Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-12-24
rH1RrY.r1rrH coNGREss-sEcoND SESSION
MoSpAY. DECEMBER 30. lS5S.
Sen ATE

Mr.. Kennedy presented the petition oi a par
ticpant in the war of lSl2. for compensation
for service.
Mr.. Allen moved that when the Senate adj
iourn on the I'D inst, it be to meet on The 18th
January. Calricd-Yeas % nays 81
Mr.. Crittcndcn said that he had long and
anXously waited to see some action on the
French spoliation bill lie gave notice that he
would call it up on the 9TH January. 1879.
The Pacific Railroad bill WAS then taken up.
Mr.. Wilson's bill may he condensed a. fol
lows:
Sec |. The cnac;ing clause for the con>tri'-
ton of railroad from Missouri river Ia San
Francisco, authorizing the President tn appoint
five acting engineers. citizens ot the nitc'i
States. To constitute board to locate the route,
for the transportation Of the mails troops, sea.
men. munitions of war, &c., &c, through the
region between 3ith and i3rd parallels from Il
point between the mouths Of the Big Sioux
and Kansas rivers to san Francisco.
Sec > That the commissioners take an oath
faithfully to perform their own duties; they
shall appoint secretary or secretaries, as" II
be sworn Said commissioners shall have full
power 10 summon and caiiSc witnesses to bc
sworn They shall meet at the city of Wash
incton 10 organize said commission: and they
must terminate their duties within two years
from the date of their appointment
Sec. 3. The salary Of each commissioner
shall be five thousand dollars per annum, and
their Secretaries two thousand five hundred
dollars. The President Is also authorized 10
prepare for and meet contingent expenses
Sec. t. The commissioners shall determine
on the selection Of route within two years,
and report their decision To the President, who
shall announce it by proclamation Is the route
for the Pacific railroad
See j. When the Locations is announced by
the President. the Secretaries o, War and In
terror. Postmaster General and Attorney Gc;:c-
raj shlli constitute 4 board oi commissioners
10 direct the construction of said road They
shall from time to time i>>iic proposals 70: is
construction by contract, in sections Of twenty
five miles. They shall report annually 10 The
President. who shall report to Congress.
Sec. Ii. That for the purpose of constructing
said read the President BE- authorized begin
ming at any time within twelve months after
the date Of hi, proclamation locating said road.
annually TO borrow, on the credit Of the United
States such SUNS ~ are ncc,liul not exceeding
ten millions in any one year.
than Il thousand dollars each for the amount :"
wears from the date Of iSs,lr and shall bear in
tcrcSt not exceeding five per cent. payable
sc;ni.allnuilly with coupons attached and ,hc
Secretary Of the Treasury be authorized from
time to time. ., the President may require. 30
issue such bonds; ard the said Secretary shall
report to Congress- At the commencement, Of
each session, the amount Of moncy borrowed
under the act, with an abstract OF all prop0-
nd
rejected.
See. 5. From and after the passage o! this
act until the location Of said railroad be an
nounccd. all public lands between @lth and
I'D parallels he withheld from sale. but shall
he open 10 prc.e!np,on by actual settlers. alter
the date Of the said proclamation hy the Prc-i-
dent; the proceed, Of all sales of public lands
for distance Of $50 miles on cac!i side oil said
railroad, with the exception Of reserves for the
purposes Of education, shall constitute 4 fund
Tor the construction 81 the road. and iol pay
mcnt Of the interest and redemption Of the
principal of tine bonds issued iIr the SAID con-
Structon.
The matter before the Senate was Mr.. Polk 5
amendment to the Pacific Railroad BILL TO
strike out in section |, lines and :. the follow
ing words. viz: From - point on the Missouri
river between the mouths of the Biz Sioux and
Kansas rivers, and insert. between point in
the boundary Of Minnesota, on the 18th paral-
lei of north latitude and the southern boundary
line Of the United States.
The amendment was lost by the following
vote:
yw,-yre..r. Alien. Bates, CLAY. Davis: F.apasrics.
Houston Hunter, IreF:on Kennedy Polk Reid Sebastian
Shields Sli,cl stuart Tunl- and Ward-li.
N.Ys-M-,sr, iicler Bright Frederick, Chandler. Car.
Colamer cr!t;enden. Dixon poci'tl" pnrkse Fe''"nen
fitch, Foot Foster, twin al-, Hammond Harlan, J"ne'
King Mason Rice. Seward Simmons. Thompson OF Ken
tucIy, TrumluIl, Wade, Wilson and wrisli-:?.
Mr.. Rice spoke at some length. He was in
favor of railroad. because his constituents
were deeply interested in it, They were very
remote. and desired TO be in communication
with their fellow-ctizcnS on both the Pacific
and Atlantic.
Mr.. Foster discussed the merits Of the road
chiefly in regard 10 the question Of tariff. and
dwclt with force on the necessity Of building
the road exclusively Of American iron. which
he held was better than foreign iron. He moved
an amendment that in section :, from lines j?
20 -. the words AL duties on rail road iron
imported and laid down on said road shall he
charged to the contracting party and paid TO
the United States. by dcluc:ing the amount
from the credit 10 be given for the scrvic. first
performed under this act Provided, further,
That if American manufactured rail road iron
Of equal qualities, shall be offered to the said
contracting party. which, including all items Of
eos; Of manufacture, sale. and delivery shall
no: exceed the like cost Of such iron obtained
from foreign countries. the American manulac-
tnrcd iron shall be preferred and used bT said
contracting party be struck out, and instead
be inserted clause enactng that the road be
built exclusively Of American iron.
Mr.. Seward spoke in favor of the amend
mcnt.
Mr.. Simmons also spoke in lis favor.
Mr.. Clingman thought the most cXrcdicnt
way Of meeting the question would be to take
Off the duty on iron. In consequence Of the
ci,eapncss of labor in England foreign iron is
cheaper than American; and the question is.
shall we or shall we not avail ourselves Of cheap
iron. get the road under weigh and have our
produce brought to market: He thought the
contractors ought to be authorized to get the
best iron where they could and as cheap aS
they could.
Mr. Seward Every portion Of the railroad
will be within the Territory Of the United
States. II American iron was used. il would
he drawn from the localities surrounding the
line. Taking this into consideration. and also
the expense Of transporting English iron across
the Atlantic he thought that it would he cheap
er and better to use the american.
Mr. Bigcr had spoken with experienced rail
road men on the subject. lie thought the
Senator from New York (Mr. Scward) had
taken strong, practical view Of the question.
American iron was superior to foreign iron;
and no greater contrast in favor of homemade
iron could be adduccd than that afforded by the
Pennsylvania railroad and the Baltimore anil
Ohio railroad, With every resource Of any
other country. and greater ingenuity, why
should not this great work be constructed Of
American material: He was strongly III favor
Of American iron.
Mr. Ivcrson explained that probably it would