New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-04-03

Ile WORKING On inc TOaU lToil I1ittle NUN
n this direction; but the point at which it |
will strike the State line is not deter
mined.
Mr.. Campbell: would like to have the
dill and veto message read.
g The bill aud veto message were read.
MIR. PoindeXter: | ask for o suspension
Of thu rules.
IRE Pr sident: That will not be in order
aull This question is decided. shall the
BIZ nhss, the Governor objections to the
contrary Notwithstanding?
Mr.. Packard: Upon this question ldeslre
simply TO say. in explanation OF my vote
that am about to make or this question,
that am, and always have been, opposed
to comforting State did to any railroad
company. Il is, in my judgment, a bad
precedent to establish, and will sooner or
ialer work much mischief to the state.
But, sir, what can Senators do! Can they
here, upon this floor, vote large subsidies
to one railroad company. and when an
other comes up and asks Tor aid, IN shape
of Endorsement of bonds, can we refuse the
same aid to one company that has been
giving to another because 1t is IN another
nortiop of the State. We are leglslatlng
for the whole State, and We are not able
TO say from our stand point that this road,
the bill to aid which has just been returned
by the Governor without his signature, is
any less deserving. our aid thaa any other
road in the State, which we have already
given much more aid than this company
2 ks fOr. We are required by THIS to
indorse the second mortgage bonds tor
this company. to strengthen its credit.
This same thing was done TOR the
Chattanooga railroad company last year.
The friends of this measure, now before
the Senate, came. up mantuiiy and sup
ported this measure, indorslng the bonds
of the Chattanooga company without
murmur, and now the same favor is asked
for this railroad company that there was
for the Chattanooga. And what can any
Senator, who is disposed to dea! even-hand-
ed Justice, give as reason why they not
should aid one company as well as another.
while both companies bear equally the
same credit and character before the pub
lie? | am not. able, sir. to draw the nice
distinction that some Senators are disposed
10 draw. Because Ole railroad is In one
portion of the State, and another IS IN an
other, is that of itself any reason why
should vote aid to one and none to an
other?
No one pretends to deny that this rail-
road running to Arkansas line is not des-
tined to make good connection with a
road leading into q productive country.
The enterprise is as worthy as any,
although / am not much acquainted
with the country except a general geo
graphical knowledge of the section OF the
county this railroad traverses, yet am
well aware this railroad will open up a
productive country. And, sir, II we are
to lend our credit in aid OF one railroad,
there is no reason why another should not
be aided as well. We are to know no
difference whether it be north, south, east
or west. We are legislating for the whole
State, and although | had very grave
doubts, sir, about the propriety OF the
State lending its credit to any company at
the start, and believe TO day that the
means Of transportation 10 this State is
saperior to that of any other State in the
Union: that we have only to open the
natural channels for water communication,
and without even one railroad, we would
have means of transportation to develop
our resources to a greater extent than any
other Sou hern State. But, sir, this Is nc
reason; if we grant aid to railroads IL
one section Of the State, there is no just
reason why We should not do so in another
section. Although my preference Is t
! allow each railroad company to build 1t!
! own railroads, independent OF the State
! GA the ground that # company is 40
| able to build the road, il should not at
! tempt to do il, and the road had better re
main unbuilt till such time as q compan.
can be found able to put it through. qe
| we nave established o different preceden
! in this Stat; we have Bald by our pas
action that we will aid these enterprises
and will not only strengthen the credit o
| corporations If this character, but vi
| will give rig6t out subsidies Of millions o
money in direct aid to advance these Ell
| terprises, and have done so, and certaiul.
we can not do less than to grant this in
! direct aid to this company. w
sha,l probably never have tn
bonds to pay. We are only ooini
| a laudable act to q very worthy company
l am not able to see any particular fore
in the argument of the message from tn
Executive. [ am frank to admit that tn
State is Door, and Its credit is very mucl
| impaired; but when will it be better
viii it be after the State has exhausted al
its resources OF other companies, that hav
nc better right to our aid than this com
pany? Let us carry out the precedent W
have established, and aid, by strengthen
ing the credit of this company, the sam
as others. am in favor OF this bill be
coming a law, the Governors veto not
wi,hstapding. | do insist that Senator
should be consistent, lest evil will com
from dealing wrongly. Deal impartial.
with all-not with favor to one compan
and refusing another, but use all alike.
Mr.. Futch: l am in hopes the Govern
or's veto will be sustained.
| MIR. Rav:'It is q much more lmportan
! bill than the Senators seem to Imagine.
Mr. Futch: Whohas the floor?
Mr.. Ray: You have the floor, but if yo'
will permit me to explain
Mr.. Futch: Go on.
MIR. Ray: / say there IS railroad fron
Little Rock, down 10 the direction 0
| Louisiana, and this charter was msa
with view of connecting with 1t. Thi
road will probably never be built unies
there is an Arkansas road.
Mr.. Lynch; 1 would ask the Senator
it is definitely located?
Dir. Ray: The Arkansas company, as
understand it. will rua their road froI
Little Rock TO Pine Bluff, and then i
this direction, but the route from tina
point is not determined upon. Now, W
want a road to connect with that. bu
where that connecting point will be en
actIy is not determined.
| Mr.. FDute: Mr.. President
Mr.. Futcb: L had the aoor, and gay
way to Senator Ray.
Mr.. Foute: The time OF which this Lei