The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-01-30
Senator Lowrey's Speech.

| y lnS CODlCSb pNtHCCb ltC 1tiodb'N
& Great Western and the Pennsylvania
railroad seems to be overshadowiug all
other interests in the State, we publish
below the remarks of the able, aud honest
Senator from Eric on the resolutions. of
fcred By the Senator from Allegany, Mr.
Bigham.
Mr. Speaker, I will most cheerfully
raise my voice in defence of'these resolu-
tions. With the convictions which |
have upon this subject | would terribly
sin against my conscience my constituents
aud my country did I not speak in favor
of and vote for their adoption. Not for a
kipgdom,sir would ! vote against the first
one Tt is 10 the following words:
1st- Resolmd, That the Committee on
Railroads be instructed to adopt a liberal
policy, either by report of a generallaw
for the organization of railroad companies,
or special charters to all roads calculated
tordevelop the resources of any aud all
parts of the State. sa-
Who is it, Mr.. Speaker, that is to be
Injured by developing all parts of the
State THAT, sir, does not fully express
it. Who, pray, Senators, tell me-who
is pot to be benefited by adopting "a
liberal policy" and developing the great
resources of all parts of the State
Mr.. Speaker, need not tell you that
Pennsylvania is by far richer than any of
her sister States in allthipgs except states
manship. 10 that respect we are so very
poor that we have none to do US rever-
euce. But we have brought down on
ourselves the scorn and contempt of right
thinking men. Pennsylvania to. day stands
convicted before the world as people who
are impoverishing themselves at the bid
ding of corporation which bas become a
government" and government which
does not rule US wisely-a government
that has forged chains and shackles for
the people, some of which are being used
by the Atlantic and Great Western rail
road-,a great railroad-to ruanacle the
limbs of those who forged them.
ale 1t Tor granted that the Atlantic
and Great Western railroad wants lagisla.
ticn, although they never tod me so.-
This greatest highway of the nineteenth
century has entered our State, aud we all
should receive her with open arms. Let
her main trunk run down from the lakes
to the Susquehanna. Let her greet Phil
adelphia with her right leg by way of the
Reading railroad, aud her left New York
by the Catawissa. Let her rake the capi
tai of our country in the hollow other right
hand, aud let her left seize that of the
Queens Gominions, and thus bind US to-
gether with bands of iron that can never
be broken. Let the coal buried in the
loius of our mountains come forth and bt
exchanged for corn in Illinois. Let the
oil, breathing, like an earthq rake in tht
valleys of our State, come forth from hel
womb. Let the Senator from Blair (Mr
Hall act as the midwife; let him do i
now. He has confined it beyond its time
! Why should these great blessings of Goo
to h;~ vt.,ii.cu u,TIGe ''Jonn Browns tedy
lie mouldering in the grave Z" Rather lie
them, like the soul of that MARTYR, SO,
marching on" to warm and light the world
Illinois is, this cold day, burning corn 70
fuel, the cobs of which are as large almos
as hand spikes aud she looks upon US a.
heathens,t that wedo not let her haste witt
greater faculties to feed our hungry poo
and to warm and light their own shiver
ing sons of toll, The valley of the grea
Mississippi is full of commerce from tht
northwest to the eastern cities much O
which would come by rail through ou,
own State did we give them the facilities
The northwest is roaring with anger
against Pennsylvania for not affordine
more ample and cheaper facilities fol
transportation between US. Commerce i,
on her very 5elIy pleading for it, She i,
now at Washlnton, asking that canal bt
cut aud locks made around the Niagar;
falls. 0, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania
what spectacle is this your own none,
proposed to be taken from the treasury O
the General Government to construct
work to place the riches of the west OF
the bosom of the St Lawrence out of tn,
reach of our State, and the metropolis 0
our State, rather than let railroad b,
!. constructed through the centre of th,
State, that would enrich the whole peo
pie, and particularly enrich the city o
Erie and the city of Philadelphia.
Mr.. NICHOLS. Will the Senator frou
Erie inform me how many votes the prop
osltion in the House, at Washington OBJ
tanned to build locks around Niagara falls
If l recollect Alright they got very few
votes for the project.
Mr.. LOWRY. The vote was light there
but commerce is an engine that never tires
and i: is back again, and if Pennsylvaui;
persists in it's mad policy, she will builc
that canal, she must build it. Peunsylva