The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-13
COMMUNICATIONS
To the Editor ofths Union:

reply sooner.
The author embraces many subjects, and with
many Of bis opinions | sgree fully. lie pounces
down upon the State Of New York, and intimates
that New York Is more determined upsn the whole
Of Oregon than she need be--or in other words,
than he hmselfis; but 10 accomplish her designs,
she must have railroad from Michigan 10 Oregon,
which he 10 think calls for the exercise OF the
veto" power Now, let me tell the gentleman,
that New York, as a State, will 90 for Oregon just
so far az the President has done In his message,
and that she will manfIlly and boldly sustain and
support the President
As relates to my project for railroad TO the Pa
cihc, il is not New York project. New York and
New York capitalists have nothing to do with it.
| am not connected with New York or other capi-
taists. The project Is my own individual enterprise.
All my efforts have been by myself, without the
aid, influence, support or guidance OF any one.
The project was conceived by myself while in
China, not for New York, but for the whole United
States; and all my efforts have been for the whoe u.
States, and will ever be know no difference
between Virginia and New York in work like
this; both must be equally benefited according to
the ability of each to support and sustain the bene-
fL
The author admits the great advantages Of the
road; shows the revolution it will produce in the
commerce Of the world, making US the carriers for
all the world; says We must have the road and adj
mits that the government have power TO appro-
pirate lands or moaey for its construction beyond
the western borders of Missouri, q presume he
means StaIe) and that the road cannot he started
lhisside that point.
Now, am led to the conclusion that the gentle
man has not studied the subject; for where will he
start From the western borders Of Missouri" Sure
IT, he will not disturb the removed Indians, who
settled all along the western borders Of Missouri up
to the Kansas with the solemn pledge of the faith
Of our government that they shall not be disturbed,
and that there shall be the home Of the red man for
ever
Then he must go to the Platte river, $50 miles up
the Missouri from St. Louis-the emgrant's route
10 Oregon. And what will he do thens He will
find no timber, stone, no Materials wilderness
nothing to sustain or support his aborers, and
adequate means to get to him either provisions
or materials. He will find -four at $40 and
pork at sos per barrel. He will examine for mate
rails; are TO be fOund,. except ut such
pense Of transportation as no work will warrant,
and onward, worse and worse every step, TO the
mountains. And where are the lands 10 furnish
means to build the road' Surely not on this route,
or any where west Of the Missouri, for we all
know that it is almost barren desert to the noun
tains. And as to an appropriation Of money! do
not admit that the government have power to grant
it. The money appropriated must first be drawn
by taxation from the people; and do not find that
the constitution gives any such power, nor dc be-
lieve that twenty democratic votes could be procur
ed for it in Congress. And there are serious, yes,
insuperable, objections To such works by our gov
eminent. They create an immense government
patronage, a tremendous influence a most powerful
political engine, supporting an immense number Of
dependents and Idle ookers-on, subject to constant
changes Of direction and legislation the work is
either finished, il finished at a of dou-
BILE, by individual enterprise; and the management
and carrying on of the business Of this road, after
completion by our government, would be the most
dangerous experiment for our institutions that
could be tried. A road, or grand highway, which
is to carry on and control the commerce Of the en-
tire world YES the destinies of the world-to be
used as political engine, would be far potent
and dangerous than fifty United'States Banks
With all the overwhelming and incalculable results
which this road would undoubtedly produce, with
all its vast benefits and power to nation
sooner than try such an experiment would say
let it be built Let US forego all that it may
promise, all that it will undoubtedly perform,
sooner than endanger our institutions, which are
now perfect Such a work shouldnot, cannot be
government ahair--and still Congress must regu-
late and control (which can he done, as have
proposed, by an individual enterprise, still under
the entire control of Congress- with the government
Congress, and the people as complete checks, so
that il be used other than for the good of
the whole The power Of Congress to appropriate
the lands to such a purpose seems settled, The
constitution gives to Congress the power to dispose
of and regulate the public land, and Congress Or
ders the purchase of lands from the Indians; and
surely, if there power to purchase, there power of
disposal, which has been exercised repeatedly (even
in States for canals and roads, well other pur.
poses, and which power has never been denied.
congress OfuerS the eXtlnguSnment OF ln0lan IL
ties, and the government do it by treaty; and for
what purposei Not that the lands may be held as
treasure the nation but for settlement and never
have the lands been 70 and ofany benefit the nation
when sold and paid for, until settled 1t is an
Industrious, producing, and consuming people, who
are Of more value to us than all our lands, or all
the money paid for them fifty times over; and any
enterprise which promotes and extends settlement,
10 of great benefit to the nation large even if the
government do not receive dollar for the lands
I npk Mt pnU |
that 60 miles in width from Lake Michigan TO the
Pacific shall be appropriated to this road, from
two.thirds of which lands the government would
not receive one dollar in one hundred years
without the road; bot the road would draw settie-
ment to it, because 1t would afford facilities and
to get produce 10 market either to the Allan
tic or Pacific, and returns in necessares and COM
forts, which could not be had without the road, and
settlement could not take place. II would fill up the
most of the sixty miles nawidth (when the lands
good beyond) from the lake to the Pacific with
an INDUSTRIOUS intelligent, producing, and consum-
ing people, whose immense commerce would nme-
diatey benefit the uhois United Staes a hundred
fold more than all that could eyer be received for
all the lands. Thus, the road would be built, and
no tax imposed upon the people. IL would cost
nothing, because all the money received from the lands
would be expended amongst the people for labor
and materials to build it, Thua this great work may
be accomplished the nation receive all its great and
wonderful benefits, at the time people and settle
animmense tract Of and eyer must be without the
Ioad) waste wilderness country, making il the gar
den and thoroughfare Of the world and all without
one dollars expense; on the contrary il raises from
that which useless, vaueless, solid, real capital
Of millions upon millions to be distributed amongst
the people Of the whole United States. To show
more fully the value and importance to the whole
nation OF the population and settlement Of this coun-
try, will compare with the past; will take the
commerce OF the lakes, which increased from about
5000 in 1924, to about 500 900 900 in IsI4-and
this, too, the commerce Of Ohio, Indiana, Hi
nois, and Michigan, and this only part of the
three frat States. An immense amount of the COM
merce Of the southern parts OF those States goes d.
rectly down the Mississippi.
All the lands from the lake onward, through which
this road will pass, for distance Of more than 700
miles, being Of equal quality to any Of the above
States, and IA the same climate and latitude would be
settled by the same similar people, producing the
same necessary and important products--the staff
OF life, bread stuffs and meats-would make il safe TO
cnlcna. Tint with The Aid and faciliies Of hi. rad