The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-01-12
MIR. Foot's Speech.
n THE PACIFIC RAILROAD BILL.

to engage in extended remarks on this bill
or on any of the amendments which are
proposed and | do not intend to do so.
l have always favored, by my vote, the
construction Of railroad to the Pacific.
l believe l have voted for every bill which
has been brought to the consideration Of
the Senate for that object. 1 have re-
| garded the connection Of our Atlantic and
Pacific possession by direct communication
as an existing, urgent necessity; and the
bill before us, the original bill of the Com
mttee, is intended to meet that necessity.
The provisions of that bill, its principles,
and all its details, have been fully and
minutely explained, both at the last and
present session, by the Honorable Senator
from California, the Chairman of the Sc
lect committee, which, after long, laborious
and careful examination and study, re-
ported it and recommended it to the favor
able consideration of the Senate. | favor
ed that in the committee room [ intend
ed to vote for it here, although it is not
precisely such bill, in all its features, as
would best suit my own views. Although
L gave notice for a substitute, it was with
view of offering it only in the event of
a contingency, which | do not now think
is very likely to happen, and the substitute
therefore, will not probably be offered. It
was not contemplated as an antagonist
proposition to the bill of the committee, to
which had given my own assent.
The bill of the committee was drawn
with the view and intent Of avoiding the
two grand objections which have hitherto
stood in the way Of the passage of Paci-
fc Railroad bill
1t avoids the constitutional question of
the power of Congress to make direct
appropriation of land or money, Or both,
in aid of the construction Of such a road
as this; that the bill merely authorizes
the President of the United States to enter
into contract for tho transportation of the
mails, troops, munitions of war, ana for
the performance of other Government SER
vice by railroad instead Of stipulating for
the performance of this service by any
other particular mode and it holds out
certain inducements to parties to enter
into such contracts and to enable the par
ties to whom the contracts may be award
ed to perform the service in the particular
mode specified. see no constitutional
objection to this, more than there is to
stipulating for the performance of like SER
vice by wagons, or by four horse coaches,
or by steamboats,, as has been ordinarily
done, since the foundation of the Govern
ment-
The bill also avoids. or was intended to
avoid, the practical question which divides
the opinions Of Congress and of the coun.
try as to the particular line or location of
the road. / suppose that it is to be as
sumed as quite impracticable to undertake
the building of more than one main or
trunk line of road to the Pacific ocean at
this time and in the present financial con-
dition of the Government. And l appre-
hend, sir, that no bill which shall define
and mark out the route of but one road
will be able so far to overcome local feel
ing, local prejudices if you please, as to
command the assent of a majority of either
much less of both Houses of Congress.
For example, it can hardly be expected
that an extreme southern route, running
along the borders of Mexico, would COM
mand the assent and aid of the northern
vote. On the other hand, it is not prob
able that the extreme northern route, ap-
preaching near to the borders of the Brit
ish provinces, would receive any aid from
the southern vote.
And again, the central road, so called,
1 apprehend would receive but partial
support either from the North or the
South. Certain it is that it will receive
very little aid from the southern vote. I
take it for granted, and the discussions
have hitherto disclosed, that but fraction
of the southern vote can be counted upon
in favor of any Pacific railroad upon any
route. Many southern gentlemen, and
some northern gentlemen, know, look
upon this measure rs altogether imprac-
ticable, as a wild and visionary scheme
and some of them regard it as altogether
beyond the pale of our constitutional
power. do not choose or intend to enter
into a discussion with any of these gentle.
men at the present time upon these ques.
tions. The question of impracticability
has been settled by scientific surveys ant
explorations, and by the construction o
thirty thousand miles of railroad within