The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-02-15


Pacific Defeated In the House OF
Representatives.
In the House, on the 3lst ult, the Post
Route bill, which passed the Senate at the
last session, was under consideration. The
following amendment added to the bill in
the Senate, at the instance of Mr.. RICE, was
taken up: ~ <JSilJIo L ii ai
Sec. IL. And be ii further enacted, That the
Postmaster General be, and he is hereby, au.
thorized and directed to provide for the con-
ly from st. Paul, Minnesota, via St. Cloud, and
from Superior. Wisconsin, via Grow Wing, to
the Dalles, in Oregon with branch to Seat
tie, on Puget Sound, with the usual pre-emp.
ten right, not to exceed one quarter section of
land for each station, provided that this grant
of presumption shall not extend beyond six
years from the passage of this act. and said
presumption shall not exceed one quarter Sec
ton for each twenty miles of said route; Pro-
rided, That service can be obtained at an an.
nual cost not exceeding 5000, 900, and the trip
to beperformed in twenty days; the service to
expire on the Ist day of July, 1866.
Mr.. CoLFAx said be was instructed by
the Post Office Committee, to move a nom
concurrence in the Senate amendment.
Mr.. STEVENS, of Washington, ably ar
gued the justice and expediency of the
amendment. .'.E ..q. 6.
Mr.. ALDR1cH referred to the fact that the
Senate, for "tour successive winters, have
appropriated 100000 for the establish
ment of an overland mail route from the
Mississippi to the Pacific" He argued the
injustice of the continued refusal of the
House to concur in the action of the Senate,
and said .nc}Iai]'sHt
Now, sir, do not say that our people will
slough f-go down the Red River of the
North, and unite with the British possessions
but want gentlemen here to ponder over it.
do not say that they will do it; but they may
do it, if they do not receive justice at your
hands. I do not throw this out as a threat.
[Laughter.l They are true and loyal now 1
hope they may continue so. We, as I said
before, ask for nothing that we are not entitled
to, and now respectfully ask that the amend.
ment OF the Senate may be cOncurred in.
will say further, that the route is
one of great importance to England, to Europe
and Canada. 1t is important, in this point OF
view, that that portion of our country shall be
opened up.
The gentleman says he is very sorry they
cannot grant us this small pittance of 5000, coo
which we ask for the establishment of a mail
service over the northern route to the Pacific;
yet they are ready to grant to the Southwest
$50, 0OO,O 900 for railroad, and they are ready
to grant 100000 for mail over the central
route. When my friend from Texas asks for
$4,000 to increase the mail faciltiessof that
State. they reply, "Oh, yes" ''no objection;'
Unanimous consent" But when we ask fol-
the small pittance of 100000, the gentleman
says he is very sorry that he cannot recon-
mend it; very sorry, indeed; but in the present
state of the Treasury, this mail service cannot
be thought of.
The Senate amendment was rejected
ayes 60, nays 102.
The House, during the consideration
of the same bill, adopted an amendment
making an extravagant appropriation for
an overland daily mali, from st. Louis to
San Francisco. These facts do not require
any comment. For four successive years,
the Senate has appropriated money for
Northern overland mail route, but the
House of Representatives has regularly
stricken the appropriation out.