BY ' MOORE & THOMPSON. 2
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Extracts [tom the Speech ofl
7 Col. Bigler.
In Swarm—on the Bill granting the
I. tight at ,wuy to the Baltimore and Ohio
~.,sRailr'oad Company, to extend said road
.to Pittaburg. .
Mr. Smaxan.—A considerable portion
0! the remarks Which I am about to make.
would have been quite as appropriate. if
they had been delivered pending the pas
sage of the Bil to incorporate the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company; but that sub
ject.and the one now before the Senate
are so closely connected. that 1 concluded
to reserve all theoremarka which I had to
make ID reference to both, for the present
occasion. ‘
’ I have not the vanity to believe that
anything that I can say will influence the
vote of any member of this body; and 1
should not now ask the indulgence of the
.Seoate. if it were not that I desire to
make my position, feelings and opinions
_known to my constituents. Much time
has already been occupied in the discus
sion of this question. It has been exten
,stvely and ably handled by its decided
friends. and I shall not pretend to exam
ine it in all its bearings, but confine my
remarks to my own peculiar opinions in
reference to it.
I have. heretofore, Mr. Speaker. de
clared a liberal doctrine on this subject.
I have said that if it were not for the inte
rest “htch the State has in her main line
of imprmemehts. and the necessitv which
exists for the revenues which she-derives
from list quarter. to meet the urgent de
mands ol- her creditors. I would grant al
most any application of this nature. I
would extend tothem a choice of markets,
and the greatest possible facilities tor
reaching our commercial cities—leaving
those cities to present their own induce
ments for‘ the attraction of trade and
commerce. Nor would I adopt a contrac
ted and selfish policy in reference to sur
rounding States. We are in fact. the
salespeople. actuated by the same mo
tives, and having the same object in view,
separated by mete imaginary lines—and
I would always most gladly promote the
prosperity of the citizens of an adjoining
State. if I could do so without injury to
those of our own. It seems but natural
and right. however, that in legislating up
on subjects of this kind. We should exer
cise a reasonable and proper discrimina
tion in favor of the marts of trade within
our own limits,and so direct our action as 1
to foster, enrich and build up our own
commercial cities. in preference to those
0! another State.. But even this cannot
always be done by the exercise of an illib
era! and contracted policy. The laws at
trade cannot be seriously infringed with
outbeing followed by the most injurious
consequences. To stop the courses of the
blood in the human system. is to produce
debilitation and death. So in reference
to trade and commerce. All efforts to
force trade through unnatural channels
and into markets having no attraction for
it. only tends to~ weaken and destroy it.
It isa true saying. ' that business will leg
ulate itself,’ and it is true. that trade urn
restrained will find its proper market, as
that Water will find its level it left to its
natural tendency.
In the question now before the Senate,
both our principal cities are said to be
deeply interested; and what is most on
fortunate, those interests,according to the
conceived notions of the people of both.
are adverse. What the Prttsburgcrs say
is' necessary for their future weltare and
happiness. ths Philadelphiaos allege Wlll
work out for them and the Statute gener
ally, ruin and disaster. I confess Mr.
Speaker that while I rgard the question
as a very important one. I cannot took up
on it as‘involviog such mighty consequenl
ces. Whatever disposition may be made
of it. both our Eastern and Western Mu
tropolis .will continue to prosper. The
Mechanical an'dxMantrfacturing operations
of Pittsburg will continue to progress——
the nuisaof the hamtnerwill be heard in
her machine-shops, and the general bu stte
of business will be witnessed in h'er streets.
The commerce of Philadelphia will not
perish; and if the great city will but act
——if she will but improve the advantages
whichnature has given her. she need not
be Jalarmedlat the enterprise of nny of her
:COlnme‘ill competitors. Let her and her
leiste'rJ‘cityeof the vWest, but unite withthe
balances“ the State in improving the not.
u'ral"advantages_ which we possess over
adjoining States. and it n-illrmatter to her
out little, what hen rivaLcities, either on
'the‘Nprthor Flouth. may do. We ha've
‘M‘itiiyif'on’rmwn State, Mr. Speaker, the
idle-merits at (prosperity and greatness;
and ii‘is only necessary for' us to use the
“means."to place g both‘our principal cities
‘dbtl'ofth'e _‘reach'pt injury and above, suc
‘cits'tutifrisstriL .Thé. subject. though in).
waitingfiis‘g'r'eat‘ly magnified by. theexcite
meht"vvhich CIISIS tn__relerence.to it.
The Philadelphians after. remaining si
le'iit’l.’on§.,th_'s_’.sub‘jee.t until danger. in; their
:‘il’j’lll’n- lwas "at ‘ ,llelr‘ very doorsfnow step
‘lbwsgiijnd; ask the people of Ptttsburg‘
a man: atitflafi 1161‘
on (he olherhaml. moat snlvmnly declare
that lhcy are able and willing to construct
a road lo Pillsbum. and lhnt they will
commence lo do'su lorlhwilh, i! the Le
gisluture will give them an act ol incorpo
ration. and lhe right of way be not granl
ed. 1! is unr business Sir, to settle this
dilputo acccording lo the dictates of our
juilglnenl.
lam, Mr. Speaker, in favor of a con
tinubua railroad through our own State;
and my object has been, and shall be. to
give_it a prelerence. I desire to test the
slncarity of these Philadelphia declara
tions, to see whether they are the renglt ol
calm, business calculation. or whether
they proceed trom mere excitement and
alarm. I believe. Sir. that lhis can be
done without hazardiug the interests 0
'Pittsburg as connected with the 'right at
way—and God knows, that if ever 1 hr].-
nrd the Intetests of that city, such uctwn
will be the re-ult of error, and not at de»
sign. No man here. Sir—not even the
Senator from Allegheny himself, feels
more nttuched‘to‘the interants and people
0! that'enterpriqing and flourishing city,
than I do. It was with the View Sir. ol
testing the disposition of the Philadel
phians to construct a road from Harrisburg
to Pittsburg, without hazarding the wel
-1 [are ol the latter. that lol’fered. some days
since, to attach a proviso to this bill. post
poning its cfl‘ect to the first of June, 1846
—nod.rendering it null and void. if the
aubsct tptiona to the continuous road should
be made. And, Sir. the more I examine
the subject, the more firmly am I grounded
in the opinion, that this policy ought to be
adopted. It is, in my opinion, the true
policy of both cities. and of the State
generally. Granting the right of 'way
may not do as‘much for that cnty. The
grant may not he embraced.an'l will not
be, if it be the interest of that company
to carry it elsewhere. ll 1 cannot arrive
,at my object in any other way, I shall leel
constrained, by to} own judgement, and
by the interests of that section of the
State. which I represent here. to vote
against any bill granting the right ol way
to the Baltimore and Ohio Company du
ring the present session; but, Sir,l de
sire at the same time to say. that if the
Philadelphians should tail or neglect to
proceed with the continuous road. and I
should live to take a seat in this Senate at
its next aeaaion: and the lrtends of the
right oi way will take such a bill as will
protect the interests of the State in her
public‘ works. I shall advocate and vote
for its passage. It Wt” then come within
the general principles which [have laid
down upon suthCts at this kind. It Phil
udelphiu \vtll not act, the tightol way
will, and ought to be granted; and l de
sire to impress upon her citizens the fact.
lat (here Is for lhem no other alternanve
—no escape from the cunxequencee ol the
extension of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
roatl. except by uniting with the balance
of the State to Construct an avenue for
\Vestern trade and travel through our ter
ritory. The; travelling public will no
longer be confined to canal boats and sta
ges—that day has gone by.
But now sir, I am brought to consider
what the el‘fecte ol on immediate and un
conditional grant of the right of way to
the Baltimore company would be upon
this grand enterprise of Philadelphia.—
Whut influence would it have upon the
minds 0! those who are to furnish the cop-
itn‘l to'proseoute this noble design} It
musl be apparent to all (hot the eflecl
would be most injurious; that it Would
paralize if not completelyproslrnle this
grand scheme. upon lhemuccess of whiph.
mmy opinion, the lulurolwellnre of Me
Mule lo n very great degree depend-. 1 A
considerable amour]! of capital would, I
lrirvelno doubt, be‘ furnished from’ more
lé‘élings ul" locnl pride and patriotism, and
u still larger amount, from consideration:
'coh’rl‘ccled wilh‘ thep'co'mmqroial interest
of Philadelphia. ' V But "(how should, not; I
lo cease lheir ellorts to form commercial
alliances will) their rivals, and they will
conslruct an improvement lhat will aub
lerve the interests of both cities; and f0:-
oneWSir, I believe them to be honest and
sincere in this matter. and desire to give
them a fair opportunity to do so. It the
peopleot Philadelphia will construct a con
tinuous Railroad from Harrisburg lo Pitts
burgor Erie, or to both, they will not only
be allowed to do no. but they ought to be
encouraged and aided in so grand &laud
ible an enterprise. This improvement
would extend over the entire length of the
State, and would connect Pittsburg with
the Atlantic cities, by the shortest possililo
link. Why, then, I would ask, Mr.
Speaker, should it not be prelerredi’ Why
is it not satisfactory to both patties? Why
will it not answer the purposes oi Pitts
burg and Philadelphia both? The un
swer to all this, by the l’tttsburg people.
is. that they have no confidence in these
I’hlladelphia declarations. that the idea of
a continuous road was gotten up as n mere
rule to defeat a grant of the right of way
to the Baltimore and Ohio road—that u
continuous road will not even be com
menced; and that m the meantime, the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
will adopt some other'lerminua, 11an the
uppmtunity ol drawing that improvement
to Pittsburg “ill be lost louever—aml thus
the business and enterprise til their city
would be prostrated. The Phllmlephian‘.
CLEIKRFIELD,PA.MAY'2O,IB46.
*fear, be sufficient. Men must beinduced
to‘take stock in this work, with the View
of receiving profitable dividends. r These
gentlemen will view the matter with cool:
nees and deliberation—they Will see a
povvcrlul'competitor winding its way from
the south—stretching forth its iron arms
to grasp the glittering pl’lzel of the Ohio
to arrive at Pittaburg simultaneously with
the continuous road, to compete with it.
not for a part. but for the entire trade
and travel, for every passenger and every
pound ol tonnage. and when they contem
plate the nature ol the competition "that
would be likely to arise between two pow
erlul corporations. brought into close prox
imtty partaking somewhat of the sover
eignty of two great states—stimulated by
the commercial interests ol Baltimore on
the one hand, and those of Philadelphia
on tho other—and when they call to mind
the consequences ol such competition, in
presented in the rose of the Reading’rail
road and Schuylkill navigation companies,‘
I fear they will become alarmed and re
luse to assist. But air, it iii said that it
would be the interest of the company con-'
atrucling a Continuous road to have the
Baltimore and Ohio road to terminate at l
at l’ittihurg; that it would be less injuriv
on! at that point than at any other on the
Ohio river. lt» mallera not err, “liellter
the apprehrmions to wliiclil have relev
retl be lounrlerl in error or in truth; they
will be none the less potent lor evil. tor
the time being, tothis new enterprise: and
thus, I fear, it may be nipped in the very
bad. lam perfectly sazi~fied air, that it
both roads terminated at Pillsburg, the
chances of success would be againstvthe
Baltimore road. The Pennyltania toutl
would have men advantages: I‘llctlli
tance from Philadelphiauto-Pittsburg. by
the Baltimore road would be about 4-12
miles, while by the continuous road it
would not exceed 342. leaving a clear ail
vantage in diatance ol 100 miles. This
advantage would certainly be decisive as
to all travellers going to or returning from
New York or Boston, and if it railroad
should be constructed from Harrisburg to
York, it might even attract much of the
travel destined lor Baltimore. as the Penn
.ylvania route Will be still the shorter of
the two; travellers would be likely. at
least to alternate on these routes. Time
and distance would.tlierelore. be in favor
of the Pennsylvania road. These are
very important features in the law of trade.
but they are often neutralized b‘y other
principles 0! the code. The produce ol
the west first seeks the best Atlantic mar
ket. and then the shortest and cheapest
route whereby to reach such market, and
hence it may and will happen. that the
shorten and cheapest route for the pro
duce oi the west to reach the Atlantic
cities, will not always be embraced; be
cause such 'avenue may lead to an inferior
market. These principles also tend to
insure the success ul lhe Pennsylvania
read. because Philadelpllia.and N. York
are the lending markets in the east. They
afl'urd not My 3 more extensive and equal
ly favorable market for the trade ol lhe
west. but their exchanges are made on bet
ter terms; merchandise can he purchased
at luwcr rnleu, and hence the weltern
merchant cunsigns his produce to these
markets. even if the costs of transportin
lion should be a little higher than would
enable him to arrive at an inferior enslern
market.
But we are lold that ll the Baltimore
and Ohio road be not allowed to come to
l’ittsburg. that it will reach the Ohio river
at \theling or Pmkerburg, and that its
lerminalion at either of these points wnll
render it much more efficient as a com
petitor to our public works, or to a road
through our own state—that it will arrest
and carry off all the ascending trade and
travel ol the Ohio river. To prove lhlß,
t hmi been stifled. that the three-luurlhu
ol all the travellers now coming up the
Ohio I'IVBI'. leave (he sleamboats at Whee-
ing and go by stages. on the mammal road.
32 milea, to Cumm'rlnml. and from
hence to Ballimore bv lhe Railmad.—
These facts. Mr. Speaker. are well known
and wili not be dyntod by any one. But.
sir. nhy is it 50? Is the reason tound in
the diflicullius of the route from \Vheol.
ing to Pittsburg? No, sir. it is because
there is no way of reaching the East from
Pittsburg in the winter season except by
stages to Chambersburg. or by the North
ern route through Huntingdon and Lew
istown, and in the summer season by the
Peonaylvania Canal. or the Monongahela
navigation to Brownsville. and lrotn thence
to Cumberland by stages. _ 'l'heue routes
are tedious and laborious. But. sir. how
many would leave the river at \Vheeling.
it they had the opportunity of tultinga
railroad ut Pittsburg, leading to Philadel
phia? Why, sir. not one man. Even
the passengers destined tor ‘Baltitnore
would come to Harrisburg, and go thence
to York by stages, ‘But it may“ bu asked
how the matter would stand, it the Balti
more' roud were extended to Wheeling?
would it take a. greater proportidn of
travel than it would do if torminating‘ut‘
Pittaburg? ..'l‘his. Mr. Speaker, I confess
is a question 'surrounded with some dith
sully; I may not be competent” to answer
It correctly. ~- lfl-incline to the opinior’t.‘
however.,lhat atvall timeogvhen the river.
was' in ‘rea§onable:_navigation order, pas
sengers fof‘thiladelphin, ‘New‘ York. or
any of the eastern cities, would- continue
up the river to Pittaburg. and go thence
by the Pennsylvania road. _I believe, air.
that the further south the connexion is
made, the more? unsuccessful WI“ this
road be in carrying oil the trade of the
Ohio river—and the less so will it be in
carrying tonnage. I cannot persuade my
self that a railroad lying parallel with the
‘ateam navigation on the Ohio river, with
no advantages in distance, and the disad
‘vantages 0! high grades and curvatures,
with the still greater disadvantages of
leading to an inferior market, can succeed
in the transportation of heavy goods or
western produce. The higher up the con
nexion with the Ohio river, the tnore pow-_
i‘rful will the competition 'of this road be
lor the business of our public works. The
route from Cumberland to l’ittsburg is
undoubtedly the shortest atid best location
named for‘this road. To save the tonnage
to our public works. is an object of two
fold importance. It will secure to the
state the revenue she so much needs, and
to Philadelphia her usual commerce; for
it is not by peiiniting travellers to go to
Baltimore, that this great city is to be in
jurt-il in her business; it is by sending the
produce of ilie west to the ‘Baltimoro
market. Audit should not be forgotten;
that it the terminus of this road should
he at V'Vheeling or Parkersburg, all the
business and travel above such terminus
is secured to the Pennsylvania works free
of competition. and should a railroad be
made to Cleveland and one towards Cin-’
cinnati, this will constitute the largest
portion of the western business. Where
will this road terminate, it it be not al
lowed to come to Pittsburg? 'l‘he Vir
ginia Legislature. for two successive ses
sions, has refused to grant the right of
way to Parkersburg. The President of
‘thc company has condemned the Wheel
tog route as being virtually impracticable.
ls it to remain at its present terminus? It
is not fair to presume that it will. This
would be virtually throwing away the
large amount of money already expended
in its construction. 'l‘hen. air. will it
come to Pittsburg. if the right of way be
granted; or will our law be used to ob
tain more favorable legislation from the
State of Virginia? On this point. Mr.
Speaker. we are much‘in the dark. No
Senatnr‘ seems to have any knowledge of
the disposition of the Baltimore company
on this subject. If we are to judge from
the public actions of the Company, they
do not desire to come to Pittsburg. and
will not do so it they can get permission
to go elsewhere. Then, sir, what may be
the effect of our action here? We may
be giving this company the power more
effectually to injure us. \‘Vo may be ina
king one chance in the game against our
selves. It the oflect of this legislation
should be to open all the routes. then it
would be a matter of cool business calcu
lation With the Company, which to adopt.
And no set of men in the country are
better able to decidetthis question correct
ly. than the officers of this Company. [9
they should arrive at the conclusion that
they cart come to Pittsburg and success
fully compete With the Pennsylvania im
provements. they would do so; if not,‘
they would go to Parkersburg or \Vheelm
ins. 11. sir. a connexion at either of thel
latter points. presents all-{the advantagesl
which are claimed for them by some gen
tlemen on this floor. then,sirl this road
never will come to Pittsburg; but it it
should do so. we have. and can have. no
guarantee that the Ohio river will not be
tapped lotVer down, and that When we
have introduced a powcttul competitor
into the very heart of our own business,
we will not still be visited with the conse
quenres of a competitor below. Indeed,
sir. we have evidence that we will have
such_ a competitor, in the shape of the
Richmond and Guyadot improvements.
But I have said, Mr..Bpeuker. the? we can lost
the sincerity of the Philodelphians in reference to
the construction of the continuous road. without
hazarding‘the interests of Pittsburg no connected
With the right of way. And how not Why. I":
it the Baltimore niid Ohio Company desire to come
to Pittaburg with their road. they will not think of
adopting any other terminus in one or even two
years, nntl most certainly they would not do so. if
the proviso. which I intend to oll'er to this bill.
should be adopted. it ,will he no inconvenience to
them to delay to June, 18417; or until it shall be
ascertained that the stock of the Pennsylvania road
will be subscribed. I believe. air. they now have
no means to go any where. They are financially
weak. True they have three millions nt‘Mnrylaud
bonds. which they are required to sell at par or
not atoll; but even if this restriction were taken
off, they could not mako them available without
sustaining niruinous lose. Besides, sir. they are as
you will perceive by the public prints, inviting
proposals'to re-build some thirty miles of their
road lying between Harper's Ferry and Baltimore.
which road was constructor! Oil the old‘ perishable
plan. with flat rails, and I atn assured. that by next
season. another part or this road will require tobu
ro~built. 'l‘liuu. sir, are the funds and enorgl"
of the Company required In repair their proatinl
road. and they will not, perhaps. even have mean!
to examine and survey the route for the now roudtt
much less proceed to construct it. 'l‘hts roadgptny
at some time be constructor] to the Ohio river “‘l'
we seem to be looking upon it a- an event of to
morrow. .Why, air. this cbmpany. With all thalr
original means and energies have been some WV“
onlcen years getting from Baltimore l{[C“l"b°flanr
and if they are forced to g 0 '0 Hill", Fishing
Cioek. or.Parlrer-hurg. their work ll ”1'“ "5 ”1‘
fancy—it is not halt accomplished ' M 'l'“ same
ratio 0! program that has heretofore characterized
the comtruction of this road. it Will be twenty
years_reaching its destination. Time DROUGb- lift
to maketlto continuous road to Pittsburg and make
Imm im‘hnd Ptitladotphla’rich.. hetero. "fit! 09"):
petitor “h'gflinto {till power. "And._‘isir.‘ftnsy'not"
‘he Virginie improvement on the flout: and-"oura
F , 1h
NEW SERIES~-VOL. I. N0.“3!9--IWHOLE NO- 1017.
on the North. have n londancy Io confine lhll watk
whom it now in! I cannot Imagino. for tholifo of
mo, Mr. Speaker. why inn. that some genllcman
have so much confidence in lhe abilily ol Balti~
more and this company to fini-h this gun! work.
and no liulo confidonco in the nbilily of Philadel
phin, Pin-burg and the interior of tho Stale. (a
construct a railroad from Harrisburg Io Pillsbmg,
a much lens work. Why. air. Philadelphia il bet
ter nblo of herself to make 3 road from Horn-burg
to both Plushurg and Eric. lhnn Baltimore in lo ox-
lend hor road to the Ohio by tho Fishing Crook
route—better nblo. ainlo donllrucl a road lhe,oniiro
immune from Harrisburg to Cleveland, than Halli.
more is torcuch Parkorabprg with he". Thug, airJ
am satisfied that we can postpone a grant of the right
or way either positively or conditionally. without
endangering the interests of Pittsburg. or delay. the
ultimate completion ot this.road. But, sir. I may
he told that it the stock of the Pennsylvania road
should be subscribed. then the Baltimore road
would never come to Pittsburg. Be it so. Mr.
Speaker. if these roads are incompatible—if we
cati have but one of them, I cannot hesitate in se
leetin’g tho Pennsylvania road) nor air. can [IBO
that Pittsburg. would have any cause of complaint.
ire read he made connecting with the Atlantic
cities by the shortest possible link. - ' '
l now desire to submit some remarks I" 1’0“!"
once to a continuous railroad to connect the eastern
and western waters. lam glad that this subjectts
beginning to attract a portion of the public atten
tion which its paramount importance eutitlesit to.
[am especially rejowod. Sir. that our great com
mercial metropolis is becoming awake. to the im
portance of an improvement of this kindshtnd I
trust the day is not [or distant when this great
work will be accomplished” l desiro' to see our
two great cities. Philadelphia and Pittsburgrspem
dity connectediby‘pn artery of this kind. extending
over otir own territory. without reference to any
particular location. lam willing to leave all the
routes open to the choice of the company. The
question of the route is one that nature has doci
‘ded, and it will be {or the company to ascertain
‘wliero that deCisien is. l caroiiot Ill' t company
‘ may select the middle route of Mr Sclilattor's sur
vey. pursuing the Susquehanna river for a few
miles above this place, and then crossing to its
western shore and following it to the mouth of tho
Junista. and thence up the southern shore of that
I’iVDl' l 0 Lowislown. and from thence up the Kish-
Vacoquillas creel: to Stone mountain. and from theme
by the valley of Shever's crcolt to the Little Juni
eta and Peterburg. thence to the summit of the
Allegheny at Ilia Sugar Run Gap, and from thence
to Pitt-burg. or whether they select the northern
route. Up the Valleys of the West Branch of the
Susquehanna river and Bald Eagle creek. and In
this way reach the summit of the Allegheniss; or.
that they follow the Cumberland Nailey road to
Cliambersburg. and go from thence to Johnstown
in Cnmbria county. which. though neversurveysd.
is said to be a practicable route. Let but a road
be made. Let the route which nature has desig
noted he adopted: it" the location should happen
to bis/considerably north or south of the state
.not yet provided for. The people in the southern
tier of counties urge the right at way for the Bal
timore and Ohio company. partially on the ground
that they derive no direct advantages lrotn the
public works. whilst they are as constantly called
uPen to contribute their parties of revenue to meet
the interest on the debt, contracted in the cons
siructien of these improvements. This, Mr. Spea
ker. to some extent. is correct; but the same posi
tion might be assumed With even more propriety
and truth in reference to nearly all the northwest
ern counties of the State. constituting one~lourth
of her territory. These countiestlerive little or
no advantages from the public works. and unlike
the southern counties, they are new had poor. and
greatly need the means ter developing their wealth.
Why sir, no county in the State has tnore just
cause of complaint. on this score. than the little
county of Clearlleld. Her citizens not only derive
no advantages from the public works. but they are
forced by means at these works. to sustain on arts
nual injury to double the umoitnt of their tesstion.
Prior to the construction of the public works her
people had a natural avenue to the eastern marlh
ots ; her hardy soas placed their coal and lumber
in arlts and rafts, on the smooth surface ofthe piss
cid Susquehanna. and floated calmly down the
current uninterrupted by this watsrs nor dashes?
to pieces by violent cataracts. But sir. in the con
struction of the public improvements. dams have
been thrown across this noble river. which are
productive to the descending navigation of great
delay and danger. Estimating the number of ash
and rafts descending the river, from this county.
annually at six hundred, and the additional time
in making a trip to market. at an average of {our
days. at five dollars per day; and you have the
sum of twelve thousand dollars annually. This
Sir. to a very small county. is no trifling burdien.
And in fiddllit’n‘ Sir. these dams prevent the shad
ascending the river in the Spring. and thus we up
river people are deprived of a valuable luxury.
which nature intended we should eajo .and which.
Sir. in the opinion of a gentleman cl your good
taste. lhaVe no doubt. is a most grevious privation.
This. Mr. Speaker, is no fish story. Every allega
tion 1 have here mails could be established in a
court of justice, and yet sir. let the railroads and
canals go where they may' our people have not.
and “’lll not complain.
Allusion to tho odious doctrine of repudiation
has been made in connexion with these railroad
questions. Sir. this ought not to be. Thlfl Jaco
biuicnl, degrading. honor~ternishing and W‘Cle
doetritie has been consigned to oblivion by Ih} hon
esty and virtue of tiie people of Pennsylvania, ahd'
there let it rest. Let no mar-.at Ile day. {9'
small or great cause. drag ill hideous "398° “89m
belore the eye. V 7 .
'l‘ho Allegheny mountainn, Mr. Speaker. present
the only great ob-mclo to a railroad communication
between rho can and won 0:: this subject I
,wish to road nn extract [mm a publiculion mudo in;
ibo Uniled Slnlea anouo. some limo Inst full. and
which]: friend has pluced in my palauslion-érl hive
u poraon'nl knowledge 01 its nullmr. and know lhal
rho fuels slated. or many of lh‘em. were ascertained
upon ncluul oxnminulion by cnmpotont lacnonuflu
man. The wrilor mlvuonlen lho conurnclion 0! a.
main Mom of railroad lo Ilia commit of lhe Alia-I.
gfv'lllcifllnd from thonco branches Io Pillsburg'nnd
Eric. "0 any:-—— . , .;. 5 ~ ,
“ 'l‘ho wholo distance from Philmlclphi‘u 10 Pills
hurg in 336 miles. and from llnrrisburg'2‘29 [-2.
with no gmdus exceeding 45 foul, lu lhe mila.,——
[lO6l-2 miles of llun mud uru now ('mrnplolcd: , Eh,
mninmions made umco Cal Schlullur‘wuu on lho_
ground, hpvo brought In light some controlling
facts. The crossing oriho avoiding lhé iAllcghé
ny‘ range in lhe problem lo ho solvodiiiall connexv
ions Io [unmade belwaau Hm can and (he wash-e 4.
ltlu ugroranknhlo circulnstnnw. \hnl‘in all she “Hf;
voy- made-by thiamine and by Hiurloreo companion;
lhe modl' felinnbl'o. point fur'surmdunling‘ lhu_t_'b'ar-3
‘riler. lmu iiavor jv'et‘lioon cx‘umincd. Tho' “irii'or’
vworksyl shoalgl'iio'l:Eumplain. aarnwéum?
aacco'vnlnmlaCov:the: Izpcopler ‘nndfdcv‘ellip‘o’
athevvrfioorwrdl'ifsvnortiminolglhe-Smd
El