The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-23


part OF one continuous ns Of railroad. which is to
stretch out twenty-seven hundred miles. entirely
across Europe, from Odessa 10 Bremen; while anotk-
CT Inc will presently extend from the Adratic for
near Thousand miles. And yet some gentlemen stand
aud look aghasi when any one speaks of a railroad
across our continent, as IL il were something won
droas and altogether unheard Of before. Should
saeh road be constructed, il will become the great
| nighway OF the world we shall before long monop-
ONE me trade OF the eastern coasts Of Asia At
present, rs slated that the shortest possible yoy-
age from London To Canton OCCUPIES seventy days,
but Il Is estimated over such a railroad traveller
might pass from London to Canton in forty DAYS.
There 10 no wdness, no extravaganza in the idea
but IL Is a matter Of sober sud plain cacula-
tion. What magnificent idea does il present to
the mind, aud who can calculate the results 10
which II will leadi With a route so short and so
direct as this might VIC not reasonably hope 70 com
mand both the trade and the travel Of the WORLD
Engrafted on this PLAN and as its natural adjunct,
10 the extension OF magnetic Telegraph, which
viii follow the course road; unite these two
and where is the Imagination which can grasp
The consequences Whale ships, returning from
their long and hazardous voyages, might touch
upon The Pacific coast and Instantly transmit across
the continent hdings Of their safety and their sue
In either ofthe views which have presented, ii
" impossible thai the importance OF Oregon can 10
overlooked trust that these great results will be
realized; and hope at no distant day IN see a mail
iine established across the continent England has
very recently been engaged IN an experiment In as
ert2ining the shortest overland route across tho
eeaiinent 10 the East Indies; and believe the orei-
~ Sioam Company has determined upon that
through Germany. by Trieste; but If We construct
thus railroad, she will then be dependent US for
safest route TO China and her East India posses
sions. IL not the language of Berkeley in the
nr~grss OF fulhmen,, when be wrote that Immortal
line . 49, -..|
"westwsrd the star ofsmpirs takes It's wsyr'
When Oregon shall be in our possession, when wo
through her ports, when our ships Universe the Pa
chic al they now cross the Atlantic, and all the
countless consequences OF such stnte Of things be-
Gun 10 aow Ia upon us, then will be fulhitd that
vision which rspt and filed the mind Of NuneZ ~
he gazed over the placid waves OF the Pacific.
! will now address myself for moment to the
moral aspect of this great question. Gentlemen have
talked much and eloquendy about the horrors OF
war j should regret the necessity Of war;
should depmo ats dreadful scenes; but Il the posges-
sion OF Oregon gives territory opening pom the
nation prospects such as now describe--and IT, for
the simple exercise Of rights in regard a. Great
Britain should wage upon us an unust war the re-
gret which every one must feel will at least have much
to counterbalanee u. One Of Engand's own writer's
has sdIdi 1.-THE possible destiny Of The UnlIed
States OF ABIsrCa a, q nation Of one hundred mil
lions OF freemen stretching from the Atlantic to the
Pacific living under the laws OF Alfred, and speak
ug the language OF Shakespeare and Milton, IS an
august conception" rr...rr . .. ...
IL "a an august conception, finely embodied; and
trust IN God that II Will, at no distant time, become
reality. trust that the world viii see through all
time, our people living, not only under the laws Of
Alfred, bat that they will he heard 10 speak through
oul widespread borders the language of Shake
peare and Milton. Above all Is It my prayer that
as long az posterity shall continue to inhsbn
these mountains and plans, and hills ind valleys.
they may be found living under the sacred institu-
lions Of Christianity. Put these things together, and
what picture do they present To the mental eye
and intelligence started H the East they
have travelled and still travelling WESTWARD but
" hen they shall have completed the circuit Of the
earth and reached the EXTREMIST verge of the Pacific
shores; then, unlike the tabled god Of the ancientB
who dipped his glowing axle IN the western wave,
they Will there take up their permanent abode then
slsl enjoy the sublime destiny of returning
these blessings TO their ancient seat then it will be-
TO give the priceless benefits Of our free ngti'u
'ions, aud the pure and heathful light or the gospel
back the dark family which has 80 long lost both
truth and freedom; then may Christianity plant her
self there, and while, with hand, she points To-
the Poynesian isles, rejoicing in the late recovered
Of revealed truth, with the other present tho
Bible TO the Chinese, II is duty to aid in lh5
great work. trust we shall esteem il much our
honor our duty, Let us not, Gk, zone of the
British missionaries, give them the Bible in QUO
hand scd opium in Tho other, but bless them only
with the pure word of truth. hope the day is not
dsiant--soon soon may its dawn arise--to shed up
the farthest and the most benighted Of nations tho
splendor of more than tropical sun.
Mr.. HiLLIARp closed by offering an amendment
such as he had indicated in the course of his re-
marks . ..... . ...-.. ... ....