New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-25
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The House proceeded TO act on the amendments re-
PORTED yesterd from the Committee of the Whole on
the State of the Union to the Civil Appropriation bill
Among those concurred in approprating
SEQ OCO for seeds and cuttings TO be distributed by the
Patent Office.
The bill was passed. Among its appropriations is
81 eco Geo for taking the census.
Mr.. COLFAX rep, 1nd.l, called up the Senate 8
Pacific Telegraph bill He was originally in favor OF
giving out the contract TO the lowest bidder but he
had become convinced that it was not the best plan.
Mr.. BURNETT Dem, Ky.) moved to strike ont
tie names of the corporators, Messrs Barnum Sedg-
wick and Others and insert that the contract shall
be given to the lowest guaranteed bidder after propos
els have been invited 60 days from the Passage Of the
bill.
The amendment was agreed to- % against 81.
The bill was passed, l0l against 49,
The Secretary of the Treasury is to advertise for
proposals under the direction of the President the line
IL to re constructed within two years from some point
or points on the west line OF Missouri, to unite with
Washington New-York Boston, New Orleans,
Charleston and other Atlantic cities 10 San Francisco
the parties contracting are to have the right OF way
for ten years the Government IL not TO pay more than
so 600 annually, and 10 have priority of the lnei the
rates to the public are to be three dollars per ten
words.
The House went into the consideration of the Pa
cifc Railroad bill.
MIR. CURTIS REP. Iowa) addressed the House in
favor of the BILL He sd that the desire Of construct
ING rail- Dad to the Pacific universally coneurred
tie ouse who did not admit the necessity OF such
means of speedy communication to the Pacific slopes,
ard TO the State of California. He himself looked
upon il as one of the important measures ever
submitted the consideration of the people OF the conn
try ard he waa determined, far ms was T.. his
lower to exhibit the question IN such 'orn as 10
bring to final conclusion II was an undertaking
which impefaivey demanded the fullest consideration
from the hands of tie representatives. of the people.
IL must be kept aoof from all influences OF trlckery,
or fraud or parsmOny for such great national work
would never be brought 10 successful Ssue II any
Influences of this kind would be allowed 10 operate
in its management. There was but one feeling rs to
TIE dcsirabily of constructing this great national line,
| and there was but one response gwen from one END
of the country TO the other, wherever the question
WAS discussed in favor Of its immediate imitation. Un-
der these circumstances, might appear idle IN him TO
sreak in favor of the here; but he was nm
relied 10 do from the fact Of being the chairman OF
he Committee who had drawn mp The report. Inc
great difficulty which met the Committee arose, not
from any opposition to the measure, or doubt OF lis
praccailiiv, doubt of ts necessity, but from hHlng
on the details. The necessity Tor and The uuuly OF
such work when completed was universally conceded
The voice of the people expressed IN Their State Legs
la;nres exrressed through their representatives in
Congress and expressed in popular conventions had
long since spoken ont in favor Of the work. and had
stamped of the most important ana vital ques
tons before the country. As 10 the importance OF w.
he would say that the largest committee which had SIT
during any session Of Congress had unanimously re-
ported in favor Of II, and OF the route lad DOWN,
and urged lie importance TO tie Government ana
TO the country, as a military means OF c0nml-
nicatiOn az a means of postal communication,
and for the commercial benefits 1t offered to
the whole country, IN opening mp communication
with the distant States and Territories OF the Union
As means Of defense the Pacific poss' ssons 1t was
of vital importance; and in that aspect II had no
other recouIn onda,ion il worthy the attention OF
the Uouse Wien they considered the isolated and
unprotected position Of California Its great distance
from tie eastern settlements of the State and the di-
Guilty Of reahng them should an emergency arse the
House would al the necessity Of tins overland
route lie must say, that in OF war, or indeed
during times Of peace, the EXPENSE ana dHicies anu
dangers Of TRANSPORTING needul aid troops, or muui-
tonf Of WAR; these distant Territories, was 40 great
thai il erdered speedy means Of communication ab,
solntey imperative. The present route was often red
with internal war and Overrun with hostile tribes which
rendered il very uusie for the transport OF munitions
Of war In care of a var breaking out with any foreign
Power the first blow struck would be against Califor-
MIA entirely unprotected and removed from and. Her
wealth and the prosperity Of her people, and s i'm
portance now and its growing importance III the fu
ture-her gold mines and her silver mines--would at
once attract the ayerce OF foreign foe, who would
not Only take possession OF II for the time being, hut
might determine it's occupation IN the future lie
did not doubt but that III such an event the people OF
California woud lie able to defend themselves. They
had men, but they had not the arms or material Of
war and his material could not be transported there IN
time of war. There were millions at stake, and most
important interests were eopardzed even on consider
ing this question: I'm military point oil view; and III
this view il commended sef 10 the Government of the
country But in the absence Of all considerations
Of this nature. the commercial advantages to b. de-
rived from such q route were inc;culable. They
required to have speedy communication with their
friends in California 80 that they might derive TO the
fullest extent the benefits and advantages OF the deye
opmons ard of their possesions both OH the
Pacific snd The Ataniio-miliary postal and CONNER
ca neceFses and the most important interests OF tho
whole country demanded Pacific railroad AZ means
Of securing prosperity IN peace, and repeing hoslh-
tier in time Of war. And the fact that the country was
at peace, and was not likely TO be disturbed by
war ought not 10 give too much security ana ought
not TO weigh against the consideration OF the impor-
tance Of the PROJECT in military point OF view, Tor
it ought TO be- remembered that let 1t be com
menced when il may, it would require ten years
TO complete it. Looking forward, then, through
those ten years il would be hard TO calculate
the growth in wealth, population and Importance
of California and Oregon, Washington and the
other Territories, that will spring into existence Ia
that time, and which will create greater necessity Tor
this line Surprising Congress took up the question