The Placer herald., 1859-06-04
From the Alta
General J. A. McDougall and the Pacific
Railroad.

Editors Alto:-Mv attention has been
called to an editorial in the Daily Times of
the 9th instant, from which the following is
an extract:
"In looking back on the history of mat
ters connected with this Pacific Road enter
prise, one cannot but he surprised that no.
thing has as yet been done, and the inevita-
ble conclusion is, that somebody has been
PLAYING false The scheme has each year
been strangled in the house of its professed
friends. At one time bill had been report
ed, and there was every chance for it to pass,
and it was rot questioned but a majority of
the House were in favor Of it. 1t was in the
charge of Gen. McDougall, Representative
from California. lie had the floor, and
ought to have insisted on their considering
the bill. Tut he gave way, in order that the
Nebraska bill might be taken up, d in that
way it was sacrificed for that session. The
South, with few Northern doughfaces, led
off by Douglass as their leader, insisted that
the Railroad must give way, in order that
that great swindle, that precursor of sec
tional discord that promoter of parental
animosity might be forced through Congress-
The person who thus betrayed the interests
of his constituents, was James A. McDou-
gall"
This charge has been so frequently repeat
ed, that it is now beloved true by many in
whose good opinion regard myself as in
terested.
An indisposition to engage in newspaper
controversy, has hitherto prevented me from
making any reply over my own signature,
and | should not be induced to do SO now,
but that the present political editor of the
Times is Mr.. G. A. Washbnrn, and that he is
one of the perhaps few persons in California
who know the charge to be without any
foundation in truth.
The postponement of the Pacific Railroad
bill referred to, occurred May 18th, 1854.
No such charge was made in Washington,
or by any person from Washington. until the
December following, when Mr.. Simonton,
then the Washington correspondent OF the
New York Times, and some of the San
Francisco press, and at present editor of the
| Bulletin, made the statement in his cores
pondence. | was then at Washington en-
gagged in the discharge of official duties and
had no leisure for outside controversies.
| n SuOTL tlllo dltcl my Iotui u hO'H w "oH
ington, / had occasion to partici pate in a
railroad meeting at Musical Hall. Mr.. G. A.
Washburn, then editor or the Alta, in COM
menting on my relation to that meeting, re-
peated the charge first made by Mr.. Simon
ton. 1t was my opinion that Mr.. Washburn
supposed the charge justly made, and that
if informed he would take pleasure in cor
recting his error. | accordingly made and
furnished to Mr.. Washburn an abstract from
the Congressional Globe Of the proceedings
in the House of Representatives. | also fur
nished him with copy of the Globe with
reference to it by pages, and requested from
him correction.
In reply to this request, on the 5th June
1855, the following editorial appeared in the
Alta:
From the Daily Alta California, May 3th, 1855.
GEN. M'poUGAL AND THE PACIFIC RAILROAD
"We have on various occasions spoken il
abrupt condemnation of the course of the
Hon. Mr.. McDougall on the Railroad bill
introduced by him. 1t has been said tina
our structures we're unjust, and we now pro
pose to give history of that bill and Gen
McDoucals connection with it.
On the 10th of January, 1854, Mr.. Nc
Dougall introduced his Railroad bill, and haC
it referred to special committee. The bi!
was reported from the Select Committe