Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-04-20
PUBLISHED "AILY AND TRI-NEEkLY BY
EDGAR SNOWDEN.
ALEXANDRIA,:
TUESDAY MORNING, APRIL 90, 1858,
Tn, P.e,1nc R.,iroad BIZ

Has received its quietus in the Senate, Tor
the present session, at least. ln the Senate,
on Saturday, the bill being taken up for CON
siderstion, Mr.. BENJAMIN alluded to the pre-
sent exhausted condition of the Treasury, the
small receipts of revenue, and the expenses
incident to the war with Utah, as so many
reasons why the bill could not be passed dur
ing the present session Of Congress, and he,
therefore, moved to postpone its further con-
celebration until the first Monday in Decem-
Der next.
Mr.. GwIN said be should regard vote Of
that sort as evidence that Congress did not
intend to authorize any railroad to Call
fornia.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Arkansas, thought that
within the few weeks remaining Of the SEES
sion, there would not be time to mature this
bill, and lie was, therefore, 10 favor of it's
postponement He was also of opinion that
the route selected for the road would not be
such one as to afford any advantage to the
South.
Mr.. HoUsroN said that he was in favor Of
having the eastern terminus at point on the
Mls6iSeippl, OppOoite AueihpuIo.
Mr.. IvERsoN announced bis intention to
vote for the postponement, believing that
there would be no concession on the part OF
members from the North. in either House OF
Congress, to have such scheme as would De
fair, just, and equal to all sections OF the
COnfederacy.
Mr.. GREEN objected to the bill, because,
while it fixed the western terminus at San
Francisco, it left the eastern terminus iodch-
mite, intending to deceive some OF those who
supported the bill. lie was opposed to Pa
ci6o railroad whose benefits should inure
wholly to the North or to the South; but he
was in favor of road upon central route,
for the benefit of the whole country.
Mr.. Wilson was in favor of the bill, but
should vote for the postponement, on the
ground that the revenue of the country is at
the present time inadequate to meet the cur
rent expenditures, and instead of embarking
in vast undertaking like this, the true .poli.
CIV of the Government should be to husband
its resources.
Mr.. DOUGLAS said be had listened with deep
repret to the Indications that this measure
was to be defeated. lie went on to show the
importance of the work, and said that to
postpone it now, would be il effect to post
pone it until after the next Presidential elec-
ton. If there was not time to consider the
subject at q long session of Congress, 1t was
10 vain to think of taking it up at a short
session. Then the next long session will be
on the eve Of the Presidential election, and
all parties will want the matter postponed
for the incoming Administration to have the
credit OF it, Just as they did two years ago
This was work Of great national Importance
and be hoped it would be acted upon during
the present session.
Mir. BELL made few remarks Oh the same
eide of the question.
The question being taken, the motion OF
Mr.. Benjamin was decided 10 the affirmative,
as follows:
YEAs-Messrs Bayard Benjamin. Bisss
Brown, Clark, Clay, Collamer, Dixon Evans
Fessenden, Fitzpatrick, Hale, Hammond, HouS
ton, Hunter, lverson, Johnson OF Arkansas, john
son of Tennessee, Mason, Pearce, Sebastian
Slidell, Thomson of New Jersey, wade and
Wilson-25.
NAys-Messrs Allen, Bell, Bgler, Bright
Broderick, Chandler, Dooli,tle, Douglas fitch
Foot, Green, Gwin Henderson, Kennedy king
Polk. Pugh, Seward, Summons, Stuart, lrumo"li
and Wright-22.