The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-05-09

and Pacific railroad at Fort Worth 10 the Pa
of the Character described. When IL is con-
sidered that the entire line yet 10 be construct
odextends through an unsettled region; much
the larger portion of which is owned by the
federal government, 1 think there can be no
tdOubt upon the subject. The vast region
GeaYersed by the projected road, now gwen
over to solitude would be speedily settled
and the wealth of the nation be enormously
increased by its construction. II would
also open another great highway to the Pacific
ocean and increase the facilities of the nation
for trading with the nations OF the east, thus
still farther promoting the prosperity OF the
country generally" To refer briefly to details,
that portion of the road extending through
the great and as yet bot partially developed
state of Texas will open up to the husbandman
one of the richest and most inviting agrlcul-
tural regions on the continent. Grains OF an
kinds can there be produced In larger quanti-
ties to the acre than in almost any other sec
ton of the country, while as grazing region
it is unsurpassed. Cotton, one OF our leading
exports, is also capable of being produced 10
an unlimited extent. Build this ROAD ana III
will be but short time until our annual crop
of cotton will be doubled and contribute ma
terialiy toward turning the balance of trade In
our favor. This is matter OF no little I'M
portanee in the present condition OF the coun-
try
After leaving the state of Texas the road
traverse .from east to west the extensive terri
tories of New Mexico and Arizona, whose
mineral resources are believed, upon I'M
doubted information, to surpass those OF any
other 6giOn known TO CIVILIZATION. Let TINS
region once be thrown open to immigration
and rich and prosperous states, con-
tributing untold millions TO the ma
o omr great MI ope 6s w be-
"promoting the prosperity of the country gen.
orally"
The trade of large portion of old Mexico
would also be secured by the construction of
this road, which, although at our very doors,
now tends to enrich foreign and distant ma
tions. As already suggested, it would furnish
| the nation with another and more direct
| highway TO the Pacific ocean, and build upon
its shores another great city to handle and
lfcrri To sod Of N
and other nations.
There is still another consideration of great
| impor' rance which should be mentioned in
regions to be traversed by this road the gov
eminent is unable to afford that protection TO
life and Pr4pTerty Mhieh is the tight
are spent ann ualIy in maintaining distant
and Isolated military posts without accom-
plishing the ends desired. There is no civillZer
| equal to the railroad. Let this road be built,
/ and industrious farmers, mechanics and MI
ners will be found making their homes along
| its line in sufficient numbers TO protect them
selves until civilization spreads over the entire
region now occupied by the savage alone In
/ deed, were the statistics at hand, have no
doubt they would show that in the territories
of New Mexico and Arizona alone the govern
| effort to protect their inhabitants than would
| construct and equip a railroad from the MisSiS-
| sippi TO the Pacific, TO say nothing about the
| and of the lives Of hundreds, perhaps thou
| sands, of our hardy pioneers. IL is the duty of
the ito to afford pFotec4Tn 10 an 81
secure that end ought unquestionably to he
| adopted.
If protection is thus extended and the region
| referred to is settled by means OF the compile
| ton of the Texas and Pacific, the lands of The
| government would find ready purchasers and
| the revenues OF the government be correspond
the sales of its lands, but by the increased pro-
| duction Of wealth, both mineral and agr.cul-
| tural, which would follow. In large portion
| traNerSpd the Texas and
| cific the government is the sole proprietor, and
| its interests. alone are promoted. IL that be
| Calhoun i'm the report from which 1 have quo
| ted, 'it would be neither just nor fair for the
| government TO stand by and realize the advan-
| tage IL would derive from this work without
| contributing due proportion toward its con-
| struction."
There can not, 1 think, be any doubt in the
minds of the members of this body in regard
TO the character of this project but that all
/ WILL upon due reflection, agree with me that
/ IL is work of national importance, ana falls
| under that class of public improvements
| which for nearly half a century have been
recognized by leading statesmen of all parties
as being within the scope of the powers con-
| ferred upon congress by the constitution.
| That point settled, IL only remains now to
/ consider the several plans submitted to this
house for extending governmental aid to this
| road, and for this purpose IL is only necessary
TO examine the provisions of the original bill
| offered by the committee and the substitute
which have had the honor TO submit for the
consideration of the house. And may re-
| offer a substitute instead Of attempting SIM
| ply TO amend the original bill, because, as will
| be seen by an examination OF the original
bill and the substitute, they differ not only
| TO details, but as TO the manner in which gov
| ernmentdl aid should b extended TO the pro-
| iect in the most radical manner.
| The original bill seems to have been pre-
pared with great care, with view TO protect.
| ing the government and the people, so far as IL
aiding the road as proposed in the bill. My
| objections go directly TO the plan proposed.
/ But before proceeding to discuss the merits
| and dement's of the plan desire to call atten-
/ ton to two or three important objections to
| the original bill which have been avoided i'm
the substitute. / allude, first, to the provision
| authorizing the construction of several
| branches, namely, one TO New Orleans, one to
| Vicksburgh, and another TO Memphis, and
/ also one from Ninita, the present terminus of
| the Atlantic and Pacific railroad, to a connec-.
| ton with the Texas and Pacific at
t tnd '" The " three branches O FIRST
| named are all within the states, and in reality
form no part whatever OF direct trunk line
TO the Pacific ocean. They have all, believe,
been organized under state charters. How
ever that may be, they all extend through old
states, In which the government has long since
ceased to be part proprietor of lands, and are
| clearly not entitled to government aid under
| the principles which have laid down as gov
| erning the action of congress i'm cases of inter
| nal Improvement of this character. With the
| same propriety congress might be called upon
| TO aid branches from Louisville, Cincinnati or
| Charleston, thus committing the federal gov
/ eminent to a system of general internal i'm
| movements In the construction OF railroads
/ not contemplated by the constitution and
| manifestly In direct violation of public
| policy. The Atlantic and Pacific branch
/ differs from the other branches In
this. that 1t is not projected through any of the
| old states. IL is proposed to extend it through
/ the Indian territory, which would render IL
necessary for the government TO extinguish
| the Indian title by purchase, thus adding to
/ the liabilities to be assumed by the federal
| government. The Atlantic and Pacific does
| not necessarily form any part of a tn rough
| trunk line to the Pacific ocean, and as part of
| a branch to st. Louis ifs construction is en-
/ tirely unnecessary, for the reason that the ex-
i tenslve region of which that city is the COM
/ mercial center already enjoys the advantage
/ of two roads extending from st. Louis to a con-
nection with the Texas apd Pacific west of the
| Mississippi river, namely, the Iron Mountain
and st. Louis railroad, and the Missouri, Kan