The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-20
AFFAIRS AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Passage Of the Pacific Railroad Bill in
the Senate.
TEE FRENCH sPoLIATIoN BILL.
The Presidents Veto Sust aimed.
DC, &c, &c.
rHLRTYJTHIRD CONGRESS-.
SECOND SESSION.
senate.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 1855.

WASHINGTON, Feb 10, 1855.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS.
Communication received from the Secretary o
War, accompanied with seventy five copies OF the Army
Register, for the use Of the Senate
Nj CAss (dem of Mich, said he should postpone his
review OF Lord Clarendon's remarks until to morrow.
Mr.. WADE, Gree sOD of Ohio asked for the consdera
ticn Of the resolution respecting Custom Houses and
public Offices for Northern Ohio.
Mr.. SEWARD free soil) of N. ", presented the petit
tion of shpmasters shipowners and merchants of New
York. in favor Of the carriage passenger bill Referred
to the Committee CONVERGE.
joint resolution was passed settle the Of
the Late Governor Burt, of Nebraska.
Mr.. DODGE, (dem.) of Wis, presented three memo
rails from Wisconsin, asking for the establishment OF
land district In Lake Superior.
MIR. MORTON (whg) OF Fla, moved that the Committee
of building for custom house and post Office at Pea
sacola, Florida.
solved that twenty thousand copies OF the State of the
Union be procured for the of Congress- if obtanabe
within the price of one dollar copy.
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD
On motion of Mr.. GwIN, (dem) of Cal, the bill pro.
yidng for railroad from the Mississippi Valley to the
Mr. CLAYTON, (whig) of Del , wanted to see a commu
ncaton between the Eastern States the Pacific but
did not believe either embraced in this bill could be
built built the alternate sections OF land would go
to the builders and nothing would be left to maintain
the road except the treasury of the United States
and there is way travel OF consequence The whole
thing, SO far, is impractcable
Mr. Butler, (dem of $ C., agreed mainly with Mr.
Clayton The scheme was too expensive and the pro-
jectors we're not well informed enough to carry it out
Mr. GEYlR, (whig) Of Mo said-t is proposedto butld
three roaos which will from three to four undred
millions Of dollars. The railroads annually
$50 eco tons OF ron Of which 100 900 manufactured
in the United States The roads now in construction
will soon make the amount consumed annually $50 900
tons exclusive of the roads by this oi Where
is all this iron to from
Mr. (Hh U) Of Ha uaa
sstophed at the earnestnsss with which such
nous project presented He spoke Of the diff
culties OF construction, the unextinguished Indian
titles &c and concluded that he could not vote for any
pant OF the scheme.
Mr. RusK dem Of Tex s. thought the twelve sections
Of land per mile through deserts and the security to
taken for the work, made Mr. Pearce's argument app
cable rather to contractors than to the government.
Mr.. BUTLER pointed out further difficulties, add
Mr.. GwS, (dem) of CAL, replied, answering the OBJ.
Mr.. SEWARD sad he never expected to be here advo.
eating three railroads, but SO it was The objection
too late. He favored the proposed undertaking,
snd thought the country would never be in better
position than Mt present to undertake the enterprise AMI
that the advantages incidental thereto would justify the
undertaking.
Mr. MASON, (dem.) of Va, said that the mails and
munitions Of war would be ted these roads
1t would be government eperpri2e, and he asto
n;shed that tie Senators possessed little information
TO the construction working of the road. He could
ponderous work. and hoped provisions would be made
require the proposals of the contractors to be
to Congress- He moved to amend the bill to that
otje:t.
Messrs CHASE EVANS and BELL continued the discus
sion when at late hour, the bill passed. by vote Of
"a against 81.
NOMINATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
The senatethen went into executive session, at
which Douglas c. Coopsr's nomination to the Southern
SUPPLEMENTARY OF Indian Affairs vice Thomas s. Brew.
removed, was sent in; John Appleton was confirmed
Secretary of legation to London and Mr. Cox of Ohio
confirmed Secretary of Legation to Peru Mr. Atkinson,
Third Auditor, in place OF MIR Burt.
Senate adjourned.