The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-03-23

10 90 amended, the law will still make u
necessary for him to report all removals In
the recess within ten days amer the begin.
Mug q p sssslen and thsn, II thu Senate
plSase, the removal VII hold. II hot, the
rehsvod Is restored 70 ths position, and the
Prcsiasbts appolntec % eiyc M The once
forthwith. Such, II I ant bot mistaken, is
the substance Of tho plan Of amendment
which the caucus now proposes. Il may OBJ
viate the Presidents objections to the con.
tlnued existence Of the teuure-of-ofice law.
doubt the fact, however, insomuch as II
Will surely fall to remove the couutry's OBJ
jectlons to II. -.......
MEMPHIS, Ell PAsO AND PACIFIC
IruB. RAILROAD COMPANY.
We regret to see this company again urr.
Ing upon Congress the passage of a Joint
resolution, giving II the right Of way from
n Paso, on the Rio Grandc river, through
New Mexico, Arizona and California, to the
Pacinc ocean.
| II has been before the Senate for some
time, and the Committee on Public Lands
Of that body has persisted In its refusal to
report 1t favorably; but 1t was passed by the
House yesterday, under the operation OF the
previous question, II having been introduced
by Mr.. Winans, Of Ohio, under the call Of
States. No time was allowed for debate, and
the members surely not understanding the
measure. We propose, however, 10 eulighten
the Senate, that Il may not fall into error
concerning the status OF this extraordinary
association, and to show that II Is no longer an
organization In Texas, as expressly declared
by the late convention of that State.
We had hoped that the refusal Of the Sen.
ate, In the last days Of the last Congress, to
act upon Joint resolution similar to the one
now being pressed, had given II Its quietus,
but 1t appears the hope was not to be real
lied, for this company Is now demanding Of
Congress the passage Of resolution, modl-
fed In Its yerblage, II is true, but, In reality.
OF the same Specification aud intent as the
one which the Senate, only the other day,
refused to act upon. The frst resolution was
silent as TO the time within which the COM
pany was required to perform certain condl-
lions. This one says, "That the said com
pany shall complete the construction of at
least afty miles Of their road, from Jcffcr-
son, Texas, within one year, and shall grade
at least afty miles Of road-bcd between Ell
Psso and San Diego within two years, and
shall fully complete and equip their whole
line OF road within ten years from the ap-
proval Of this act"
But suppose 1t should not complete 'sffty
miles Of road from Jefierfon, Texas, within |
one year ~ What would be the penalty ! |
Would the Company forfeit its right-of.way |
from FL Paso to the Pacific given by this |
resolution The resolution itself does not |
say so. Nor does 1t ask Congress to concede
the right-of-way In Texas, but only from 81 |
Pdsoj therefore, why should the resolution
refer to the completion of any portion what
ever OF Its road In Ttrdsi II eau only be
for the reason that 1t looks well on paper.
The resolution surely proceeds upon the n.y.
pothosis, that this company is nor In posses
sion ola railroad largess and franchise In
Texas itself, and contemplates II connection
In some unexplained and mysterious way Of
this franchise, with that which 1t proposes to
obtain beyond Fl Paso. But whether the
company at this time really has any rights
In Texas, under charter which II alleges Is
nor In full force, we shall see presently.
But suppose, secondly, that the company
do not grade Afty miles of road-bed between
81 {''so and Ss'. D!SsS, within two years,
would 1t forfeit the right Of way conceded 1t !
The resolution does not say so. For argu-
ment sake, We will yield tho point that, by
the non-performance of this last-n named con-
dition, to wit the grading Of ffty miles
Of road-bed within two years." the right of
way Uould be forfeited by the company BE-
yond III Pdso. But, then, see how easy IL
would be for the company to eludc this re-
quirement there are many valleys lying
between Fl Paso and San Diego harbor that
are natural road-beds there Is one stretch
or seventy-ave miles Of country lying be-
.wcen the Colorado river and tho eastern
'ase of the Sierra Nevada range of noun
aims OF California, directly across the track
of this road, which Is sandy desert and
level As . floor, and, therefore, a natural
road-bed. Tho company can run plow-
share on each side of a space FIVE or six feet
IN width across this section aud claim IL
nnder this resolution as "hty miles of
graded road-bed." 1t could not be improved
~ labor, or Ii would certainly not require a
greater expenditure than one or two thou
and dollars.
We'll, after having, not made II, but
seured this piece of "road-bed between Ell
'aso and San Diego harbor," this company
would unquestionably have vested In II the
light OF way between these two points, for a
'eriod OF len years. Now, no one bcliepes
hat hls company can, or, II 1t could, ever .
intends to build this road. Then, II 1t do
lot, what Is to be the eject of this resolution,
his modest request of Congress asking
only for the right Of way" 1t will be this:
The prevention Of any other company from
building railroad to the Pacific ocean-on
Or near the 32d parallel Of latitude for the
next ten years unless 1t should purchase from
ms Memphis and Fl Paso Company Us right
?r ~dy, on that line, during that term of
years. aud this, for tho reasons alleged by
US In former articles on this subject, the
principal Of which is that nature has so dis
Lributed the mountain ranges between Ell
Paso and San Diego on this 32d parallel, and
The passes In them, that there eau be selected
but one route or way through these passes,
ilong which railroad can be built. This
s a fact we'll known and recognized by the
Engineers who have surv eyed or examined
he route.
Is IL not plain, then, that thls company,
T rsre so disposed, could hold tbs 32d
'ardilsl route, and ley black mail upon any '
thsr parties Tho might, Asreqtrer, obtain aid
rom he Government 10 eonsiruct road 10 Ms b
Pacific on that iin>f This proposed right of =.
way to these men, "from FL Paso to San !
Diego harbor," will be worth to them, at ,,
Moderate estimate, ten millions of dollars
slO,OOO,0OO.) For, before the expiration
4 ten years, the necessities Of this growing
ountry will be such that road Tin view of
he impracticabllity of the Union Pacific ,
DAD In winter, as recently proyed) to the
aciac on this line, will he absolutely arIis-
eHsdof. Are Senators, then, prepared to
ut 1t In the power of one man, or u set of
len, to hWart this great enterprise A rich
ompany could well afford to say to Con-