The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-13
fnE PACIFIC nAiihoAb BliL.

oe sebastian simmons TOorab ITumOu Wade, ward,
lss-9s .,.-,---..
. E1Ea# The PACIFIC nAiLhoAB BiiA.
The Senate resumed tine consideration Of Tie Pacific
tgilroad BILL the Question being on the motion OF Mi
nsoS to recomnt the bin with the instructions 70 the
committee 10 report bill providing FOR northern and
a southern TO which Mr.. DooIIrrLE had moved
amendment that the BILL when reported back should
provide for central route also. q
The aulehdent Of Mr. DooLnTLB agreed TO by the
following vote
NAYsaesss Bger Broderiel Cameron Chandler Clark Col
sner snden Dixon Dootie douglas Fessenden Fitch Foot
Foster Groen GNn Hale Iiamln, Harlan,
Jones' Kennedy Polk pugh Rice sebastian Seward Simmons
Thompson o. Kentucky TOOnbs rruHbu Wade wilson and
YEaslIsrs Dell brown, cesnut Clay, cngmau FITZPATRICK,
H%% sns hSSsl9l v'on johnson Of Tennessee Mason r'"
Mr. BROWN discussed the constitutional question at
some length, contendng that the government had no
right TO advance its means for project of this kind He
also opposed the other considerations fast
railroads needed by the people they would be
built by private enterprise and it is always the way
when schemes too wild and usory to invite the at
tention of capitalists the government Is called upon
give its aid He should for the proposition to re-
commit the BILL not because he should thereby commit
himself 10 vote for it when reported back but he desired
to have recommed in order get clear OF the sub
ect and have out of the Way that something prac
teal could be done in the despatch the of the
country, He hoped the committee would spend the
mainder of the session In considering 1t.
Mr.. GREEN replied to the constitutional argument of
Mr. BRowN He said that there the same authority
10 build railroad like this which would be essential to
enable the government to retain its possessions the
shores of the Pacific in of war; that there to
build fort in time Of peace when there was no certain
ty that it would ever be required for actual The
wise OF old said that the prudent oreseeth the
evil and hdeth himself, but the simple pass and are
punished We should profit by those Lessons of wisdom.
and improve the present opportunity to the best
connexion between the Atlantic and the Paciiie Mr. G..
then proceeded to develop the plan which he would pre-
HpI In h.ynb I'm road ya r1
from the western boundary of Missouri, and running to
about the 102d parallel where it might branch out into
two routeshe north and the other south He hoped
however, that the bill would not be recommitted, but
that the Senate would go and vote for against the
various projects until should be found which could
command the support of majority of the body. 800
Mr. BlGLER gave fiotce OF at amendment which he
Should offer at proper time to the construction
of the central division of the road through the desert
Mr. PUGH opposed the bsstowment of the lands with a
lavish hand proposed by this bill OF all the various
propositions before the Senate he preferred that of Mr.
DAVIS He believed the road would not be profitable
for in Ohio where there plenty Of timber and
stone for the construction of railroads. and where the
grades easy and tile tnnels few and far between,
but few of the roads able to pay any dividends.
Their stock generally almost worthless, and he APP
pretended that many of them would never be able to
pay than their first mortgage bonds. sH r
Mr.. DOOLTTELE advocated the proposition submitted
by himself substitute for the bill reported by the
committee. ~ .# a e-g4...-. .-. tr. rs .s
working days remaining before the end of the session,
and this bill had occupied considerable period already.
He thought too much time had been taken up by the
friends Of the BILL and that unless period put to
the debate the would be killed by its friends,
as there were great many amendments to be acted
The question being taken the motion to recommit,
it was not agreed TO, as follows: f.t al st. .~Far
YEAsMessrs oyard Benjamin, Brown Ccsnui Clay CIlngan
Crtenen, Ftzptrck amln, Hammond, Houston, ISlcr, vor.
johnson rnss M an WAS Masoa "s"' Rea e
Clark Goamo DAVIS Dxou Dooue Douglas Durkcc Fesseucu,
Foster Green, Hale Harlan, Jones Kennedy
Polk, Sebastian, Seward shields simmons Trprnbul Wade and
wilsoh--52 n ~. ". r ti.'t '' '.s.a a.1i ."a h'.
MIR HOUSTON spoke in dvocacy of the southern route
and repudated the idea that the great body of the South
were in favor of secession disunion. The South
not responsible for the introduction of slavery there
They were not commercial people, and had par
tcpated in the slave trade until recently and that he
branded as act of unmitigated inamy. The North
had abolished slavery because it for their interest to
do 80 the South had retained because it for their
interest to do So He did not like the term southern
rights for the South had rights which not equal
ly possessed by the North
Mr. DOUGLAS supported the bill in the form in which
II had been reported from the committee. He thought
that It's provisions fair towards all sections both the
North and the South Let the two termni be central,
and then let the road be built where the contractors find
the best route to be located As far as bis information
extended, the Albuquerque route, along the 35th par
alel of latitude would probably be found to be the best
Mr.. TVERS0N made few remarks in response to what
had been said by Mr. HousToS in reference to secession
He denied the right of the senator to speak behalf of
the South for he had been repudiated by his State
for his intensity Of feeling in favor of union, when that
union could only be maintained at the sacrifice of the
rights and interests of the South
Mr.. HOUSTON rose to reply, but the hour being late
he gave way to motion for adjournment
And the Senate adjourned. ........ .. ~.