The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-05
..... Communicated.
Pass CHRISTIAN, MISSISSIPPI,
September 10, 1886.

Ject 70 the Pacihc IL Is TO me truly gratifying that
you have the holiness and independence to come
out thus early officially and with so much efficiency
In favor Of this the greatest subject with which thus
nation has now any concern. OF so much moment
do deem it, that say without hesitation, | regard
il as greater than any other subject mot involving
national existence.) We shall expend at least
800 000, 900 in contest with Mexico, and this
sum would build this road and purchase so much Of
Upper California, would fix its TERMINUS in the
bay of San Francisco. Who can doubt which
would most promote our interest-our gloryl /
| cannot doubt. Our national grandeur would be ex-
allied hundred fold by the construction of such
| road, beyond what we can hope for by this Mexi-
| can contest. And so exaggerated are my estimates,
of its interests, pecunay, both the people of the
nation and therefore to the national treasury that
fully believe il would be reimbursed to the treasury
alone in 20 years; and in the same time fty-fold to
! the aggregate wealth of the nation. With such a
road to San Francisco, the statistics of your report
sufficiently prove to me, that in quarter of Il
| century our import trade on the Pacific by way Of
this road, would equal what II is in the port Of
New York; it must duplicate our national COM
merce in very few years, and it is difficult to say
whether the manufacturers Of the east the farmers
of the wes or the planters of the south, would most
| benefit by this revolution in half the commerce of
the world, with prospect of Its increase to an in
| definite extent.
| | should have been glad to have seen you meet
| with Mr.. Benton's support in this measure, but |
trust you Will COVER not uDuer nus oppOsuol, Out
| push It with increasing zeal. To succeed in such
an enterprise should ene you to the tallest monu-
| ment ever yet raised for civic achievement. As
a candidate for the presidency, would sooner have
| the advocacy of this scheme ascrbed to me, as my
peculiar distinction than that Of any other question
which could be brought to bear upon the next can
| vass. ! shall engage no more in politics. but If
anything could again enlist me IN that cause, II
would be this sublmest conception of the age, this
grandes scheme for our national greatness, the most
stupendons and yet the most practicable the geog
raphy of the earth offers to the enterprise of man.
railroad from the Michigan 10 the Pacific ocean. r
| An early friend to this measure, have neverthe-
less apprehended il could only be built by appro
priaton of all the proceeds Of the public lands until
thereby completed. In your report you yield to the
lopnion--though with manifest distrus--that 1t
may be built by the plan proposed by Mr.. Whit
ney. lit could be so done, and done promptly,
should be wholly satisfied; but believe it cannot.
ms difference Of opinion, however, suggests no OPP
position to the measure. Perhaps IL the object
should fail of execution in the manner you have
proposed in your report, limited appropriation of
the proceeds of the public lands might suffice. Say
of all the lands in Oregon and Californiaso far as
the latter shall become ours-or add TO these the
proceeds of all sales within thirty miles of either
side of the line of the road and all collected other
land money, but expended under a commission,
am more than wiling however, to see WhitDey's
plan tried tmay succeed. 1t can do no harm if it
fails, canBot long defer the work, and he weh de.
series this much of Difference TO his scheme. As to
his profits, shall not grudge them to him and his
associates, believing for myself that If, by economy,
they could save money by the operation, that the
government would also save, could not con-
struct the road from 40 limited resource.
Sincerely thanking you for this wel-digested and
statesmanlike report, and from my hear, wishing
the scheme full and speedy success, -".a
remain dear sir, respectfully yours, "
E.Aa JOHN HENDERSON, I
Hon. g. Rprrsp Tta.s# ....-.... Dr.. a
- a~f Owns ..tHnv## b. s... ....n.
Ex the United States from the State of issis