Mr. EDMUNDS. I am instructed bya majority of the ComCommerce, to whom was referred the bill (H.R.No. 527) to promote the construction of a line of railroads between the city of Washington and the N orth west for national purposes, to report the same. back to the Senate With the expression of the opinion of that majority that the bill ought not to ass. feel it to be my duty to say in this connection that the action of the majority of the committee in this recommendation procmds upon the idea that congress has not the constitutional power to euactt e law which the hill proposes; that is to say, that Congress has not the constitutional power in any case to authorize the construction of a road or railroad within any State, although for the purposes of commerce or war or the Post office, without the consent of such State. As I am one of the minority of the commit tee, and as my views are exactly 0 posed to those of the majority, I think it my duty to say that I entirely non-concur in the principle upon which the majority of the committee proceed. I think the constitutional law is clear, that we have nuthorit to pass bills of this description in cases in which the public good absolutely requires it. Of course, it is the exercise of a high power, one which ought not to be exercised except in cases where some national emergency clearly requires it, for the sake of cultivating local harmony and good will; but when such an event does occur, then I think the welfare and the prosperity and the bar mony of the States requires that Congress should exercise such a power. I think that the power to “regulate commerce, ” which is given by the Constitution to Congress and the power “to establish post. ellicos and post roa s, " as well as the power “to raise and support armies, ” clearly cover the exercise of see ia function as this; and I think the history of the Confederation and of the reformation of the present Constitution, and the proceedings which took place in respect to these clauses of the Constitution, most clearly demonstrate that it. was for such mrposes and with a view to the exercise of sec powers that these clauses in the present Constitution that I have named were inserted; and that the great and wise men who made these changes. on account of the difficulties and disputes into which the States were getting by their local regulations at. that time, foresaw that in the great expansion of trade and of the territory of this country, such u Generalpower, for the general har mony, for ree intercourse and intercommu nion among the States, it was essential should be exercised by the national authority for the national peace and for the national prosperity. I do not now, of course, desire to go into a discussion on this subject; but I have thought it to be fit in behalf of the minority of the committee and myself to express these opinions. I am also instructed to report back from the same committee the bill (. R. No. 637) to promote the construction of a line of railroad from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, to Cleveland, Ohio, with the expression of opinion that it ought. not to pass, but in this case it is the opinion of the committee that it would be in expedient to pass the bill even if we had the power. I AMBOY AND TRAVERSE BA!I RAILROAD.