Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-11
TH1RTY.FIFTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION
THURSDAY. JANUARY 6, 1859.
H. TIE

Mr.. Seward presented the constitution ADOPT
cd by the L%cavenworth Convention in Kansas,
accompanied by certain papers. Referred to
the Committee on Territories.
The Senate then took up thcfollowins bill by
! yeas 81. nays IS:
Bill to provide for the asccrtainmcnt and
! satisfaction Of claims Of American citizens for
spoliations committed by the French prior to
the 3lst day Of July. 1901. 1t was reported
bv Mr.. Crittcndcn from 4 select committee on
the subject and accompanied by 4 report last
! session, and called mp to-day on his notion
The Secretary read the bill at length. The
| special order was postponed. and
Mr.. C~rittcndcn proceeded to address the Sc
nate upon the subject, and reviewed the pre-.
vious legislation OF Congress. 1t had passed
| the Senate several times, and also the other
house Of Congress. but had been vetoed by
| Presidents Polk and Pierce. Gen. Washington
| in a proclamation oncc admitted the justice OF
| these claims; and in later days Webster, Clay
| and LowndeS, had admitted their validity. To
his mind. there never were more unimpcacla-
bic claims. Even the late Chief Justice Mar
shall, who was fully acquainted with them,
stated that they were just, and ought to be
paid.
On the conclusion of Mr.. C.'s remarks, the
bill was postponed, and the Pacific Railroad
bill taken up.
Mr.. Biglcr resumed his remarks upon the
bill.
The bill provides that satisfaction shall be
made to an amount not exceeding $1,000 900
TO such citizens of tie United States. or their
legal representatives as had valid claims to in
delnnity upon the French Government, arising
out Of Illegal captures, dctcntions, iorciblc
seizures. illegal COMBINATIONS and contiscation,
committed prior to the ratification OF the con-
vcntion between the United States and the
French Republic, concluded on the Both day OF
September, 800, the ratiticationS Of which
were exchanged in the following July. These
claims are to be investigated and settled by a
board of commissioners, who will meet to adj
Indicate them in Washington.
lie stated that the transportation OF the
mails to the Pacific now cost SlS0,O0O per an
nun. If they vert carried 10y rail road at the
rate Of $500 per mile. as provided in the bill, 1t
would cost the government but Sl0u,0OO per
| annum, as many different localities would not
be supplied with mails, but the result would
be far more incalculable. lie had no doubt Of
the constitutional right to build this road ny
the government, or the right TO use the public
money for the same. Mr.. b. then reviewed
the general provisions Of the bill pending in the
Senate.
Mr. Harlan believed that the Senate and the
country were convinced of the propricty OF a
Pacific railroad; and il seems to be also CONGO
dcd that the road shlll be built by private en-
~tcrprise and the government in conjunction
Congress should have, in his opinion, the pow
or to locate the road. In the pending bill this
right was neither delegated to the President,
nor any other high functionary Of the govern
ment, but simply to 5 mere mail contractor
This bill would seem 10 hold ont an induccmcnt
to contractors the right to build 4 road on the
most circuitous route, and to receive the pay
for the same.
But it was stated that Congress was not pre-
pared to intelligcntly locate the road. Let us
see how much they had ordered to be placed
before them on the subject. Eight volumes
had been printed in clear type in which the
topography Of the routes WAS minutcly laid
out. If the narrative style Of them was not
sufficient for Senators to understand. the want
had been supplied by illustrating the ecneology
and floral condition of the county. Even every
butterfly, buzzard, or unusual reptile that
abnundcd, had been spread out in the highest
style Of modern art, at , cost Of $4,000; and
to finish the work, would wei the amount 10
800, 600. Yet, with these startling facts,
Senators, after spending such a vast amount
for information, did not feel themselves quail
fed to vote on the location Of the road! Under
this miserable pretext, Congress in the bill
transferred this power rot 10 the President, or
the. Postmaster Genera, or any other govern
mcnt officer, hut the high legislative trust is
transferred to a small contractor, or any army
officer. Mr.. II. declared himself in favor of q
central route. .
Mr.. Ward addressed the Senate in favor Of
the route located on the 32d parallel. 1t was
the most level, and the road could be built
there at a smaller expenditure OF money than
on any other of the proposed routes.
Mr.. Iverson said he would not consume time
in advocating the ~expeiiency Of this work, lie
had no doubt but what Congress had the right
to donate a portion Of the public lands for the
building of the road; but he should never vote
for a road to be located in one section of the
country to the dctriment of another. If the
location of the road was left to 4 company. it
would no doubt be located on the northern
route. Northern capitalists never invested
their money in Southern interests. So worth
less were Southern investments regarded even
in New York. that he believed the Senator from
South Carolina, (Mr. Hammond) with all his
wealth. could not borrow SO 900 at the North.
Mr.. [. then entered into a long review of the
respective relations Of the North and South,
and stated that he believed that the time was
not far distant when the South would be obliged
to separate from the North, and erect itself into
a distinct confederacy.
The recent elections, at the North gave ample
o,;jo,,o tb,t ovary Ststa v,os thoro,uhlv abo-