The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-29

SENArE.-The Pacific railroad bill, as passed by
the Senate, was reduced to very simple PROPOSE
ton, to wit-the advertisement, through two
newspapers in each State, of proposals for the
building of railroad across to the Pacific ocean
from the Mississippi valley, along Northern
route, central route and Southern route
bids for each and all of these several routes to
be submitted to the next Congress
Mr. Senator Gwin, of California, upon the
spur of the moment, was prompted to de-
nounce this elementary shaping of the bill as
the cOnsummation Of "the greatest farce ever
accomplished by any legislative body" but the
next morning yesterday he apologized for the
offensive observation; and very properly, too,
we think, considering the bill, as we do one of
the most sensible decisions of the Senate upon any
public measure for many years. The enterprise
in view clearly calls for this preliminary pro-
ceeding, and it ought to be passed by the House
as the best possible device for ascertaining the
approximate cost Of the road by the several
routes indicated. The proposals thus invited
will throw food of light over the whole subject,
and give to Congress that practical information
concerning the probable costs of Northern,
Central and Southern road, which only the test
of business proposals can bring out.
The vote upon the bill, even in the sectionally
unobjectionabe and conciliatory shape in which
il has passed, exhibits a very remarkable Sec
tional division of the Senate. Look at it,
FOR THE BILL.
Democrats in Roman; republicans in Italics; Know
NothiDgs in small captals.)
BELL, Tennessee. Bigler, Pennsylvania
Bright, Incana. BrUderick, California
Copi7on, Pennsylvania Cbondier, Michigan
Cidrk, New Hampshirc. CRDTE>DEN, Kentucky
Diroa, Connecticut Dooi,ftie, Wisconsin
Douglas, Illinois. Duykce, Wisconsin.
TtSelden Maine. Root Vermont.
Foster Connecticut 'iwin, California.
Ho,alt,l, Maine Harlan, Iowa.
HorsToN, Texas. KENNEDY, Maryland.
Jones, Iowa. Rice, Minnesota
Polk, Missouri. Se,oayd New York
Sebastian, Arkansas. Simmons, Rhode Island.
Shields, Minnesota. ItpnabUU, Illinois.
stuart, Michigan Wilson, Massachusetts,
Wade Ohio.
AGAINST THE BILL.
Bayard, Delaware, Bcnjamia Louisiana.
Brown, Mississippi. Chestnut, South Carolina.
Clay, Alabama. Ciiugman, North Carolina.
Fitzpatrick, Alabama Green, Missouri.
Huntcr, Virginia Iverson, Georgia.
johnson, Tennessee. King New York.
Mason, Virginia. Pearce, Mary land
rugh OHIO. Reid, North Carono
Sliccll, Louisiana. Thompson, New Jersey.
Toombs Georgia Yuee, Florida 30
PARgD OtF.Ftch OF Indiana, with Hammond, of Seutn
Caiona toiIomer, of Vermont, with Johnson, OF Ar
kansas Mallory, Of Florida, with Wright, OF New Jcr-
sey--6.
ABSENT OR Nor vonSG --Messrs. Hdie, OF New ffamp
shrc Sumner Of Massachusetts, Allan, Of Rhode Island
Bates Of Delaware; Davis, oi Mississippi, Thompson, OF
Kentucky; Ward, of Tcxas-I.
RKcApIruLAroH For the BILL 81 against IT, ~; paired
or @; absent not voting, 7-Toal g.
This, we say, is remarkable division of the
Senate. For the bill we find only two Southern
democrats Sebastian Of Arkansas, and Polk of
Mssouri-two States directly interested in the
road; and against the bill only one republican,
and, strangely enough, that one is Preston King,
Of New York, whose residence il near The s..
Lawrence outlet Of the Northern route the
three South Americans voting with the body Of
Tie republicans; and the paternity Of the bill up.