The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-01-13

Neither Rail Road to Providence, nor Albany,
nor even that more recently proposed, to Brat
tleborough, which, from the geography, popu-
lation, and business of that section of the coun-
try, must be of great public advantage, can be
executed, until period, when, from the want
of these accommodations in the intermediate
time, the strongest inducements to their con-
struction will be gone from us for ever. am
not unaware of the difficulty to the Legislature
of deciding upon this question OF appropriation
Much responsibility attaches here. But true
moral courage never shT inks before the require
ments of duty. Whatever may be that respon-
sbiity; it is at some time to be encountered,
not indeed lightly, not in haste, nor without
ample opportunities for inquiry, but upon the
result of deliberate investigation, and with the
conviction, that whenever the interest OF the !
community demands n measure the approba- !
ton of an enlightened people will not be with |
held from those who faithfully, consistently, and
steadily, pursue it.
IF the general depression Of business, and the
peculiar and unusual pecuniary endorsements
of individuals, throughout the country, be OBJ
lected to proceeding at the present time, 1t may
be satisfactorily answered, that it is to revive
the spirit of enterprise, to give employment to
labor, to restore trade, and open new sources OF
profit and Of wealth, that those works should
now be undertaken. The erection of Stock
upon the faith of the State, to such amount as
the Commonwealth may be interested, eventu-
ally redeemable, as it doubtless would be, from
the income and advantages of the improve
ments, will occasion no direct tax upon the
people, beyond the accruing interest, and to
this, even, might be applied the proceeds of the
sales of the public lands, and other contingent
payments into the Treasury.
In relation to Rail Road from Boston TO the
Hudson river, tits truly work of great nation
al Importance; and whenever 1t shall be deter
mined upon, the aid of the general government
may reasonably and confidently be solicited.
There is wanting but this single link to COM
plete the long chain of inland communication
from our eastern Atlantic seaboard to the West
err Lakes, by which, and through channels, al
ready, or soon to be opened, the means OF pro-
lection and defence, in time of war, may unin-
terruptedly, and with safety, economy, and des-
patch, be conveyed to almost every assailaole
point of our widely extended country In this
respect, it scarcely yields interest to any OF
those great public works TO which the nation
has heretofore, with almost profuse Eberality
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
Albany, in single year of the last war, by the
use of Rail Road, would have betrayed one
third the whole expense off construction. To
this may be added the certainty and CELEBRITY
which would have been given to military opera
tons, and what is far more worthy Of consider
alton, the waste of strength and loss of life for
which would have been prevented.
Pursuant to Resolve of the 18th of June
last, a skilful and experienced Engineer was
appointed TO make a survey of route for Rail
Road from the town of Lowell to the City OF
Boston The Survey has been completed and
the Report of the Engineer, with an accomPa-
nying Map and Estimates of the Expense OF
constructing the work, as required by the re-
solve, are daily expected.
The Commissioners of Internal Improve
ments who, under resolve of the 18th o: June
last, were charged with a survey Of a route
from Taunton to some point on the route pre-
viously surveyed between Boston and Provl-
dence, have performed that service, and their
report returned to the Governor and Council, is
transmitted with this communication. The
survey was carried from point of divergence in I
Canton on the Eastern line Of surveys hereto !
fore made between Boston and Providence, by
two routes, to Wier Bridge Landing in Taun
ton. The whole distance, from Front-street
In Boston, to Taunton Landing, by either route,
in connection with the part included in the
former surveys, was found to be nearly the
same, and but little to exceed thirty-five miles.
Both routes represented by the Commits
sioners, to be not only practicable for rail- !
road, but to present great facilities, in the
character of the ground, for the accomplish
ment Of the work.
Such information, on the general subject OF
railroads, in the manner of their construction,
their use and advantages, as has been obtained
by the directors of Internal Improvement, in
obedience to an order of both branches of the
Legislature, at the last session, will be submit
ted to you III a distinct report from that board.
The period 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 militia laws of the
Commonwealth, will not admit of further post
ponement The complaints on this subject
corfinus ltv haoopnipr ioudar md frpOuanf
An official connection with this Department, for
nearly five years, has satisfied me, that the pres
ent system cannot continue to be administered
against the prevailing tone of public sentiment
We are daily departing, further and further,
from the spirit of military subordination, which
the discipline and dangers of war induced, and
as there is less occasion for the readiness of
preparation for service, there is less inclina-
tion in the subjects of enrolment to yield to the
mandate which requires it. There are frequent
attempts to eyade the obligations of law, and
occasional manifestations Of disposition to
bring reproaeh and ridicule upon those who ex-
ecute its provisions. militia system, howey-
er, of a modified and improved character, better
adapted to the feelings of the people, and con-
formed to the original design of the institution
can never, with safety, it is believed, be dis
pensed with In all periods of the world, and
under every form OF Government, an organized
physical force, of some description, has been
found necessary for the maintenance Of internal
quiet, and for protection from external danger
1t is to the political, what the right arm is to
the natura. body, an assurance of security from
outrage, in the very ability effectuaIly to repe
and to chastise it. The founders of our Re-
public, gathering wisdom from their own expe-
rience, as well as from the pages Of history, de-
clare1 it to be fundamental principle of free
Government, that well organized militia was
essential to the preservation Of national indie
pendence The institution was the breast-work
of liberty, in the war Of the Revolution, and it
has proved an impregnable fortress for its de-
fence, ever since. 1t has been resorted to, on
several occasions, to enforce an execution of
the laws, and, in two instances, has quelled open
rebellion. How far the knowledge, by the ma.
tons of Europe, that moro than one.tenth Of