Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1848-06-07
For he Erpress.

/ Ia your paper Of today | notice in the
report Of the Linn county COMMITTEES, on
the subject Of railroads, the following -
|"Your committee suggest that some ac-
'tive and experienced gentleman be en-
s'ployed 10 60 to Washington TO urge
"upon the members our request. From
"Mr. Letters position and local interests,
''we do not expect help from him, and
''should not be surprised to find him Sc
secretly opposed to the measure"
The proposition contained in the above
extract from the report Of the committee
Of Linn county, meets my most cordial
appreciation, and rejoice to see it thus
boldly and Independently put forth,
The necessity for doing the same thing
has been canvassed, in a limited manner,
by citizens Of this county, but no decisive
step taken; perhaps from the fact that
it was not known that the proposition
! would meet with general encouragement
1t is scarcely necessary to say that the
reportof the Linn county committee,
from which the above extract il taken, is
in reference to railroad from this point
through, the heart of,he State to termin-
ate at Keokuk. It never can be pleas.
ant duty to scrutinize the copduc, and ex.
pose the di6ciences Of any man, and SO
far as private duty is involved, the right
does not exist. But where an indiyid.
ual is clothed with high and important
powers which he holds in trust for the
benefit Of thousands, it is their right to
watcl, his course, and if need be to speak
freely and independently Of what seem
to be manifest failures in tho full and inn
partial discharge Of that duty which he
owes alike to all, "wi1hout fear, favor or
affection" The most casual observer
cannot have failed to notice the differ
ence in progress between the memorials
and petitions relative to the road from
Davenport, to Council Bluffs on the Mis-
souri,, and the Dubuque and Keokuk road.
The one was presented in Congress long
before the other was permitted 10 see the
light there,-and now, after the lapse
Of some months, we learn that bill 10
aid Of the first project has passed one
house, while we. hear nothing Of the 9TH
er; and for ought those who are interest
ed know to the contrary, it may be suffer-
ing the neglect which may result in the
death desired. These things are certain
" remarkable; and those concerned have
a right to be informed Of the causes; and
they ask for the information with the
depth and determination offeeling which
is intended to prevent the sacrifice of
their interests. Now | do not believe
that the citizens on the proposed route
around the rapids in the Mississippi, do,
or ever will, repine at the prosperity OF
other sections ofthe State. And if pro-
jeots for the benefit Of all, can be carried
forward at the sametime, without hazard
to any given one ofsuperior or command
ing importance, then let all be embraced.
Blu. if the better policy is, 70 take one at
q time, no just and impartial man will de-
ny that tho project which would mos,
largely benefit the greatest number,
should be the one selected, Can our re-
preventative, or any reasonable men in
his district, say, that the Davenport and
Council Bluffs road in the present con
dition Of the country, would compare in
its benefits, with the other proposed i'm
provement? am aware that the road
from the Mississippi to the Missouri,
would run through most fertile section
Of the State. But by far the largest por-
ton oft is yet wilderness, and such u
road would scarcely benefit its tens, while
the other would carry present and sensi;
bic advantages to its thousands. The
Missouri road would be designed chiefly
to bring the produce Of the west TO the
Mississippi, at Davenport, where it would
be hedged up, not exactly like the chill
drea Of Israel, between the mountain and
the Red Sea; but between two obstacles
about as hard 10 overcome, and needing
much the same power as that exercised
by Moses. But perhaps it is at least Sc
cretly thought, that the Chicago road
will take that direction. We leave the
people Of Galena and northern Illinois 20
settle that question. 1t is far from my
intention, in this brief article, to expand
upon the advantages which would be Sc.
cured in perpetuity to almost the entire
State, and in large measure beyond its H.
mits, by the construction Of road which
shall avoid the everlasting obstacle to
navigation in our river. ,...
But let me ask Mr.. Letter one ques-
ton: What proportion Of his constitu-
ents desire the Davenport road, as CON-
pared with that whose interests will be
vitality affected by the other? Can he
say one to ten? But If the correctness of
my views should not be admitted, can
any body give reason which he would
expect any sensible man to believe, why
one project should be nursed into life and
action, while the other is suffered to
strangle with the umbilical cord around
it's neck? would condemn no man
without reason or hearlng:-I know it
is sometimes difficult at distance TO OBJ
tain correct Information Of all that prop
erly belongs to a casc-and il in this,
there is any thing TO justify on the one
hand, it will be accepted as . matter Of
satisfaction on the other. have no pri-
yate ends to answer:-I am not seeking
TO displace the Representative for the