Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-02-04
CONGRESSIONAL.

The Pacific Railroad bill seems to have re-
ceived its quietus in the [. S. Senate for this
session. On the 9th Mr.. Dooittle Of Wis
cousin moved an amendment to this effect,
that the Secretary Of the Interior be author
lied to advertise for proposals for the con-
structon of the road from the valley of the
Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean by three Sc
perate routes The amendment was adopted.
The next move was for an amendment to
strike out all of the bill save the enacting
clause and Mr.. Doolittle's amendment.
This was carried
Ay@-Mcssrs Bates, Bell, benjamin, Bright,
Cameron. Chcsnut, Clark Clay ,Clngman ,Critenden,
Davis, Dixon, Doolittle, Durkce, Fessenden, Foot,
Green, Hale, Iamlin, Hammond, Houston, Hunter,
Iverson johnson Of Tennessee Kennedy, King,
Mason, Pearce, Reid, Rice Sebastian, Shields,
Simmons, Slidel, Stuart Thompson of New Jersey
Tombs, Ward-3S.
Nays-Messrs. Allen, Bayard, Biglcr, Broder-
ick Brown, Chandler, Douglas, Fitch, Fitzpatrick,
Foster Gwin Harlan Jones, Polk, Pugh, Seward.
Trumbul Wade, Wilson, Iulec,-20.
The result caused Mr.. Gwin to remark,
bitterly Little as this gives, it is all ever
expected to get from the Congress OF the
United States
Motions to lay the bill on the table ind to
re-commit were made and lost. Mr. Douglas
said The bill is dead; let it be dccently
buried for the present"
Mr.. Gwn, during the whole Of the debate
watched its progress with great attention,
replying where necessary and earnestly strv-
ing to carry the bill through. When it was lost
he made an allusion to Mr.. Stewards recent
supposition that the refusal Of the road, per-
10, val Milf .lN rat il N no
United States of the Pacific, with Mexico for
the capital, Mr.. Gwin seemingly giving an
assent to the suggestion, and indicating that
present c-ndition Of the treasury would
hasten the possibility, which. after all was
but a mere question OF time.
The bill was then put on its final passage.
Mr. Broderick ironically } said as his
name would be called before his colleagues
he wished to know if he (Gwin) approved of
the bill as it now stood, so that he (Broder-
ick) might vote against it.
Mr.. Gwn replied that his colleague could
not learn his sentiments until his name was
called.
Mr. Broderick-Then l shall reserve my
vote. (La4Shter)
Mr.. Seward (laughing) said he had follow
ed the lead of both the Senators from Cali
fornia, hut could not tell now which to fol-
low However as he was second in COM
mand, and had always voted for every inca
sure which appeared to offer the best chance
ola road to the Pacific and as this was the
best in fact, and the only one left, he would
vote for it too.
The bill was then read three times and
passed
Ayes-Mes.rs. Bell Bigler, Bright, Brodcrck,
Cameron, Chandler, Clark, Critenden, Dixon, Do
little, Douglas, Durkee, Fessenden, Foot, Foster,
Gwin, iiamlin, Harlan, Houston, Jones, Kennedy,
Polk, Rice, Sebastian, Seward Shields simmons
Stuart, Trumbull, Wade, wn.on-3l.
Nays-Messrs. Bayard, Benjamin, Brown, Chc.-
nut Clay, Clngman, Fitzpatrick, Green, Hunter
Iverson, johnson Of Tenn. King Mason, Pearoe,
Pugh, Reid, Slidell, Thompson Of New Jersey,
Tombs fuee-2O.
Pared.-Fitch, with Hammond; Collamor with
johnson of Arkansas Mallory with Wright.
Mr.. Bell then moved that the name Of the
bill be "a Bill to authorize and Invite Pro-
posals for the Construction of Railroad
from the Valley OF the Mississippi to the
Pacific Ocean in three separate routes. -
Agreed to.
The following is the substance of the bill f,
which is the same as that recently proposed
BY MIR. Bell, viz That advertisements be
inserted in two papers Of each State and the
District of Columbia, inviting estimates for
the three routes, and that 5000 be appro-
priated to pay the expenses.
Mr. Gwin moved that, as they had now
consummated the greatest farce ever accom-
plshed by any legislative assembly, they adj
journ.
Mr.. Bell called Mr.. Gwin to order, but
evidently without changing his opinion.
Al late hour the Senate adjourned.
In the House the proposition to curtal the
number of Foreign Ministers, recommended