The Nevada Democrat., 1858-05-26
The pasilc Ral1road In the U. 5. Senate.


In the Senate, April 18th, the Pacific Rail-
read bill was taken mp.
Mr.. Benjamin, of Louisiana, considered it OBJ
Vious that the Senate cann0t agree on any route
With diminished treasury, loans and prospec-
tive expenses, he could not think that Senators
imaging that they canpass the bill. He would
therefore move, as q test vote, that the further
consideration of the subject be postponed till
December.
Mr.. Gwin, of California, would consider such
q vote an indication that the Administration
does not intend to give any aid to connect the
Atlantic with the Pacific and as violation of
all the pledges of 1856.
Mr.. johnson, Of Arkansas, said the spirit of
sectionalism was so strong that there was no
hope Of q route Offering justice to the South
He would therefore vete to postpone the sub
ject till December.
srn terminus of the road be in Arkansas, oppo-
site Memphis, Tennessee, and spoke in favor of
the El Paso route
Mr.. Broderick, OF California, reminded the
Administration opponents of the bill that the
vste of California was given to Mr.. Buchanan
on the faith of Pacific Railroad. AS to an
extreme Southern route, we might as well have
railroad to the moon inasmuch as IL would
sest an equal amount to carry the read from
oOutn OhllIOTulh W Dhu rEuuCinCOs
Nr. Iverson, of Georgia, was in favor Of tho
construction Of the road, and believed it consti-
tutional to make such contract. Government
now pays 81 300, 600 annually for carrying the
mails from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Thus,
before thirty years it will have expended, at
the present rates, fifty millions while the rail-
road will cost only twenty-five. Which 10 the
most economical, the Senate and the country
can judge He then explained bis plan, which
oK..foo
line, the Big Sioux being en- the parallel of
Chicago, the middle of the line being within
reach Of St. Louis and the South, crossing the
Rio Grande somewhere at Albuquerque, might
connect with the Texan line, thus giving con-
Aection with all the railroad systems of the
country. But as the numerical strength Of the
North offered but slight chance Of justice to
southsrn interests, he Qverson) would vote for
the pestponsment of the matter until Deem
Der.
Mr.. Green, of Missouri, did not like to hear
the issue raised on the question of North and
South, for the reason that if the road is built
at all, it will be for the interests of ALL He
believed that the public sentiment of the North
itself would sustain this view, and that the
North would do 'justiee, though the heavens
fall" We can have but one road, hence the
central route offers nearly equal justice to the
North and South. The course Of the trunk line
is comparatively unimportant to the public in
terest, but the location Of ths termini is impor
tant. This bill locates the western terminus at
San Francisco, but leaves floating margin for
the eastern. The reason that no certain termi-
nus is named is because naming any particular
terminus would hazard the loss of the BILL
While he wished to cooperate in the great work
of connection with the Pacific, he could not do
IL with this suppression, which was virtually q
fraud If we designate San Francisco as the
western terminus, let us designate the eastern,
or specify neither.
Mr.. Wilson, of Massachusetts,, said that the
sentiment Of the State of Massachusetts APP
Railroad, and be would say that she had on the
subject none Of the sectional feeling which she
had bsen represented as having. The people
Of Massachusetts, are a commercial and manu-
featuring people, in favor of the best route,
North or South-for, whichever way it may be,
il will benefit them. But he would vote to
postpone the matter, for the reason that we
have nothing yet to act understandingly upon.
There is diversity OF opinion in the country in
regard to the road. The work is stupendous
undertaking, and every dollar expended thereon
will be snnk. But such road will bind the
cssntry togsther-hence we can afford to sink
the meney In it. Railroads are necessities, but
the capital expended therein does not remuner-
ate. Nine hundred millions are invested 10 |
railroads and to-day they are only worth three |
hundred and City millions. Yet, we have in
creased the wealth of the country hundreds of
millions. The treasury, however, is in no con-
diton to undertake this or any other great ma.
tional work. We are fastening on with expen-
ditures greater than at any period of eur history.
Our duty, therefore, is to husband the resources
Of the country. We are hardly out of great
crisis Commerce and and manufactures are
depressed and there is no capital to invest He
did not believe that either northern or southern
capitalists would be induced to invest Hence
the organization of the company will pass into
the hands of bankrupt hacks, commercial aud
political irresponsible parties without character
who will damn the whole concern. When the
Government and the people are out of debt, we
may then find responsible capitalists to under
take the building Of the road, appreciatng the
magnitude of the enterprise.
Mr.. Douglas, of Illinois, said he had witnessed
with deep regret the indications of defeating the
Pacific Railroad this session, All the Presiden-
tial candidates were pledged to it. 1t was almost
the only question in the last campaign on which
there was but ene opinion. 1t was strange that
measure so long before the country should be
made subject of such disagreement If the
bill was not the best that could be, let it be
modified, and let all unite in the great object of
connecting the Mississippi Valley with the Pa |
bill the most careful consideration aud it is the
best bill ever offered Oh the subject The bill
is fair in its location-it fixes the termini and
leaves the selection of the route to the cap.
italists who have put their money in it for
veal or woe. San Francisco is the great centre
Of the commerce of the Pacific, and no system |
will be complete unless it reaches there-hsnce |
San Francisco was made the Western terminus
Il is essential that the Eastern terminus should
be connected with the navigable waters of the
Mississippi. El Passo is thousand miles in the
interior, isquring railroad to reach it. He
(Douglas) had no objection to Mr.. Iversen's
roate, but definitely fixing upon any point
wsuld divide the friends of the measure. Fer
Northern aud Southern route his opinion was
fer the Northern, Stevens, and for the South
ern, the Albuquerque. But if there was to be
only one road the public interest indicates that |
II shall be as near the heart and center of the |
Republic as possible. 1t is great national
measure, the greatest now before the country |