Mr. SHERMAN. The friends of this bill still think that the provisions in it will be useful for the purpose declared in the preamble of the bill, and I therefore, in pursuance of my declarations, will vote for it. but I must confess that in my opinion the principle upon which the bill is founded will meet with difficulty the moment the bill comes before the courts. As a general principle, I do not think it is within the power of the Government of the U.S. to confer upon any corporation, the mere creature of a State, any power not granted by the act of incorporation. The very moment the U.S. undertakes to extend power to any corporation created by a State that is inconsistent with the act of incor poration, the act itself becomes void. It is a well known principle of municipal law that no corporation can exercise a power not conferred upon it by its creator. It is simply a creature of law, and any attempt by a power outside of the State which created the corporation to confer upon it additional powers will only defeat itself? No corporation can exercise any power that is not conferred upon it by the State which creates it or by the power that creates it. That is a principle of law that I believe any corporation new existing attempting to exercise or do an thing under this law that they cannot do under their charter will meet at the very outset. Still, as Senators think that it may galvle some good elfect, I shall vote for the l I desire also to say a word on account of an expression I dropped the other day in the Senate in regard to the State of Maryland. I am satisfied that the Baltimore and Ohio road is not subject to the criticism I made here the other day, that it attempted to use its power to prevent communication between Washington and the West, because since I made that statement I have had information furnished me on the subject, and am entirely satisfied that the Baltimore and Ohio road are now doing all they can, in connection with an existing corporation in the State of Pennsylvania, to open up new channels of communication from Pitts burg to the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. If the State of Maryland will go one step further and authorize the construction of a railroad from Washington directly toward NewYork, and also authorize the construction of a railroad from Harpers Ferry, or from Martins burg, across the State of Maryland in that region of country, I think it will do all that any State could reasonably demand of it.