sympathize, the evil influence he will have on the friends of Genl. Taylor in the two houses of Congress. Many who would have done very well in his absence will give way in his presence. This will also introduce a new element in the selection of the Genls. Cabinet. It must be composed of men of nerve and of no Clay affinities. One instance to illustrate my meaning Berrien of Ga. though well enough without Clay's shadow, would not do under it. You see that I disregard Mr. C s- pledge to support the administration, he may wish to do so, but can his nature react so much. The Englishman Baker, who came from the Rio Grande to draw pay, mileage and a year's stationery as a member of Congress is here, with recommendations from legislatures for the post of Secty. of War. What would Genl. Taylor say to such impudent dictation and indelicate solicitation. Butler King wants to be Secty. of Navy you know the little Yankee Andrew Stuart wants to be Secty. of Treasy. the man who proved wool to be a vegetable. I hope you will talk fully with Genl. Taylor he knows very little of our public men personally and will have very little opportunity to observe them after his arrival.

Clayton is true and talks right, has he the necessary nerve,-— how would Birney of Philad. do for the Treasy. A. Lawrence is not a Lawyer and is a manufacturer, how would Mr. Lawrence do for Navy, how would Gadsden do for War, how will a Post Master Genl. be selected

The Genl. will need you and I hope to see you here- Loose and hurried as my remarks are, written in the midst of much "noise and confusion" you may from intimate knowledge of all I have treated of, unravel what would be unintelligible to one less informed-Your friend

Jeffn: Davis

Remarks of Jefferson Davis in the Senate Jan. 31, 1849, on the bill to aid the construction of the proposed railroad across the Isthmus of Panama.

Mr. DAVIS, of Mississippi. I agree with the Senator from Delaware in a part of what he has said, and differ very widely with him in relation to other portions of his remarks. I think, if there is any ground for mortification in regard to this matter, it is that this Republic, the mother of the republics of the American continent, does not contemplate the transportation of the property of the Government and of the citizens of the Republic within her own limits; that she does not construct for herself, if she have the constitutional power to undertake such

work at all, a road from the valley of the Mississippi to the western limit of the territorial possessions of the United States. If I were to contemplate the idea of constructing a road, either through the instrumentality of the Government exclusively, or by advances of money made to contractors for that purpose, I should make the line of road pass through the territory of the United States. Such a road I would regard as more advantageous to the interests of this country and its citizens. I would consider it preferable in a commercial point of view, and still more so upon political considerations, that our citizens and their property, instead of being separated from the country in their transit from one portion of the United States to the other, should be kept within our own limits; and that the connection with our remote possessions should be as direct as possible. It is not that I have any want of confidence in the attachment of any American citizen to the Government of the United States; for I have an abiding confidence in that attachment. I believe that it is not to be broken off, however widely they may be separated from the Government. But, if anything is calculated to invite or lead to a forgetfulness of that attachment, it would be for our citizens to find themselves on the shores of the Pacific a powerful people, having an extensive commerce with Asia, without any communication with the United States, and with the legislature sitting here to fix the laws governing their intercourse, both domestic and foreign. If that people are to be bound permanently to this Union, if it is to be made their interest in all time to come to remain a portion of the United States, then I say it is necessary that a ready and accessible means of communication should be afforded them; and the links of communication must be continuous; towns, villages, and hamlets, must extend along the line of communication, from the seat of the General Government until we stand upon the shores of the Pacific. This must be our ulterior object, and all other measures in reference to this subject must be considered as temporary expedients only.

I am not willing to see this Government permanently coupled with any work outside of the United States, and if we are to have any connection whatever with this proposed Panama road, let it be temporary, and let it be in dollars paid for heads and tons conveyed, and let them bear the charge of making the road. I am not willing to pay any stipulated sum to this company in prospect, or when they have perfected the work, other than that which they may receive upon a contract for carrying public stores or for carrying persons, when they are in readiness to

perform such work. It is with this view that I have presented the amendment. And, adopting the bill in that form, we shall be equally ready to avail ourselves of the road across Tehuantepec, if one be constructed there. I believe that the route proposed will be subject to interruptions from foreign countries, especially in time of war. I believe with the Senator from Delaware, that the Tehuantepec route would connect itself more intimately with the interests of the United States; but there are other considerations which should not be lost sight of. We have no right of way, and the time must be remote when a road will be constructed there, unless the Government of the United States expend a large sum of money in the construction of a road through the Republic of Mexico. Notwithstanding the amusing definition which the honorable gentleman gave of the name of Tehuantepec and which, I suppose, was given by him more in jest than seriously-I will tell him that, although there are northwest winds sometimes prevailing along that coast, such as he has described, rendering the approach of vessels extremely hazardous, yet there are deep indentations in the coast where vessels may safely enter, the force of the waves being broken by the jetting head-lands which extend for a considerable distance into the sea. So far, then, as those two routes are concerned, the advantage is decidedly in favor of Tehuantepec. But it is not my purpose to enter into this question at all. We have nothing to do with one or the other of them; they are foreign routes; we neither propose to determine the route nor to build the roads; but if they are built, and their services are afforded to us at reasonable rates, then let us avail ourselves of them, whether the road be through Tehuantepec or Panama. I therefore say again, that I am opposed to any proposition to expend even the hundredth part of the sum stated by the Senator from Delaware in the construction of a road. I wish to confine the expenditure of any money for the establishment of a communication with the Pacific within our own country, taking such a course as will lead in a direct line through the valley of the Mississippi to the Pacific. Wherever the passage of the mountains may be most advantageously made, let the road be there constructed, and let us look finally to the accomplishment of a direct passage across the continent, within the limits of the United States, from one sea to the other. If I succeed in the proposition which I have made to amend the bill, by striking out all that relates to the rates of compensation, in the form of annual payments to be made to the company, and all limitations, it shall then be followed by an amendment which shall

stipulate that the Government of the United States shall pay for transportation a rate which shall not exceed that fixed in the second section of the bill upon the persons and property of American citizens. The Government certainly will be able to make contracts with the company for the transportation of persons and goods upon more favorable terms than the tariff we would be authorized to fix. And I have no reason to believe, from any computation that I have been able to make, that the sum thus annually to be paid by the Government would reach the amount which is contemplated by this bill. But, whatever the amount, be it more or less, it should be compensation for services rendered. As the bill stands, if it should come to pass that we should wish to abandon that road, having another communication open to us, we must still continue our payments in the same manner as though we received services. This is a distinction which I would give to no road in our own country, and certainly not to a road without the limits of our own country. Opposed to internal improvements by the Government, I cannot become the advocate of external improvements. They rest upon the same principle, and, so far as that principle is to be extended to give advantage to any one, it should be to those who seek to open internal communication, and to give commercial advantages to the United States. I have never myself, in any examination of the bill as amended, believed that the language bore the construction which has been placed upon it; but, such being the construction, I wish to get rid of the difficulty, and it is for that purpose that I have offered the amendment.

Jefferson Davis' report from the committee to announce to Gen. Taylor his election as President of the United States. Feb. 27, 1849.

Mr. DAVIS, of Mississippi, made the following report:

The committee appointed on the part of the Senate, jointly with the committee on the part of the House of Representatives, to wait on Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore, and notify them of their election as President and Vice President of the United States, report:

That they have performed the duty assigned them; and that the President elect, in signifying his acceptance of the office to which he had been chosen by the people, evinced emotions of the profoundest gratitude, and declared his distrust of his ability to fulfill the expectations upon which their confidence was based; but gave assurances of a fixed purpose to administer

the Government for the benefit and advantage of the whole country.

In alluding to the fact to which his attention had been drawn -that the chairman of the committee represented a public body a majority of whom were opposed in political opinion to the President elect, and accorded with that majority, he recognized in it the deference to the popular will constitutionally expressed, on which rest the strength and hope of the Republic; and he said that it was to have been expected of the Senate of the United States.

He expressed an ardent wish that he might be able in any degree to assuage the fierceness of party, or temper with moderation the conflicts of those who are only divided as to the means of securing the public welfare.

He said, having been reminded that he was about to occupy the chair once filled by Washington, he could hope to emulate him only in the singleness of the aims which guided the conduct of the man who had no parallel in history, and could have no rival in the hearts of his countrymen.

In conclusion, he announced his readiness to take the oath of office on the 5th March proximo, at such hour and place as might be designated.

And the committee further report, that the Vice President elect, in signifying his acceptance of the office to which he had been chosen by the people, expressed the profound sensibility with which he received the announcement of his election, and said, that deeply impressed with the obligations which it imposed, and the distinguished honor it conferred, he should do injustice to his feelings if he failed to express his grateful thanks for this manifestation of confidence; that he should accept the office conscious of his want of experience, and distrustful of his ability to discharge its duties, but with an anxious desire to meet the expectations of those who had so generously conferred it upon him.

Mr. DAVIS then submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That there be appointed a committee of the Senate to make the necessary arrangements for the reception of the President elect on the 5th of March, and to apprise him of the

same.

On motion of Mr. DAVIS, of Mississippi,

Ordered, That said committee be filled by the Chair.

The VICE PRESIDENT named Mr. JOHNSON of Maryland, Mr. DAVIS of Mississippi, and Mr. DAVIS of Massachusetts.