Year: 1859

bill providing for the construction Of Il
road over what is commonly called and
known as the central route, running thro'
| the famed South Pass, and near the forty-
second line of parallel. While it is obvi-
Gus that we can make provisions for the
construction of but single line Of road
to the Pacific, at the present time, 1 should
regard this rs a fair compromise between
the conflicting claims # the extreme north
ern and southern roads


But sir, for the purpose Of avoiding all
questions Of this sort, aud for the purpose
of giving all the proposed routes a fair
and equal chance, according to the intrin-
sic merit of each, the bill fixes the west
ern terminus of the road at Sau Francisco,
and the eastern terminus upon the Mis-
souri, river, ut some point between the Big
Sioux and the Kansas central point
geographically to the country, and point
easy of access and connection with the
great system of railroads already built and
in operation in the country. The bill thus
fixing the termini of the road, leaves it to
the parties, in forming their contract, to
designate the line between these termini,
upon the most eligible route, reference
being had to feasibility, shortness and
economy"


With these terms, and under these lin
itations and restrictions, all sections and
all parties who are in favor Of a railroad
to the Pacific, and in favor of making it
upon the best line, ought to be satisfied,
in my judgment, and l think generally
would be satisfied, provided they had some
reliable guarantee that these provisions
would be fairly complied with. With an
honest and impartial execution of the pro-
visions Of the bill as it stands, in reference
to the location of the road I certainly
should be satisfied, and think l NAV say
thus much in behalf of the northern Sec
tion of the country generally, Fixing the
torMini of the road, as the bill does, under
the conditions and limitations, shortness
and economy, I am willing to leave it en-
tiroly to the contractors to seek out the
best route. Their own direct interest.
acting in unison with the public interest,
will be sufficient inducement to them to
seek out and adopt the best line if they
are allowed to act independently and with
out bias from any undue or extrsneou7 in
fuence.s


1t is suggested by some of my friends
that, under the plan of this bill, somebody
is to be cheated 1 hardly know, sir, what
reply to make to that suggestion trust
that nobody shall be cheated. Somebody
will undoubtedly be disappointed ; but
nobody Is to be cheated, provided the
terms and provisions and conditions of the
bill are fairly executed and carried out /.
and that much of the risk we must take in
any bill whatever. IF the bill of the COM
mittee is not sufficiently guarded upon this
point, let it be made so. This is but the
ordinary case of submitting a question
upon which opinions and interests are di-
vided, TO a competent, and so far forth as
we may be able to do it, to an impartial
tribunal.


Such being the provisions of the bill,
Mr.. President, in respect to the location
of this road, there is little occasion for dis
cussion for here, with regard to the rela-
tive merits of the different routes which
have been proposed, and which indeed
have been more or less accurately explored
and each of which has its friends and its
advocates Indeed, sir, the tendency of
such discussion would be to excite lrri-
tation and jealousy, and to provoke oppo-
sition. The bill itself was framed with a
view to avoid this very diversity and con-
Aict of opinion. l have my own views
and preferences, as other Senators doubt
less have theirs fixed and decided, as to
the most eigible route for Pacific rail-
road but l do not intend to press them
upon the consideration of the Senate at
this time, I am willing indeed, so far to
Weld my individual opinions and perfcr-
ences as to leave the question Of the road
since we cannot agree upon it here, where
the bill leaves ito leave it to the con
traeting parties, who, Of all persons in ih(
world will be most interested in selecting
the most eligible route, and that is all any
body demands; it is all anybody profes
ses to desire.


| apprehend, Mr.. President, that ma
iority of either or of both Houses Of Con
gress can bo brought together only upol
the terms of such bill as this. whic