The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-12
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. WIN. NJ GwIN,
or CALIFORNIA,

IN The Senate Of the United States, Monday April TO-
1854
lee Of the whole the bill Tor the construction of rail
road from the valley OF the mississippi TO the Pacific
OCEAN
county presents no instance OF measure OF great
,onal importance IN which there has been such unanim
y of public sen tment In its favor the project OF
nectng the Atlantic aud Pacific by means OF railway.
We are left in doubt TO the Judgment of the Amer
can people on this subject. The agricultural CONNER
ca mechanical and manufacturing INTERESTS states
men who held, and who hold, high places in the
councils OF The nation our sitzens in primary assem-
bes and legislatures of sovereign Staes have declared
in ts favor and the press IN its power, in terms not to
be misunderstood has echoed and re-echoed public op
ion in It's support from end of The Union TO the other
Yet pohing definite, thus far, has been done, although ap
peas have again and again been made 10 the Congress OF
be United States 10 take the Initiative in this great
ue. Upon what plea can we 60 before the tribunal OF
public opinion, and excuse ourselves Tor longer delay
With overfowing treasury, whose annual accumula-
lions are OF embarrassment reversing the eXpe-
rience OF all other nations and happy in The quel, yet
prog development OF the arts OF Ieace without
speCk OF threatening our horzon what time more
popous than the present Tor 10 act in this matter,
earnestly pressed upon us by public sentiment. and which
the Chief Magistrate has distinctly Recommended in
his annual message TO Congress
Ask me "foT anything but thne said The great Napo-
leon, "and you shall have it." Is there any senator
friendly 10 this who is nsensble to the i'm.
portance OF immediate legislation in regard to it, Indi
vduals Tor few fleeing years perform lheir part and
fairs Their usefulness in the role OF life is then
in the wisdom of their policy, OF which posley will
best Judge The necessity for this work. in thousand
forms. crowds upon the mind survey our present
condition, our capacities, our wants. The enriching
power OF trade foreign end domestic and The prospect OF
our advance in greatness, the inducements TO begin
il now The results no one at this time properly
estimate
The select committee charged With this subject have
given it that careful examination which its importance
demands, and have instructed me, chairman, report
the bill now under consideration. To secure prompt
cordial and if possible unanimity OF action, we have
enleavored carefully TO exclude everything that might
give rse 10 constitutional doubt objection, tending
in any manner create local or sectional pTejudces
1t proposes grant OF land by the government, slmi
lar that repeatedly conceded IRON The days OF Presi
dent Monroe-thrty years ago--down, through every
successive administration, 10 the present period, with
reasonable compensation for carrying the United States
mails 1t establishes no eastern terminus II gives no
preference 10 any State in the great vail OF the Mis-
ssspp-no advantage 10 any particular locality except
that given by Nature hersef and assigns the contract,
on ample secuy TO the best bidder, after full and fair
competition. The no more than adequate 10
secure the result and not dollar is 10 be paid from the
national treasury exceps for service performed, BY this
bill the mail will be carried daily both ways, in less
than week, from Atlantic and Pacific borders for
little more than costs Tor semi monthly mail,
capying four weeks IN the transit. Without the road
the lands valueless IN this great territorial expanse
but with it. the alternate sections will bring mio OF
dollars into the treasury, whilst entefprlsng and
dusrous population will settle, cultivate, and rapidly fill
up the country either side of the route from The Mis-
sssipp TO ihe Pacific
Is il not our clear constitutional right TO construct this
grea, ighway tbroagh The territory OF the United States
Could language be more explicit than the delegation OF
authority in the fourth article OF the constitution, for
Congress dispose Of, and make all needfu rules and
regulations respecting the territory OF the United States
coupled with the power given In the first article. TO
establish post offices and post roads saying nothing of
those powers naturally flowing OF that instrument 10
carry out its great purposes The POSTAL system
stipulated for, under the confederation. In the
ninth article Congress had the exclusive rig OF esab-
o
another throughout the United States, and exacng such
postage the papers passing through The same as may
be requisite deiray the expenses OF the said Office.
When the original draugbt OF the constitution pre-.
pared only proposed 10 give Congress the power to
establish post Offices. but II was amended by adding and
post roads !" in which form II was aequiesced IN and
adopted without opposition.
The Federalis, in an article prepared by Mr. Madison
in discussing the provisions Of the proposed form OF
government, declared that tie power OF establishing
post roads must. in every view, be harmess power
and may perhaps, by udlcous management, become pro-
ductrve oi great public convenience. Nothing which
tends facilitate the intercourse between the States
be deemed unworthy OF The public care
The articles OF confederation had been projected before
the date OF of independence On the lth OF June
1916, the revolutionary Congress resolved that "a com
mil,ee be appointed to prepare and digest the form OF
confederation 10 be entered INTO between the colonies
Their ratification, however did not begin until i77s,
not finished nnul lsi March, 1881 From this pero,
until The year 1889, wbeu on the ih March, the frs
Congress under the constitution the power giveI
in respect the postal system resulted IN The establish
men Gi posi- ounces, Win Total extent
mail route OF 1915 miles al cost for mail TRANSPORTATION
OF S22 OSl The efficacy oi the aud enlarged delega
ton OF power the constitution appears in the tact that
in the ten years Immediately preceding the beginning
The present century, little over the peuod in which ~
postal system bad existed under the confederation, th
number OF post Offices in the Union rose to s03, witt
an exien, Of poe,-rouie Of 2o,s7 milcs, al COS
oi mail transportation OF Si2s,6A. The succeedal
ten years increased 1900 post Offices, with 3640
miles OF poe-rouie, at cost Tor mail ot 1927,
966 From that period il has been steadily advancing
unl an The year 1852, there 20,gol post Offices
2i< ASA miles OF post route At cost for mail transit o 4
225 3If whilst now, for the past yegr, 1881 hay
2276e post Offices 21S,743 miles OF postroule and 81,
9so75s paid by the people for organizing enarglng
perfectng this mighty system, which, like the
the human body - designed 10 be extended ever
part OF our county, carrying intelligence from the cenln
TO the eItremilles OF the republic Is Il not uniyersa
admitted that intelligence, 1.-THE result Of educatop in al
lie forms IS be vital principle OF popular institutions
the OF life that il to sustain them, and renew
its regular flow, their health and powstl
Is not the authority which the constitution coners 10
promoting the and sciences, and the policy esab
lshed BY the founders OF this government n seitin
apart portion Of public domain 10 the of eda
cation an evidence OF the importance they attach to tn
dissemination OF knowledge as the handspring Of pro
gressl "
The prompt, speedy unication OF intelligence is
dssderainm OF the age Not only so but IL s denande
ssa necesslyi for seek H. like the dfusive light
DAY, az an element, not merely OF social enjoyment, 0
mental Improvement, but oi Industrial prosperity
Inc Geographic wires stretching over the Union
the bfiush Isles, upon the continent OF Europe, eve
reaching ASIA and norherr Africa passing over river
ana under lnand seas, and the millions that are paid 10
we service, confirm The truth here asserted
me posi- morse and country road have yielded 70 ih
pos, coaeh and tufnpke these to the railway and
engnei whilst, N speed Of transmission the eectri
power has passed The sumSt OF human expectation, b.
h hhp"nphs over time and space Upon what groun