Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-02-09

delivered at airecent Kail Road meeting, we
believe at Montpelier, by Professor Had
duck of Dartmouth College. 1t is well
worthy the1attentive perusa ofevery citizen,
and especially of all that class of our fellow
citizens who are engagedln cultivating the
ground. We copy the address from the
Montpelier Watchman.
Observation-Disclosures Address.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen:
The subject of Rail Roads, though not
new, has not been much discussed in our
community. The feeling of wonder, with
which we all looked upon the first expert
ments in this seemingly magical and per-
ilous mode of travelling, has been followed
by feeling of yet deeper wonder to find,
that country so deeply furrowed by impet-
that pierce the clouds, is, nevertheless, al
most as passablc, in every direction, as a
prairie. The arrival or departure of car
still attracts crowd of wondering specta-
tors; TO take seat in one, has something
of adventure in it; the very cattle on the
hills.,start off alarmed as ii flies by.
Though somewhat familiar TO us, there
fore, the subject has hitherto presented it.
self chiefly as phnnnmsnon--a miracle OF
art-a striking illustration, at once, of the
powers of man, and Of the provisions OF
Heaven for their expansion in the New
World.
The actual and ultimate effects of this i'm
provement in the mode of conveyance, up
on the condition of the country, have been
too little considered TO lead to any inteli-
gent and uniform public opinion. Indeed,
it requires good deal Of attention. more
than most of us are able to give TO any thing
beyond the sphere Of our daily duties, TO
form any consistent and comprehensive idea
Of these effects. The complicated opera
tons of an active community are not easily
understood. The greatest mistakes are
constantly made, in reference to them, by
very sensible and rejecting men. Scarcely
an act of legislation, of any importance,
can be said to be fully understood, in all its
bearings and consequences, by the wsest
politicians. Nothing is more common in
history, than TO find both the hopes and fears
of sagacious and honest men disappoint-
ed nothing more instructive, than to see
how often systems of public policy
which have been pursued with enthusiastic
confidence, are, at last, disayowed and con
demned by their advocates. We are taught,
by such examples, the danger of relying on
hasty and partial views of public measures,
and the Importance of patient consideration
in forming our opinion of public enter
prizes.
Since the attention of our community has
been called to the subject of great North
ern Railroad to connect the Capital of New
England with the Canadas, large portions
of the people have been disposed to question
the utility Of Railroads altogether and par
ticularly in New England
The construction Of such Roads is pro-
posed as public benefit; the community
are called upon to engage in the enterprise,
and capitalists are solicited TO subscribe for
stock Now, undoubtedly, the burden OF
proof rests upon the advocates Of the under
taking And what have we TO say? We
have to say, that the easier and cheaper our
modes of conveyance are, the better it is for
our country.
We possess vast territory, extending
through many degrees of latitude, and af
fordlng the peculiar products OF almost eve-
ry climate. In one part of the land flourish
the cane and the rice plant and the cotton
plant; in another, maize and wheat; in
another, are grown timber and wool. In
different portions are found distributed the
various minerals, valued for use or orna.
ment. On the coast, the fisheries are car.
ried on in the interior, the fruits of the
earth are gathered From the ports, the
haryests Of the sea are diffused among the
millions, who consume them in the heart Of
the land to these same ports are brought
in return. the surplus products of these mil.
lions, TO be thence conveyed to other quar-.
tiers of the world. Not a ship is launched
which is not constructed of materials bro't
together by commerce. The ribs may have
come from the oak forests OF Carolina the
masts from the mountains Of Maine the
sails been woven from the hemp Of Tennes
see; the anchors and screws manufactured
in Massachusetts,, from iron dug out Of the