The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-20
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 1859.
The Pacific Railroad bill pending in the Senate
exhibits more vitality than its best friends could
have hoped for it few days ago, and the decisive
vote of this morning, against Mr.. BRowN's motion
to lay it upon the table has quite revived the spr-
its of its advocates The fact is that the measure
is believed to be highly popular one, and not a
few who would like to see it defeated are ndsposed
to take the responsibility of bringing about such
result. In this consists its strength. The bill has
stood the test of many assaults, and while no
amendments have been fastened upon it calculated
to damage it upon the final passage, several minor
ones have been adopted that materially add to its
efficacy. Among these is one providing SIS 900 per
mile for the construction of that portion of the
work lying between the two terminal divisions of
the road, each five hundred miles in length.
Another withholds half the lands appropriated for
the construction of these terminal divisions as n
guarantee for the completion of the work over the
Central division.
The constitutional power of Congress to con-
struct a road within a State, was discussed
this morning upon Mr.. PUGH's amendment,
limiting the extension of the road to the Eastern
boundary of California. The Senator from Ohio
had said that whatever authority Congress might
lind to build the road in the Territories, he could
lind none in the Constitution for the construction
within the limits of sovereign State. Mr. GwIN,
in reply, again presented the peculiar character OF
the pending BILL which does not provide for the
construction of the road by Congress, but simply
proposes contracts for carrying the mails of the
UNITED STATES, ard munitions of war by railroad
just as Congress authorizes the transportation of
mails "by four horse coaches or anv other stated
means. To aid the contractors in doing this, the
bill proposes to advance them lands and money as
part of the consideration for the service to be
rendered.
Mr.. SIMMONS of Il. l., answered the constitution
al objections OF Mr. PUGH, by the suggestion that
Congress may construct road in any or all of the
States under the war-making power. Mr.. BENJA-
MIN, OF La, admitted this argument, provided the
work proposed was really urged as war measure
This, however, he denied. The road proposed was
commercial road, and the proposition that it was
necessary for the defence of the country he held
be mere preteXt for an evasion of the Constitu-
ton. He did not consider the work necessary for
the public defence. Munitions of war enough to
last quarter of century could be sent by sea
around to California for the cost of maintaining the
proposed railroad during single year, and in the
event OF war we could march troops across the
country to San Francisco quite as soon as any Euro
pean power could send troops to attack
Mr. DAVIS replied to these suggestions with much
spirit and force. After congratuating the Senator
from Louisiana for his new born zeal in behalf of
the Democratic doctrine against "interna improve
ments' by the General Government, he showed
that 1t is impossible to keep great stores of NUM-
lions OF war upon the Pacific coast; that in time
of war the enemy could easily intercept our vessels
Francisco, and that the road across the continent
would not only be necessary to transport the need
ed troops, but to supply them with food as well as
arms and ammunition 1t is not probable that at
this late day, the pending bill is to lose ANYTHING
by the revival OF those questions of constitution
atty.
Although the Senate caucus on Saturday last,
took no vote on Mr.. SLIDELL's thirty million bill,
Its friends seem to be very confident that, as an
Administration measure, it can secure majority
in that body. This, doubtless, is so, provided the
PRESIDENT, in his private conferences with such
men as MASON, HUNTER and SHIELDS, who oppose
the measure, can satisfy them that there is every
reasonable probability of opening successful nego-
tations for the purchase of Cuba. That the PREsI-
DENT himself and several of his Senatorial friends,
are confident OF such result, ] have good reason
to feel assured but the basis of their confidence if
there be any, they do not disclose. You will notice
that the message received from the President ex-
plodes the story that England and France have no.
titled the UNITED STATES of their purpose not to let
us become possessed of the Island of Cuba