The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-03-20
The Texas and Pacific r. r.


The question of granting subsidies, and
loaning the credit of the government in
aid of public improvements so called,
which in fact are only private enterprises,
is one which should long ago have received
more attention from the American people
than has actually been bestowed upon it.
The strongest plea made in behalf Of gov.
ernment assistance to the Texas Pacific
railroad is that it is only matter of
justice and equity because the government
has heretofore lent its aid to two other
enterprises of like character in more north
ern ATTITUDES aud that the people of the
South are equally entitled to the same
consideration. Up to the time of the
building of the Union Pacific road the
policy Of the government was always averse
to the principle of lending its aid or en-
gaging in the work Of internal improve
ments of this character The rigid con-
structiou of the earlier days of the nation,
when It's population was far less, and
mainly confined to the eastern slope or at
most to the east of the Mississippi river,
has since been somewhat relaxed to meet
the needs of the country in maintaining
proper communication between the At
iantic and Pacific shores, as well as the
growing extent and magnitude of internal
commerce, An opinion prevails among
many that the departure from the original
and earlier policy of the country has not
resulted IN permanent good, and that
return would be safer and wiser than to
persist in the later and more expansive
policy. We present to our readers in this
connection the minority report made by
Hon. ". r. MORRISON of this State, to
Congress, from the committee on the
Pacific R. R, on the 18th inst.
The Texas and Pacific railroad company
seek to obtain the guarantee of the United
States for the payment Of the interest on
thirty-eight million seven hundred and
fifty thousand dollars of fifty year FIVE per
cent. bonds, to be issued by said railroad
company, and used by it in building and
extending its railroad from Fort Worth, in
Texas, to the Pacific Ocean at San Diego,
10 California. The road to be constructed
is 400 miles in length; the bonds to be
issued amount to $27,678 per mile; and
the interest guaranteed to be paid by the
United States, used as sinking. fund and
invested 10 government bonds bearing the
same rate of interest, would pay $500, 600
600 of the public debt
Has congress the power to authorize the
coveted guarantee? If it has, then power
has been conferred upon congress to make
gifts OF the public moneys and public pro
perty to private corporations aud iudividu
ais. Has any such power been granted
by the constitution, or is it necessary to
the execution OF any power that is granted
This railroad when built, will be the
private property OF the share holders. 1t
will be a military and post road, in the
same sense, and to the same extent, and
none other, that, all other railroads Of the
country over which the government may
transport its mails, troops, OF supplies, for
reasonable compensation, are military and
post roads, 1t is submitted that the power
has not been conferred upon CONGRESS to
make the United States partner in such
an enterprise by subscription to Its capital
stock; or more, to authorize The construc-
ton OF the road out Of the resources of
the people to be made gift to the railroad
company.
The attempt to derive such power, the
power to build and give away a railroad
from the power to est0blish military and
post roads, is, IN the opinion of the under
derslgned, an attempt to peryert the
OBVIOUS purpose OF a power intended for
the public good to private ends. The
United States are bound to provide for the
general defense, but it does not follow that
they may construct or operate railroad
Tor the exclusive benefit of private cor
poratIon, because they may ultimately and
~ some possible contingency want to use
IL lor a military purpose, any more than
they may go into partnership with stock
raiser 6ecauses horses are necessary in
war, The United States have mower m
regulate foreign commerce and commerce
between the states, but it does not follow that
they may indorse the notes of a shin
builder or merchant by way of stimulatinp
and encouraging business The upderslpped
10 unable to perceive any distinction in priu
ciple between these cases and the demand
OF the projectors of this railroad for loan
OF the government credit TO the extent of
many millions, with which to prosecute a
private speculation.
resident jackson, in his veto message
OF the Maysville road bill, discussed the
power IN question and denied the right of
congress IN the premises without q nre-
vlous amendment to the constitution grant.
ing the power, which, in his opinion. was
clearly reserved by the instrument as it
stood and now stands ia respect m this
power. President Polk held the same
views, and devoted large part of his last
annual message to this grave question then
Just beginning to assume dangerous nro-
portions. The weight of authorize IN
favor OF the views of Presidents jackson
and Polk is overwhelming. Among the
statesmen is, of the earlier days Of the re-
public there was little or no difference Of
oplnaOn. content myself with the naked
statement OF the historical truth, and will
not burden these pages with the bright
array OF names,from Jefferson down, which
might be brought to its support.
Inc railway company which asks for
TINS enormous appropriation of credit
presents no claim upon the public which