The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-15

the attention of those who prevented from
favong the measure by the fear IL win become burden
upon the treasury to this part OF my argument. Te
proposition submitted for consideration u.s. that the only
aid asked from the government is simply donation OF
the alternate sections OF land 1t h true that the bill
proposes that the shall advance $l2 500 per
mile IA bonds to the contractors ls section Of
twcnyv miles shall be completed is to say, when
twenty-five miles of the road s made and put into
cesslu operation then the government shall lean to tho
oonracors at five per cent interest $302 500 La bonds
The loan not 10 be made until the section of twenty
five miles Is complete and in running order then tho
government advances for the first time $500 500 In
bonds and patents hreefourths of the alternate sections
of land. tIl ~
Now, before an advance of dollar ia bonds can be
made twenty five miles of the road must be built Then
the government pledges its credit aud acquires lien
mortgage upon the road for the fulment OF the whole
contract Suppose the contractors, after receiving the
$500 500 in bonds and the lands should fall thon the
government would take possession OF the road, which
must have cost the contractors probably 900 per
ie aggregate Of 81 900 000 In other words, to
obtain the loan Of $500 500 In bonds the contractors
give the best security amounting 900 000 that they
will repay the money Even II the Contractors after OBJ
tanning an advance were to fall the government would
be benefited. 1t would then have one-fourth of the
lands and twenty five miles Of the road complete, equip
ped, and in running order which must be worth, in
cuding the rolling stock, over million dollars; by
turning which, it would be enabled to enter into
| a new contract upon equally, If not more favorable
| terms for the other sections.
How then can the government lose money! 1t is
for senators to assert that the passage OF this bill
would the government 100 900 000 and then in
weigh against the magnitude and extravaganza of the
pendure but candid and full consideration requires
the bill to be judged by its provisions and by the
loose Interpretation of Its opponents.
The Illustration adopted has been Of the operation OF
the bill upon section OF the road but it would work
in the manner upon any number that might be
built The principle of tho rule is that upon every dol
lar in bonds advanced by the government security will
be given by the contractors in the ratio Of than
three and that it for the pecuniay interest Of
the government that the contractors should fail in their
contract, as by the failure it would acquire much OF
the road had already been constructed and would thus
be enabled to enter into advantageous contracts for
the remainder.
The government is to be repaid its bonds cM interest
10y the performance Of mail service at rate not to ex-
coed $500 per mie and by the transportation of military
and naval supplies troops and scamen at rates not
cccdng in times of peace war; those which may have
heretofore been paid for similar service.
1t may be urged objection to this bill that the
$500 per mile for carrying daily mall both will
add to the expense of the government in transmitting its
mails to the Pacific These mails carried
both ways semi weekly, weekly, semi monthly, and
monthly not daily mail line exists The annual CON-
pcnsaon for carrying the mail by the present lines is
follows:
Ocean service from New York and New Orleans, via
Panama. to Oregon and California S73s,2 Overland
mail from San Antonio Texas t, San Diego, California,
Sl49 500.
This contract expired the st OF the present month";
after which the of 500 6Gs is to be paid until the LIST
January 1859; and from that time, in consideration of
extra services to be performed in connection with the
great overland mail from ST. Louis and Memphis $780,
4iS per annum is to be the remuneration
These are scini monthly. Then have mi-weclly
overland mail from Memphis and ST. Louis, via Ell Paso,
to San Fnnciscc, 5000, 900.
Then have the weekly route by overland from st.
Joseph to Salt Lake. and thence Pacerve $500, 600.
Then we have the monthly route from Kansas city, via
Albuquerque and TETON Pass, to Stockton, $4,000.
And finally, the semi monthly route from New Orleans
to Tch,iantepec, S250000.
This is for connecting with the Pacific mail steam
ships at Yentosa bay or il they carry through their
own account, to San Francisco, 1926, 000
This great expenditure of So 200 900 is not chagea
bic to California alone The steam lines represent
the great commercial interests equally divided between
the Atlantic, the Gulf Of Mexico and the Pacific and
the overland mails manifest the unfinished link of
necon in all its varied forms between tho Pacific coast
and the northwestern and southwestern States In no
imposing aspect the great Importance and value
of California to this confedecy be presented than by the
contemplation Of these lines OF incr-commu-
ncnton between that State and the rest of the Union
grdng the American continent at six different points,
passing equatorial regions, or struggling through
the eternal SHOWS of northern latitude.
Sir the noonsderabc and feeble political influence of
a single State ON the Pacific could alone have
caused the establishment Of these expensive mailroues
but the statesmen charged with the administration of the
government compelled to listen to and meet the de-
mans of the commercial States OF the Atlantic and the
Gulf OF Mexico and the stock raising and agricultural
States of the Northwest and Southwest to have the mails
carried by these great highways to the Pacific.
And sir cannot refrain from saying to the senator
from Virginia, Mr.. MASON that when as he ntimates,
the effort shall DO made to separate California from the
rest of the Union if she insist that the government shall
nd In building this road the possible condition of her
remaining in the confeteracy these sovereign and
powerful States which have demanded Of this government
the expenditure OF millions of dollars annually in the
mail service to the Pacific imperfect it is win frater
naly group around California and bid her remain among
them Va .g.. ...
Coming back to the question whether the rate OF $500
per mile for daily mail each way, provided for in
this BILL is exorbant allowance 1t will be perceived
that the expense of transporting those mails If the rail-
road is constructed will be diminished ut least million
dollars annually Not only this but they will be carried
daily instead of semi-woely weekly, semi monthly, and
monthly as at present. and in oneourth Of the time
qucd for the present transt, will hereafter show
that the saving to the government in the military trans
portation will be infinitely greater than in the postal
vice. while the efficiency in both will be increased hun
dred fold. III
Having demonstrated Ms conceive that under the
provisions of this bill the government will never be CALI
cd to advance its credit for dollar TO aid in the
construction Of the road without treble security, and
that in the road should be built, while rendering
increased and efficient postal and military service,
it will millions annually to the national treasury
propose to consider whether the prospective ad
vanges that will result from its construction will COM
pensate the government for its land grant.
In the progress and maturity OF a nation there is
gradual system Of growth and development for which its
statesmen should make timely and ample preparation II
is matter of pride with TO contemplate the present
expansion of the republic but let not bc ogetul of
the and of greatness Accident has not
envclopcd us in the splendid reality of the present