Mr. HEN person. I now move to amend by adding at the end of the 7th section of the House amendments these words: brAidngde it is herebyfurther provided that no draw shall be constructedor commencedunder the provisionsof this act beforethelstdayof Mnreh, 1867. The effect of this amendment will be to delay the construction of these draw bridges until we can get a report from this commission. I appeal to the Senate once more not to force upon us on the Mississippi river the construction of these bridges. Tdo think, and I make this as a last appeal, that it is an infliction which ought not to be made by Congress. There is no necessity for the immediate construction of these draw bridges. Nobody is ready to go on with the work, and even if the companies were ready the river is too high for them to progress with it. We have provided for the appointment of a commission to go there and examine the river. Suppose that commission should report that these draw bridges ought not to be constructed, but that elevate bridges, in the language of the Senfrom Kentucky [Mr. GUTHRIE] the other day, are the best for the railroads and the best for the river. Why not adjourn the matter until we can hear from that board? Immediately after we convene at the next session Congress can take the subject u and go on; or in fact if this amendment be adopted, and no further legislation is had, of course, after the 1st of March next, the companies can proceed with the construction of these draw ridges. But I do not desire parties to come in here at the beginning of the next session of Congress, when we propose to repeal this bill, after the board shall have said that these bridges ought not to be constructed, and tell us that they have expended large sums of money, and that if we repeal the law it will ruin them, and they must be compensated for the damages to which we subject them by the repeal of the law. I want to avoid that difli cu ty. I up cal to Senators, and ask them if it is possib e, were all the States in the Union represented here today, that any such bill as this could he passed. Do thq believe this low bridge bill could be passed provided the southern States were represented on this floor? Senators know that if ennessee and Arkansas and 2 or 3 other States lying below them on the Mississippi river were represented here no such bridge Elll as this could be passed; and why? Because they would understand the necessities of the commerce of the river. senators must not misunderstand myargument on this point. It is alegitimate and proper argu ment. This is a great thoroughfare. it is one that passes, as the Senfrom Illinois said, through many States. We ought not now, for the 1st timein the history of this Government, to go on to build bridges upon our own judgment of what is right and proper. We know nothing about the construction of bridges. If we do, there was no necessity for our directing the SecyWar to send a commission there to examine the subject. What did you send them for? If we are to be the judges, what the necessity of sending a board to examine? If we know better than we will know after they have reported, why send them? Why provide for a report by them and yet go on and constructt e bri ges? There is no intent on my part to stop the construction of bridges, as was intimated by the Senfrom Illinois. If iron submerged bridges can be built, they are infinitely better, and it answers the objection made by the railroad companies that if we require them to go over elevated bridges their epots must be on high ground and they cannot get down to the surface of the water in order to put part of their freight on board of steamboats. Of course iron submerged bridges can be built so as to enable them to come to the surface of the water. But I undertake to say, and the Senfrom Kentucky demonstrated the other day beyond any doubt, that the elevated bridge is preferable to a draw bridge both for the railroad interest and for the navition interest. That Senator is a practical rai road man with large experience on this subject; and referrin to the bridge at Nashville on'his read he sai that if he had to build it over again he would make it an elevated brid e as preferable for the railroad company and preferable for the navigation interest. This amendment will not prevent the construction of any other sort of bridges across the Mississippi river except these low bridges 12 feet above the surface of the water. You are proposing by this bill to construct 7 of those bridges across this river. I appeal to the Senate once more, by all means to post pone at least the construction of this character of bridge until we can hear from this commission. I alluded to the representation of the southern States. Ifthe southern States are represented again in the Congress of the U.S., if these bridges are put across the river, theywiIll have to come down. Mark what I tell i, predict today that these bridges will i not be permitted to stand if Congress liere after can vote them down, because they will i you. prove an obstruction to the Mississippi river. am satisfied of it. I am just as thoroughly satisfied that they will obstruct the navigation of that river, and do it with great detriment to commerce, as I am that I am standing here now. I proposed that if the railroad companies can bui d any other sort than these With no more cost to themselves, then they shall not onstruct these bridges. The Senate said “no.” 'ow [ask that we postpone the matter until we can hear from the commission. The ele vated bridge will answer for railroad purposes just as well as any other; but I will tel you what cannot be built. A brid e across the Mississippi river cannot be bui t for private interests so well. The companies authorized in this bill are to go on an build bridges for private travel across the river, to make them tell bridges and receive toll for we ons, carts, horses, and mules that cross it; an that is the reason why it is proposed to put them imme diately down upon the surface of the water, regardless of the great interests of navigation. If you consult the railroad interest only, I believe with the Senfrom Kentucky, who said that an elevated bridge can be built best for the railroad and best for the river; but I know that you do not consult private interests so much by causing them to do it because then they have to build embankments upon one side of the river perhaps, unless they happen to get svplace on the river where th banks are high on each side. Now, Mr. Presicut, I leave this matter and appeal to gentlemen once more to let us have the report of the board before inflicting upon us these low bridges.