Mr. WOODBRIDGE next addressed the House. [His remarks will be published in the appendix.] Speech entitled Northern Pacific Railroad. April 25, 1866. The House having under consideration the bill to secure the speedy construction of the Northern Pacific railroad and telegraph line, and to secure to the Government the use of the same for postal, military, and other purposes. Mr. WOODBRIDGE said: mr. Speaker: Before entering upon the discussion of the subject, l will answerthe inquiry of the Gentfrom Ohio, [Mr. SHEL immanent] The charter for the Northern Pacific railroad was granted in 1864. An organization was made in accordance with the terms of the grant, a board of directors was elected, and a rent effort made to obtain subscriptions for the stock. The charter provided that 50 miles of the road should be completed within 3 years. 2 years have elapsed and substantially nothing has been accomplished. The project of uniting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by means of a railroad through the British possessions attracted the attention of English states men and ca italists years ago, and it was said that the tra e of England in the Pacific ocean with China and with India must ultimately be carried through her North American possessions, that her political and commercial supremacy would depart from her if she neglected that great and important consideration, and failed to carry out to its fullest extent the hys ical advantages which the country offered)and which she had only to stretch out her hands to take advantage of. In 1858 a party of re al engineers surveyed a route to Puget soundling wholly within the British possessions, an found, after leaving “is base of the mountains, the snow insurmount a e. In 1865 a book was published in England by Thomas Rawlings givmg the result 0 his observations, in which be strongly urges the necessity of a road from the Atlantic to the Pacific, in extension of the great line now traversing the upper and lower provinces otCanada. The book excited great attention, and reawakened the English people to the importance of the enterprise. The managers of the Northern Pacific railroad, not having been able to secure subscriptions to the stock of the company, and hence not being able to comply with the conditions of the charter havingexpended over 100,000 dollars in explorations, kc."were unable to command capital enough to proceed with so large an enterprise. The managers of the Grand Trunk road had made them a favorable proposition, which, if accepted, would place the franchise in the hands of English capitalists and secure to foreigners the mono 0] of the carrying trade between China an Europe across our continent, and for a.large portion of the distance through foreign territory. Pending these negotiations the attention of gentlemen of New "ngland was called to the tact that there was danger of this valuable. franchise passing into the control of a powerful foreign corporation, and with the acumen and patriotism which is the inheritance of Yan kees they saw the national importance of preventing such a result. The subJect was brought to the notice of capitalists in Boston and other cities, and upon examination of the affairs of the company they agreed to embark in it, provided persons ot experience in railroad business could be placed in charge of it. This was assented to by the original board of direct ors, and the gentlemen composing the present board were a pointed and assumed all the legal liabilities o the company. They did not pay one dollar bonus, nor have the old board received one cent as a speculation. They have ierformed every part of the contract which has matured, and will honestly perform it in accordance with its very letter. such is my answer to the inquiry of my friendfrom Ohio [Mr. SHELLAHARGER] as to how the gentleman now interested came into control of the franchise, and under what contract and their compliance therewith. Now, sir, I will attempt to answer some of the in uiries of the Gentfrom Illinois, [Mr. W nsrwonrnj I listened to his speech with both interest and astonishment. It is an easy thing, sir, to cry “There is a lion in the street” and scare women and children. It is easier by declamation to excite the prejudices, passions, and fears of men than it is by argu ment.to convince their reason. The gentleman, with his peculiar earnestness a“nd force, exclaims, “ Who are these men 7” Let me see them.” “Show me their organization and by laws.” “Dont let.in constitquents be robbed.” “ Dont get me in a false position.” Why, sir, one would think, from the gentlemans apparent earnestness and indignation, that he really supposed there was bribery and corruption in this measure. I will give the gentleman the names of the present directors of the corporation. 1st, its president is John Gregory Smith, of Vermont, a former Governor of my State, with whom I have been quite intimately acquainted for many years and who I am willing to indorse. He is not a plunderer or thief, but a sterling business man, and one of the successful railroad managers of NewEngland.