Mr. ASHBURNE. ofIllinois. That shows what was the nature of this bill as introduced by the ComPacificRR, and which it was determined to put through under the gag of the previons question. Now, since the thing has Been opened u for discussion, they propose to change these agrant and laring provisions of the bill, which would have become a law if it could have been put through under the previous question. Iam speaking of the bill as it came from the committee, and which they undertook to force through the House. It further provides That thesaid compapymu from time to time alter and chime? the location O its line whenever such change will the better carry out the purposes set forth in the act of incorporation, by filing in the office of the SecyInterior a description of the new line adopted. Then this is to become a sort of migratory road, which the parties can locate here and there here a little and there a little, nst as they lease allowing us no control whatever, and pleaving the country entirely uncertain where the line is to run, making it a foot ball for all kinds of outrageous speculation along the line where they expect it to be located. Those are the provisions of this bill which we are called upon to put through. Well, sir, I do not know but the bill will go through this House. Butl wish to say a word to gentleman on this side of the House in regard to this matter of the public expenditures of the country. We are held, and Justly held, responsible for these expenditures. We are the majority. The country holds us responsible, and it is just to hold us responsible, and I tell my friends that when we go before the people at the ("Ollling election we will have to look at our records. I tell you that the people will demand of us a strict account of our stewardship when they look at these stupendous appropriations of their money for objects of this character. It may be a matter of very little interest to m distinguished friendfrom NewYork, [.Mr. 0DGE] or to his constituents, to the men who live in their gilded palaces, and roll in wealth in that magnificent city, how much they have to pay as taxes; but if he will go with me to the humble homes of my constituents, into the lowly cabins which dot the prairies, and see how this taxation is grindin them to the earth, how they groan under t peopression of railroad corporations and monopo ies which are devour in their substance how they have to pay a dollar a pound for their coffee, 2 dollars for their tea, and 30 to 50 cents a yard for course cotton fabrics when he sees all this and reflects that these railroad monopolies have put such a tariff upon the products of the farmer that he cannot get his corn to market but burns it for fuel, he may think a little differently in regard to taxation. Sir, all my sympathies are with the masses of the people, the “ mudsills” if you may choose to call them such. Sir, they are the men who by their strong arms and patriotic hearts have upheld and sustained our country in our late struggle, and upon whom we must ever rely to support and uphold its honor and glory in all coming time. Now, let me ask my friends to go home to their constituents on this question. I under take to say that this proposition placed s uarcly before the voters of any congressional district of this country would not get 1,000 votes. It is well for us to look a little to the ae constituents and see how they would probabl act if this question was to be determined by them. I saw recently a veto message of Governor Fenton, of NewYork, in which he used this argument: that the constituents of the members who had passed the measure would, if it were placed before them, refuse to give it their support and permit me to say, I glory in the spirit which that honest and incorruptibleExecutive has shown in putting the knife of the veto into the very heart of the schemes of legislation of the State of NewYork. He deserves a monument, in my judgment, at the hands of the people of his State for resistin legislation oppressive to the great masses of the people. nd let me say iere that if our Executive would stop vetoing such measures as the Freedmens Bureau and the civil rights bill; and would reserve his veto for some of these legislative schemes which are likely to pass Congress, he would to that extent receive the gratitude of the American people.