Year: 1859

fragrant violation Of the letter and term
Of the act Itself


In lact sir, 10 bids will be made by
responsible parties, who must deposit half
million dollars in money in advance, as
o guarantee for the fulilment Of con-
tract to build railroad over route
which runs through extensive and arid
sand plains where the land would be of
no sort of value to the contractors, and
would furnish no supplies Of wood, grass
or water--three indispensable necessities
to the building Or to the operating Of any
railroad The only bids which would be
likely to be made, and of course, the only
bids which could be accepted, would be
for the building of the road over route
running through country where the lands
would be most valuable to the parties and
which, being most valuable to the parties,
would furnish the largest supplies Of pu-
siness and contribute most largely to the
support and to the value of the road.
Through such a country, and only through
such country can any railroad carry set
Elements with it. Such country and
only such country can sustain a perma-
nent population and business. Such
country and only such country can sus-
tain railroad and through such coun-
try, every practical railroad man knows
that a railroad can be built


These arc inducements and the very
strongest inducements that can be presen-
ted to operate upon the minds of the con-
tractors to select the very best route and
what is their interest in this respect is the
public Interests and what is the public in
forest is their interest and in this regard
and to this extent their interests harmon
ize with the interests Of the puplic.


If a majority of either House of Con.
gross cannot meet upon the terms of such
bill, or upon bill which shall directly
and expressly provide for the construction
Of Il road over the great central South
Pass route, as a compromise of extreme
routes, north and south, I think it will be
in vain to attempt to bring together a ma.
jority Of either House upon any bill which
shall be more specific in regard to the
route, or which shall designate any other
general line. [ doubt not, sir, that very
large majority of the members of Congress
In each House are in favor of railroad
to the Pacific coast upon some route and.
all will agree at once that the best route,
all things being considered should be Sc
lected and there lies the very difficulty,
q majority Of Congress DO not seem to
agree which is the best route for the coun-
try as a whole; and if they cannot SO
agree, the consequence is, that for the
want of such a majority no bill can pass
which lays down and defines any particular
route unless it be, perhaps, as have be-
fore suggested the great central route, az
n compromise Of divers and conflicting
opinions and interests and preferences.


I repeat, Mr.. President, that I am still
as always have been, in favor of Pa
cidc railroad, and in favor of granting all
the aid of the Government which may be
necessary to secure its construction and
while 1 avow my decided preference for
the northern route, so.called, the route ex-
plored by Governor Stevens, l am willing
to yield my preferences so far as to meet
gentlemen who are in favor Of the extreme
southern route, upon the terms of this bill
or upon bill providing for the construc-
ton of the road on the central route. But
if we cannot meet in spirit of concilia-
ton and compromise upon either of these
/ propositions, and if each of Us shall insist
upon a vote for no bill except such as
shall embody our own peculiar views. l
tnink the prospect anything but bright
one for our passing any bill for the con-
struction Of Pacific railroad


But I did not rise, Mr., President, to
prolong this debate, and am ready for the
! question to be taken upon the preliminary
questions before US