San Andreas independent., 1858-05-22
ATLANTIC NEWS ITEMS.


Francisco on Saturday last with news from
the Atlantic States to the Goth April, brings
the following items of interest:
The Committee of Conference appointed on
compromise differences on the Lecompton Con-
stitution, had taken no definite action. The
impression was general among Washington
politicians and letter writers, that nothing
would be done. The Senate viii not recede
from its vote, and there is no prospect of the
Administration party, on this measure, trl-
umphing in the House. The N. Y. Herald
speaks of the matter as follows:
According to all accounts from Washing
ton, the prospect of compromise in the Kan
sas Conference Committee is exceedingly slim.
The simple fact that the majority of the Sen
ate committee are unconditional Lecompton
men, while the majority of the committee on
the part of the House equally committed
to the condition precedent of the submission
of the Lecompton constitution to the popular
VOTE is almost conclusive of dead failure to
agree"
In the Senate of the U. S., Mr.. Houston, of
Texas, gave notice of his intention, at an early
day. to introduce bill for the establishment
of United States Protectorate over the Re-
public of Mexico.
DEFEAT OF THE PACIFIC RAILROAD BILL.-On
the 14th April, the Pacific Railroad Bill was
taken up in the U. S. Senate. After some
what heightened debate as to the point for the
eastern terminus of the road, in which Messrs.
Green, of Mo-, Seward, of n. Y, Iverson, of
Ca, and Douglas, of ILL.,, participated, the
Senate went into executive session. On the
next day it was taken up again, in order, and
debated at length. Southern Senators gene
rally gave the cold shoulder to the bill. On
the 18th it was again taken up; when
Mr.. Benjamin, of La, said he considered it
obvious that the Senate cannot agree on any
route. With diminished treasury, loans and
prospective expenses, he could not think that
Senators imagine they can pass the bill. lie
would therefore move, as a test vote, that the
farther consideration of the subject be post
poned till December.
Mr.. Gwin, (adm.) of Cal, would consider
such a vote as an indication that the admins
traton does not intend to give any aid to con-
meet the Atlantic with the Pacific, and as
violation of all the pledges of 1856.
Mr.. Johnson, (adm.) of Ark, said the spirit
of sectionalism is so strong that there is no
hope of route offering justice to the South.
He would therefore vote to postpone the SUBJ
ject till December.
Mr.. Houston (opp.) of Texas, moved that
the Eastern terminus of the road be in Ar
kansas, opposite Memphis, Tennessee, and
spoke in favor of the Ell Paso route.
Mr.. Broderick, (opp.) of CAL, reminded the
administration opponents of the bill that the
vote of California was given to Mr.. Buchanan
on the faith of Pacific railroad AS to an
extreme southern route, we might as well have
a railroad to the moon, inaSmuch as it would
cost an equal amount to carry the road from
South Carolina to San Francisco
Mr.. Iverson (adm.) of Ca, was in favor of
the construction of the road, and believed it
constitutional to make such contract Gov
ernment now pays one million three hundred
thousand dollars 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 is the
y
can judge. Mr.. Iverson then explained his
plan, which had been voted down. 1t was a
compromise line, the Big Sioux being on the
parallel of Chicago, the middle of the line be-
ing within reach of ST. Louis and the South,
crossing the Rio Grande somewhere at Albu-
querque, might connect with the Texan lines,
thus giving connection with all the railroad
systems of the country. But as the numeri-
cal strength of the North offered but slight
chance of justice to southern interests, he
0verson) would vote for the postponement of
the matter until December.
Mr.. Green, (adm.) of Mo-, did not like to
hear the issue raised on this question of the
North and South, for the reason that if the
road was 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 "justce, 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 unimpor-
tant to the public interest, but the location of
the termini is important. This bill locates the
Western terminus at San Francisco, but leaves
a floating margin for the Eastern. The reason
that no Eastern terminus is named is because
naming any particular terminus would hazard
the loss of the bill. While he wished to CO.
operate in the great work of connection with
the Pacific, he could not do it with this sup
preston, which was virtually fraud. If we
designate San Francisco as the Western ter
minus, let us designate the eastern, or specify
neither
Mr.. Wilson, (opp.) of Mass, said that the
sentiment of the State of Massachusetts, ap-
proaches unanimity in favor of the Pacific
Railroad, and he would say that she had on
the subject none of the sectional feeling which
she had been represented as having. The
people of Massachusetts are commercial and
manufacturing people, in favor of the best
route North or South, for whichever way it
may be it will benefit them. But he would
vote to postpone the matter, for the reason
that we have nothing yet to act understand
ingly upon. There is diversity of opinion in
the country in regard to the road. The work
is a stupendous undertaking, and every dol
lar expended thereon will be sunk But such
a road will bind the country together-hence
we can afford to sink the money in it. Rail-
roads are necessities, but the capital expended
therein does not remunerate. Nine hundred
millions are invested in railroads, and to-day
they are only worth three hundred and fifty
millions Yet we have increased the wealth
of the country hundreds of millions.
Mr.. Douglas, (opp.) of ILL.,, said he had wit