Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-02-17
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
SPEECH OF
WILLIAM III. SEWARD.
DECEMBER 81, 1853,
In the senate of the United States.

DECENBER Il, 1905,
In the senate of the United States.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: ] am very glad to
see these new propositions of so many
fixed and certain routes for Pacific
Railroad. / hope that every PROPOSE
ton of that character which is in re-
serve may speedily be submitted
Their presentation will open the way
to candid consideration of the few
remarks which it is my purpose to
make in support of this bill; remarks
designed, not to show that the road
which probably will be made upon the
best, or the most con, ienent, or the
cheapest route, or that the system
which the committee have adopted. and
submitted to the Senate in their bill, is
the best system, and one the most sat-
isfactory to all parties which can be de-
vised. but to show that it is impossi-
bic for the Congress of the United
States, representing, as they do, con-
federated States and communities dis
tant from each other, and maintaining m
systems of commerce and agriculture
and manufacturers so diverse, to agree
and determine on any one route, or the
full details of any one system, to the
exclusion Of all others.
] have little occasion to appeal to
the Senators from California, the only
community on the Pacific coast which
as yet is represented in the Congress of
the United States. / have observed
always, in the State to which | belong,
that the memory Of the Netherlands is
held in the tenderest affection by the
descendants of the first colonists. On
the other hand, when l travelled in
Holland, | was unable to find even one
lingering tradition there of the settle
ment of the New Netherlands. 1t is
ever so. The affection OF the emigrant
for his native land is always stronger
than the concern Of the fatherland for
it's exiles in foreign countries. The
Senators from California are convinced
and committed, and are earnest enough
in support of Pacific railroad 1t is
only necessary to convince the Sena-
tors from the eastern side of the Rocky
Mountains. 1t is only on this side of
the mountains that the snow and ice of
indifference and prejudice remain to be
removed.
shall pass rapidly over the details
of the BILL No Senator has shown
| think no Senator can show-any OBJ
lection against the propositions for
settling the route, which are contained
in the bill reported by the committee.
which has not been already anticipated
there No one can show, think, as
no one has shown, an objection against
the plan adopted and recommended by
the committee for the construction OF
the road. which has not been antici-
pated there, which myself have not
anticipated and surrendered there
This bill is not my bill The route
upon which the road will probably be
made under it is uncertain. 1t cannot
now be ascertained. My own appre-
tensions are, that it will cause a road
to be built in latitude further south
than ! should prefer but, on the 9TH
er hand. | know, or at least / think ]
am authorized to say, that members OF
the committee, as well informed on
the subject and as shrewd and saga
cious as l, opposed the bill in COM
mittee, because they believed that un-
der it the road would probably be
made on a route more northern than
they could approve. If | were au-
thorized and empowered to provide fol
the construction of the Pacific rail.
road. l should begin in a very north
ern latitude, and | should extend the
road directly across the continent, in
continuation of the northwestern track
of emigration which has been pursued
from the time when the navigation o.
the New York canals and the great
lakes was opened until now, when We
find population already gathered ant
, clustering upon the western shores o
Lake Superior. If | were authorized
!, to provide the system upon which i
should be built, | would discard anc
reject at once all pretence of the EN-
ployment of companies or associations
which, in my judgment, are but sham'
when engaged by the Government o
the United States to construct a grea
national work. Iregard such associa
tions as bodies which will have nC
blood, no nerves, no sinews-in short
no power, no life, but what they vii
derive from the vigor and strength o.
the Government of the United States
| would discard, utterly and entirely
the policy of giving public lands t.
railroad companies. to be sold In tn,
, shambles to spectators, to raise means
to carry on this great national work
l would directly employ the capita
and the credit of the United States
| increasing the revenues of the United
States from commerce, for the purpos,
Of defraying the cost, and establish
ing, at the same time. sinking funC
which should, within REASONABLE
time. absorb the public debt thus ere
kated. And | would surrender the pub
lie lands in the vicinity of the road t
actual settlers for cultivation, SO as t.
; secure the speediest possible produc
tion of revenue from it.
But, Mr.. President, all these view
, have been overruled In the committee
: as have been all the proposed other o
/. different plans or methods of deter
A mining the route (; and they have bee
overruled upon due consideration Q
| all our objections. This bill has bee
reported by a majority of the commit
tee with whom / agree to accept j,