Mr. HENDRICKS. this session of Congress has been characterized to some extent by the number of propositions for the exercise of extraordinary powers heretofore conceded to belong to the States, for the establishment of railroad companies and propositions to authorize companies to construct railroads through the States, to make canals, to establish a sys tem of land speculation; and now the proposition is that Congress shall undertake to contrbl the telegraph system through the States. When the bill was read this morning I asked a friend sitting near by how Congress came to be able to pass such a bill as this. His reply was, “By main strength.” I think no other reply can be given. I admit that Congress may provide for the construction oflines oftelegrap through the Territories, through the lands that are under the exclusive control of Congress, and perhaps authorize the construction of lines across the navigable streams. I would not stop toquestion that; but Icannot comprehend how it is that Congress can say to a telegraph com)any organized under the laws of the State of Indiana, “ You may go into the State of Ohio and run your lines over any road in the State of Oliio.”. I ask the Senfrom Ohio what right the Congress of the U.S. acquires over a post route. A road is built by the State authorities in the State of Indiana or the State of Michigan, a common highway, and con'ress declares that road to be a post route. oes Congress by that not acquire a right in that road or a control over it? What is the act of Congress declaring it a post route? Simply an authority to the PostMGenl to put the mail service upon that line, and beyond that the General Government acquires no control or power over the road. Then I want to know how it is that a corporation of one State can be authorized to go into another State and there exercise its powers and its franchise. If it can be done in this case, I cannot see why it may not be exercised in the other cases proposed before Congress; and the friends of the right of the States to prohibit foreign corporations from exercising their franchises witiin their limits might as well make the fight upon this bill as upon any other; for if Congress can authorize a tele giaph company of the State of NewYork to pass through I’e nsylvania and Ohio and Indiana and exten its lines over the States according to its own pleasure, I cannot see why Congress cannot authorize a railroad company of the State of NewYork to construct a railroad in the State of Indiana. I admit, sir, that a telegraph line does not make the same impression or occupy the same space a on the surface of the earth as a railroad. this only the erection of a pole every here and there along the line and the putting of a wire upon those poles; it does not occupy very much space; yet it is a power, and up to this time the people have no erstood that the ermission must be granted by the State. Now, it is proposed to say that Congress may authorize a corporation of one State to exercise its powers in another State, with Or without. the consent of that State. A corporation is organized in the State of New 1 ork; it goes to Indiana and proposes to rub along o urhigh ways. By what right? That corporation tells us, “ We have this right because Congress has said so." Why is it that Congress may say so? Where is the authority for Congress to H say so? If a corporation of NewYork shall go into Indiana and propose to construct a railroad along the post routes of the State of Indiana, may the authorities of the State of Indiana not inquire into the authority, and will that company not be stopped upon proper ro ceedings, and can that company say, “(.on ress has authorized us to go into the State of ndiana 7” I do not intend to occupy much time upon this bill; but if we mean to say that corporations of States shall not go into other States to exercise their powers, we had as well say it upon this bill as upon any other of the prop positions before Congress.