond du Lac, distance of one hundred
and fifty miles, that they are seeking b,
this road to establish another between til,
same points by running around through
the interior SO as to avoid the harbors ant
the cities located on the lake shore1 II
our country, and ! im--gine even in tht