The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-01-19

Mr. President: | earnestly desire the def
nite action of the Senate on this bill
and Tor that reason, if for no other, must
refrain from entering on the discussion oil
the general question. The question of the
propriety OF the construction of railroad
from the States east Of the Rocky Noun
tains 10 the Pacific, has been elaborately dis
enssed 10 the Senate Chamber session after
session Tor several years, which has resulted.
n believe, in the general conviction on the
part OF Senators, ms we'll as of the country
OF the practicabiity and necessity of the
construction of the road. Nor do pronose.
on tins occasion, to engage 10 the discussion
OF the most appropriate means 10 be en-.
ployed Ia the accomplishment Of THE work
However various may have been the promo.
sitions heretofore submitted, il is now. / be.
heve, generally conceded that this work must
be effected by. private enterprise, aided by
the Government Of the United States. | de-.
sire, however, to submit few remarks d,
the propriesy Of the location of the general
route Of the road by Congress itself.
The bill now under consideration. AZ oripi-
nally reported, provides in its frat section
That the President u the United states be-. and
he is hereby authorized and directed 10 enter inta
contract Tor the transportation If the nails.
INV q
supplies. and all other Government services ~.
railroad. from point on the Missouri River be.
tween the mouths OF the Big Sioux aud Kansas
rivers, 70 San Francisco, IN the State II California
on the most eligible route, reference Asinr hna N
feasibility, shortniss, aud tconumy',
This language is well calculated to deceive
the casual reader. II might be supposed to
Imply that the selection Of the best ropte
was intended 10 be conferred on the Pres,
ut thA tirtt pI a IN
~ tins respect, would be less objectionable,
The people would then have some guarante.
from Bis high Official character, for in faith
FOL performance, and that the route ultj-
matelg selected would be feasible and an.
propriate but on examining the hftb see.
ton Of the bill, il will be seen that neithe,
Congress. nor the President, nor any one az
the high fpnctionaries Of this Government
u 50 be called on TO exercise a practical dis
cretion on ihi. subject: but "the party with
whom the contract Aforesaid may be made
shall proceed wlrfWN delay to locate the
general route OF said road, and furnish n de-.
tailed survey and map thereof to the Presi.
dent; but when shall this be doneY After
the contract shalt have been made, signed
scared aud delivered after the monopoly. if
X sAeuld be monopoly, shall have been So
cured then the contractor is 70 inform the
ftesldent Of the general route OF the road
NoH, desire 70 know how the President il
10 sAtfesse any discretion in the selection Of
sue A.Vrs *ttssetc route, nov lac IN To nave
reference 10 shortDess, aud 10 feasibility. and
70 ECONOMY, when be Is compelled TO work in
Tue dark when be Is not To know even the
general route VI road until after this con.
tract shall bave been sigued, sealed, and de
liyereds
But the location OF the general ronte =,
the road Involves legislative discretion. The
object to be secured by the passage az This
bill IL the rapid transportation Of the tinted
States mails, troops, eeamen, munitions IL
war, and army aud navy supplies, by ran.
road, from the heart Of the country to the
remote States and Territories, so as to FRO
mote theSgenernl welfare, and render more
Efficient our means Of defense. And hence
il has been denominated a great war measure
a. well ~ = measure Of concord and reece
ii therefore seems TO me not only arnropri-
40 that Congress should locate the general
ronts Of the road, but that il requires Tie