The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-08-06


aividuals through whose domain railroad
might pass. The projects which received the
favorable consideration of the convention were
roads passing at right angles to the natural
Outlets or avenues OF trade crossing the
ridges and mountains, and intersecting interi-
or districts remote from navigation, and hith-
crto, from their secluded situation, OF little
value. They develop, therefore, new sources
of agricultural and mineral wealth and BRING
into more intimate commercial and political
relations the west with the south Atlantic Dor
der. hitherto estranged from each other by
the intcrpositon of mountain elevations
These roads are in the direction from the sea-
norris of South Carolina and Georgia-frst
IN q northwestern direction to Nashville, on
the Cumberland; second, to Memphis on the
Mississippi third, by Montgomery to Vleks-
burg, Grand Gulf, and Natchez; fourth from
Montgomery to Pensacola, Mobile, and New
Orleans. Though these roads, IN their inclp-
lent conception, are made to terminate on the
gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi, they must
and will advance with the onward population
west. and find no termini short ofthe Paclfic
Sections of these roads, many OF them,have
been commenced, some finished, others IN
progress They are all within the powers OF
the States and Territories through when they
pass to construct, and all present sufficient OBJ
Iccts for private enterprise to emDalR n
Your memoriaists, therefore, in behalf OF the
Memphis convention, do not ask Of your hon
,orablc body pecuniary appropriations in aid
of these undertakings, but, simply, that you
will, by general law, grant the right OF way,
and the alternate sections to those roads which
pass throughout the public domain; and they
ask this with the more confidence, as, from the
interior position of the country through
(which these roads will course, they will bring
into notice lands now Of little value, and will,
in the appreciation of the sections retained,
more than remunerate government for the
sections surrendered. Were your memorial
lists, however, authorized by the convention,
they might transcend the limits Of their ap-
plication for public patronage, by showing
that there is more than a common interest IN
all the commercial, social, political, and moral
influences which these railways are destined
to exercise on the whole United States-
Steam has, its application 10 machinery and
navigation. revolutionized the world; and IN
its last application in the locomotive on land,
it has achieved its greatest triumph. The an
tiouated notion that republics could not cover
space, and were only adapted to communities
limited in territory and population; the NOR
bid sensibility of patriots now no more, and
the sickening apprchensions of living states
men that our confederation OF nations would
be weakened by expansion,or break down by
the ponderous power of its own weight, have
all been dssipated by the Developments of
steam on railways BY the magical flights of
the locomotive, and the magnetic influence OF
the telegraph, distant worlds have been brought
into close communion, space has been annihi-
lated, rivers lcaped, and mountain elevations
been subducd. The most remote commune
ties have been narrowed into nsighborhoods,
and Boston and Charleston, by continuous
railways, have, as to time, been brought near
CT to the capitol at Washington than are many
of the contiguous counties Of Maryland and
Virginia. These roads, then, extending with
our population-following in close succession
the emigrants track to the west, making him
feel that ne has not separated from his kim
.lred and friends-will prove the surcst guar
antees of that union which a common origin
common sympathics, and common institutions
gave rise to, and fidelity to which can alone
perpetuate.
All of which is respectfully submitted by
your obedent servant,
JAMES GADSDEN, of South Carolina,
Chairman, and in behaT Of Committee.
j. GUTHRIE, Of Kentucky,
r. BARTON, of Mississippi,
LEROY POPE. of Tennessee,
j. LUCIA, of Missouri.