The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-02-03
NEW SERIES, VOL. 4, NO. 4 I
J.w. 4 G. r. NOnRIS, Pro Prietors
SPEECH OF
Hon. James Harlan,

Hon. James Harlan,
Delivered III tAe o. IS. ! Senate, Friday,
Jon IN, 1859, on the subject Of
s,The Pacific Rail Road.
q. Mr., President: I earnestly desire the
definite action of the Senate on this bill;
and for that reason, if no other, must
refrain from entering on the discussion
of the general question. The question
Of the propfiay of The construction of
. railroad from the States east of the
Rocky Mountains to the Pacific, has been
el.boratsl Ia ssussed - s:the Senate
Chamber session after session for several
years, which has resulted, as I believe,
in general eohvictio6 on the part of
Senators, as we'll as the country, of the
prscticsbihty and necessityrof the cSnN
structfuh ofthe road Nor Dc I propose
on this occasion, to engage in the discuss
sion of the most appropriate means to
be employed in the accomplishme ut Of
tie work However varied may have been
the propositions hitherto submitted, it is
now, Il believe, generally conceded that
this work must be effected by private en-
terprise, aidcd by the Government of the
United States, tI I desire, however, to
submit a few remsrks on the propriety
Of the location Of the general route Of
the r,ad by Congress itself. -.
The bill new. under consideration, as
originally reported, provides in its frst
section
THAT the President of the U. s. be,
and 10 hereby authorized and directed
to enter into contract for the transpor>
tation Of the mails, troops, seamen, mu-
aitions Of war, Army and Navy supplies
and all other Government services, Ky
railroad from point on the Missouri
river between the mouths Of Big Sioux
and Kansas rivers, to San Francisco, in
the State Of California, on the most eli
xible route, reference being had to the
feasibility, shortness and economy"
q, This language is we'll calculated to
deceive the casual reader. 1t might he
supposed to imply that the selection Of
the best rute was intended to be confer
red on the President of the u. s.; and
H 50, the bill in this respect, would be
less exeeptionabN. The people Of the
country would then have some guaran-
tee from his high official character, for
its faithful aed impartial performance,
and that the route ultimately selected
would be feasible and appropriate; but
on examining the fifth section Of the
bill, it will be seen that neither Congress
nor the President, nor any one of the
high,fnadticbaries in this Government,
is to be called on to exercise practical
discretion on this subject; but ''the par
ty With wwhom tho con tract afors said be
made shall proceed withou. delay to 10,
cate the general route Of said road, and
furnish q detailed survey and map to the
President" but when shall this be done?
After the contract shall have been made,
signed, sealed and delivered; after the
monopoly, II it should be monopoly,
shall have been secured; then the con-
Tractor il to inform the President of the
general route Of, the road. Now, I de-
sire to know how the President is to ex
ercse any discresisasip, the. selection of
ths.nost eligible route, how is he TO
have reference to shortness and feasibil.
fty, and to economy, when be is compell>
edit act in the dark; whom he is not to
know even the general route Of the road
until after this contract shall have been
signed, scaled and delivered9 m
Bptthe location of the general route
of the road involves Legislative discre-
ton. The object to be secured by the
passage of this bilris the rapid trans>
portation Of the United States mails,
troops, seamen, mu nitions of war, and
Army aad Navy supplies, by railroad
from 'the heart Of the country to remote
States and territories, SO as to promote
the gslHs4AK AKslsalh and render more eff.
6ai9okAH means of protsctisa and de-
e And,heacs it has been dsnomi-
mated great var measure, As we'll As o
measure Of .coDcord and peace. 1t there
fore seems to me not only appropriate
THAT Congrsss. shpuld locate the general
route of The, road, but that it requires
the exercise Of . discretion which the
Legislature Of the nation cannot tsansier
10 another. ssea
rhe'peopls ofthe Y. 8. have conferred
ON Congress, and not oh the President,
or any other fnnctioasry Of this Govern
zsps, The power v establish pest roads
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