Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-03-09
q. Ciahehton ON the Texas Pacific.

elonuent orator. aud 40 able debater, and though
he took the wrong side in urging the State to
support the scheme of a company the value OF
whose promises can be properly estimated by
the condition Of the turnpike between this city
and Washington, be as, unquestiouably, did 50
in what he considered to be the best interest of
the State, and his effort Oh the occasion must
be misrepresented by the Richmond correspon.
dence of the Petersburg News, who says:-
Senator Caugbton, of Alexandra, began the
discussion of the Pacific railroad question to-
day. Mr.. Clsughton has disgreeabe voice
and an awkward delivery, which in addition to
his weak arguments went far in helping the
other side. He declined to stop to insult the
intelligence of the Senate to discuss which was
the best route, and then went on to show the
merit of Tom SCOTS bill. He said he was no
railroad man, which declaration was entirely
unnecessary on his part. He was. however,
impelled to act after the action OF the conVen-
| ton at ST. Louis, which was composed OF the
| heroes and sages of the Contederaoy. de was
forced 10 act with them Mr. Claughton next
proceeded to try to rasp tue able Senator from
Campbell, and took him to task for saying that
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston was opposed to the
| rom Scott scheme. Senator Daniel had got
| ten his information from the letter OF q news
| paper correspondent in a reported Interview
with Gen. Johnston. Mr. Claughton then pro-
ceeded to deuouuce that unfortunate func'lon'
| ary, the newspaper correspondent aud utter
viewer, who was but compound of "menda-
cious curiosity and impertinebce He closed
then With the declaration that the State stands
| ON her deliverauce," which was right
MIR. Daniel followed MIR. Caughton. He
said he had so far received no answer to the
arguments which he had advanced. The Sen
| a,or of Alexandria had passed these by and
clothed the precipice with May aud july flow
ers. The Senator's address reminded him OF
those figures which we sometimes see 10 toy
store windows, which can be made to change
from puppet to soldier, &C. 1t seemed to him
that the address would have applied 10 any
other subject as we'll as that before them, aud
| it would have made 6rst-class Twenty second
Of February ora!iop Senator Dauc then pro-
| ceeded TO discuss the enormous map with It's
| biz red lines, 81 nt to the Senate to show The
advantage of Sco,ts route. Mr. D.uieI said
be supposed that Mr.. Scott had u map made
for each State.
| MI Claughton said the map was sent here
| by member Ut Congress-
| MIR, Daniel: Well, who put those red lines
on 1t, showing only the Pacific road aud cx-
Guiding all Others
| Mr.. Claughton: don't know sir.
MIR. Daniel: Was informed diff 4rently FROM
the gentleman. l was told by one Of Mr..
SCOTS frieods that the map Was brought here
by him.
The scripture quotation will here apply to
Mr.. CIaug bton-he "durst ask him no more
questions" or in the more recent aud classic
term, he was as dumb as an oyster" after
this.
Senator Daniel thea went on at length tc
show the tal4cy Of the reasoning IF his oppo-
nents. The Senator from Alexandria lid not
cou6oe his remarks tor the people OF Virginia,
he spoke for the whole United States, from
| Maine to the Gulf Senator Daniel said hi
smoke tor the State of Virginia, and not 10 the
interests of auy railroad king, for as the Scna
tor from Westmoreland had we'll said, they are
but the creatures OF an hour. He was follow.
| ed by Mr. Critcher At the conclusion Of Mr..
Critoher's remarks the previous question was
called aud the substitute Of Mr.. Daniel asking
the members of Congress from Virginia to use
all of their influence against the Tom Scott
scheme was adopted.
The Richmond Wings account Of the de
bate 10 as follows:
Senator Claughton proceeded to speak a,
leugth under the inspiration OF a large map u1
that road which was fixed upon the railing tc
his left, and which forned conspicuous
feature 10 the scenery of the Senate chamber.
He commenced by deprecaing the Influence Of
old passions and prejLq1diceso IN passing upon
important measures He referred to the ces.
sion by Virginia 10 he General Govcrnmcn,
of a territory which he described as an empire
10 extent aUd an f. Dorado 10 wealth. Now,
10 her hour of mpoverishment aod misfor-
tune, she appeals to that Government for as.
sistance 10 opening up great trade route. lie
described the atti' ude of Virginia as at once
melancholy aud sublime. She does no; come
as a mendicant suung for favors, but as a
State asking rights H. declared himself 10
favor Of the Texas and P-ci6c railroad bill as
one 10 the interest of the people. Tn" u zion
Pacific he spoke OF as a monopoly, and re-
COUNTED its exactions. 1t bids defiance to the
Government while il oppress's the people.
He said it was supreme over the Government.
We want aooiher road 10 regulate hat, and
he cared no. for its connections. Whera sAal!
we have il? He pic ured the teemlog country
through which it would pass. He considered
the objections urged again It the bill, as to It's
management, gauge, &c., rep ylng to them.
He denied the frauds charged upon the Caiiior
uia Cons ructon Company in connection w'h
this Texas Pacific company. He deaed
also that the bill asks subsidy. H. de-
seribed the Opposition to the bill as insdious.
He made trequant U.s. OF the map In bis arsu
meut aod illustrations He argued that il
i Colonel Scott had 40 other motive to cause
him to administer the affairs of the road
properly, be had that of self Interest. He was
no apoIogst FIR Tom Scott. aud had, Indeed,
but little conf lence 10 any railroad managers
They would all prey upon the people w1cn they
could. lie dismissed many Of the argum 'nls
90 the other side as absurdites, and undertook
to show that the Texas Pacific bill is better for
the South than the Huntington project, aud
summed up the advantages it offers He said
sumo very harsh things about the Union Pac fc
as grinding monopoly, and ca med that the
| Texas Pacific was the great ben fsctor tina. is
t., put RUG 10 its nose. He lau led the ST.
l. uis Convention, its com position. aud is
procee dings.
Our notes of his speech are necessarily mea-
gre. What struck Us was h. warmth OF ud
| r.. r.