Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1830-01-12

faithfully, consistently, and steadily pursue it.
If the general depression of business,
and the peculiar and unusual pecuniary EN-
barrassments of individuals, throughout the
country, be objected to proceeding at the
present time, it may be satisfactorily an
swered that it is to revive the spirit of en-
J terprise, to give employment to labour, to
restore trade, and open new sources of pro-
| fit and of wealth, that these works should
now be undertaken. The creation of stock
upon the faith Of the State, to such amount
as the Commonwealth may be interested,
eventually redeemable, as it doubtless would
be, from the income and advantages of the
upon the people beyond the accruing inter-
est, and to this, even, might be applied the
proceeds of the sales of the publick lands,
and other contingent payments into the
Treasury.
In relation to Railroad from Boston to
the Hudson River, it is truly work of
great national Importance and whenever
1t shall be determined upon, the aid of the
General Government may reasonably and
confidently be solicited. There is wanting
but this single link to complete the long
chain of inland communication from our
Eastern Atlantic Seaboard to the Western
Lakes, by which and through channels al
ready or soon to be opened, the means of
protection and defence in time of war may,
uninterrnptedly, and with safety, economy
and despatch, be conveyed to almost every
assaiable point of our widely extended
country. In this respect, it scarcely yields
in interest to any of those great pubick
works to which the nation has, heretofore,
with almost profuse lberality, contributed.
1t has been computed that the direct saving
( of money which would have been effected,
in the transportation of Merchandise, and of
Men and Munitions, between Boston and AL
bany, in single year of the last war, by
the use of a Railroad, would have betrayed
one third the whole expense of its construc-
ton. To this may be added the certainty
and celebrity which would have been given
to military operations, and what is far more
worthy Of consideration. the waste of
strength and loss of life, for want of season.
able supplies or other relief, which would
have been prevented.
Pursuant to resolve of the 18th of June
last, skilful and experienced Engineer
was appointed to make survey Of Route
for Railroad from the Town of Lowell to
the City of Boston. The Survey has been
completed, and the Report of the Engineer,
with an accompanying Map and Estimates
of the Expense of constructing the work as
required by the Resolve, are daily expect
ed.
The Commissioners of Internal Improve
ments who, under Resolve of the 18th of
June last, were charged with a survey of a
Route from Taunton to some point on the
Route previously surveyed between Boston
and Providence, have performed that SER
vice, and their Report, returned to the Gov
ernour and Council, is transmitted with this
communication. The survey was carried
from point of divergence in Canton, on
the Eastern line of surveys heretofore made
between Boston and Providence, by two
Routes, to Wier Bridge Landing In Taunton.
The whole distance, from Front Street in
Boston to Taunton Landing, by either Route
in conneXion with the part included in the
former surveys, was found to be nearly the
same, and but little to exceed thirty-fve
miles. Both Routes are represented by the
Commissioners, to be not only practicable
for Railroad, but to present great facilities,
in the character of the ground, for the &C.
complishment of the work.
Such information, on the general subject
of Railroads, in the manner of their construc-
ton, their use and advantage, as has been
obtained by the Directors of Internal I'm
provement, in obedience to an order of both
Branches of the Legislature, at the last ses-
sion, will be submitted to you, in a distinct
Report from that Board.
The perlon seems to have arrived when
the claims of more than fifty thousand of our
fellow-citizens to be relieved from unequal
and onerous burdens, under the present Mil
tia Laws of the Commonwealth will not ad-
nit of further postponement. The CON-
plants on this subject are continually be-
coming louder and more frequent. An Off
cial connexion with this department for
| nearly five years, has satisfied me, that the
present system cannot continue to be admin
istered against the prevailing tone of publick
sentiment. We are daily departing further
and further from the spirit of military subor-
dination, which the discipline and dangers
of war induced, and as there is less occasion
for the readiness of preparation for service,
so there is less inclination in the subjects of
enrolment, to yield to the mandate which
requires it. There are frequent attempts to
evade the obligations of law, and occasional
manifestations of disposition to bring re-
proach and ridicule upon those who execute
its provisions. A militia system, however,
of a modified and improved character, better
adapsed to the feelings of the people, and
conformed to the original design of the in
stitution, can never, with safety, it is believ-
ed be dispensed with. In all periods of the
world, and under every form of government
an organized physical force, of some descrp-
ton, has been found necessary, for the main
tenance of internal quiet, and for protection
from external danger. 1t is to the political,
what the ght arm is to the natural body, an
assurance of security from outrage, in the
very ability effectually to repel and to chas-
tisei it. The founders of our Republick, gath
ering wisdom from their own experience, as
well as from the pages of History, declared it
to be fundamental principle of free Govern
ment that : well organized Militia was essen
tial to the preservation of National Independ-