Year: 1859

u.
one of the most populous and Aourshing cities
outside Of San Francisco Sacramento and Marys-
vile, in the State OF California.


Now, if it is the intention of Congress TO build
road to the State Of California, this is the route
to select and, if built, there is surely epternrise
enough on the part of the people of California.
with liberal appropriations from u.s. to continue il
to San Francisco. There is railroad already
constructed from Sacramento to Folsom; and it
is in the process offurther construction nortbward
toward Marysville


As have said, intend to vote for the amend
ment offered by the Senator from Iowa for
know ifany bill is passed it will have to be passed
by the Senator's on the other side of the chamber.
AT least one half on this side are committed apainst
IT.. 1T IS because | am sincerely desirous TO see
railroad constructed from the Missouri river to
San Francisco that shall favor the amendment
OF the Senator from Iowa


Mr. GwN-Mr. President. I shouId like To ask
my colleague if he intended to charge me with any
want or delinquency In the discharge of my duty?


MI NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., sir. | consider that ny
colleague has exerted his whole strength on this
bill


Mr. GwN-I have not spoken upon the bill since
l opened the discussion, because believe that
too much speaking destroys bills have not an
swered objections that have been brought against
this BILL because | thought that by wasting the
time in debate we should be kept away from
vote, and that we can perfect the bill more by
amendments that may be offered than by any ex-
plantations which may be made The bill before
the Senate was elaborated and prepared by men
OF great experience in this body. Many of the
members OF the committee that reported it have
been on select committees that have prepared Pa
cihc railroad bills for many years past 1t was
brought here for the express purpose of being
amended and perfected by the action of the SEN
ate. II have not addressed the Senate there
have been many occasions when thought could
have corrected errors into which Senator's had fall
len but have, in my experience here found
that the best way to pass bill is to come to
vote upon it and especially is this the case with
a measure like this, which has been for many
years under discussion in this body.


Now, in regard to the amendment before the
Senate As | have said on many occasions before
there is no route to California that would suit my
constituents so well the one on the fortysecond
parallel, because il strikes the heart of the popu
lation on both sides of the Rocky Mountains and
II Is the very route above all others, which the
road ought to be built, if it is practicable At the
same time, in the bill reported by the select com
mlttee, they have taken the ground, and it is my
own deliberate judgment, that we should not re-
strict capital in selecting the best route to Cali
fornia. When we establish the two termini at a
central portion of the Conederacy on each side, it
strikes me that the central route has such advan-
tages, that fit is what it is represented bv nv col
league, the road will inevitably be built there and
1t is not necessary to put any further restriction
upon it.


Mr.. BRoDERIcK-I would ask my colleague if he
knows Senator representing a Southern State
on this side ofthe chamber, or on the other who
VIII vote Tor his bill If the road is to be construct
ed along the thirtysecond parallel of latitude? for
that road, after it reaches the Pacific will have to
traverse six degrees of latitude through the State
of California to reach San Francisco. Four-iifths
Of the people of California reside north of San
Francisco and if the road is not to terminate
there, Of what use will 1t be to California
should rather vote for road to Mazatlan, or to
the city of Mexico it would be of as much service
to California as the proposed southern road


Mr.. CLARK-Mr President, shall not detain
the Senator more than moment; but | wish to
make suggestion in regard to what was said by
the Senator from Illinois, on the other side of the
chamber, Mr.. Douglas, yesterday. He said that
if this amendment were adopted, and the route re-
stricted the bill would be defeated Understand
to-day the junior Senator from California to say
that he has no hope of the bill being passed by
the Senators on the otSer side Of the chamber but
it must be carried by the support of the Senators
ON this side of the chamber


Mr.. BRoDERIcK-Yes, sir.


Mr.. CLARK now simply wish to answer the
gentleman from Illinois by expressing my convic-
ton that unless this road IS limited in the way
proposed, it can get but little support on this side
Of the chamber, and will be killed the very fate
which he deprecates 1t may be killed in either
event. but am satisfied that unless the road is
limited and confined, the bill must die here.


Mr.. MAsON-FOr one, sir, l feel indebted to the
honorable Senator who has just taken his seat for
the disclosure that has been made. understand
from him, so far AS he is supposed to represent
the opinion of the other side Of the chamber, that
unless this road is limited to some line north of
the parallel of 81 degrees, on his side they will
not vote for it. That means this, lift means any
thing that the road is not to be made on the
most advantageous terms to subserve the militia
ry purposes of the United States but if made at
all by the aid of the votes Of gentlemen on that
side, it must be made to subserye Northern inter
ests | am indebted to the honorable Senator for
the disclosure, and trust that all Senators on
this side will take warning and be governed by it.


Mr.. DoUGLAs-I have but a word to say in re-
ply to the statement of the Senator from New
Hampshire. | am opposed to this restriction, for
the reason that thiuk it will not only defeat the
bill, but will give plausible excuse, ifnot a sub
stantial reason for all Southern men to vote a.
aainst it. five are to have but one road, in my
opinion, it ought TO start this side, at central
point De- tween :he North and South, and termin-
ate on the Pacific at a central point. There is no
qestion as to the point OIL the i'cHliic. All agree
that the road should go to Sau Francisco. The
only dispute then, is as to the starting point IN
the Mississippi valley There is starting pout
named in the bill or rather, certain limit given
for its selection. Then the two termini being





the road shall pursue from the one terminus to the
other. am willing to leave the route, after the
termni fixed to the contractors or capitalists
who are to invest their money in the work


If the starting point on the Mississippi valley is
such that it is equally accessible to the North and
to the South and to the centre, in my opinion that
is all we have a right to ask as Northern men,
Nor do | think that the North suffers in conse-
quence of the route that may be pursued after the
termini are fixed. The North has as much inter-
est as the South, that the route between the ter
mini shall be the best and most eligible that can
be laid down. Ifthat be to bend SOUTH let it 90
there; if it be to northward, let it take that
curve ifit be direct line, let the direct line be
pursued. | am not willing to leave the political
action of this Government to mark the route We
have had experience enough of wagon roads by
circuitOus routes that have been prescribed by
the political department of the Government Leave
II to the contractOrSto the capitalists who invest
their funds-t0 mark out the route from one ter
minus to the other. lam willing to abide by the
route they shall select, whether it be northern,
southern, or central so that the termini are CEN
trail, and accessible alike to all sections.


But, sir, l have a special objection to this lmi-
tation not merely because it excludes the south
ern route and the northern route, but because it
excludes the Albuquerque route The Albuquer-
que route is so far south as TO avoid, in great
measure, the snow argument. The Albuquerque
ROUTE HcCUfulDR 10 le lniOTi0auOn before MS, has,
perhaps, as large portion of timber, of grass, of
water, productive soil, and all the elements to
sustain a railroad as any route across the CONT
nent | am not prepared to say that it is the best
route fthe recent information we have about
the gold discoveries in Kansas and Nebraska, in
the Three Parks, and on both slopes of the Rocky
Mountains, be true; if those deposits of gold are
extensive and as inexhaustible as they are rep
resented to be, my opinion is that those gold
mines will settle the route beyond all controyer-
sy ifyou leave the contractors to select it,


A Senator.-What gold mines?