Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-11-15

against having its harmony disturbed and
its usefulness destroyed, by these narrow
and selfish considerations.
We have heard it charged that an effor,
has been made by the citizens Of St Louis
to have. this Convention resolve in favor
| Of this city alone as the eastern terminus
Of this road. This is unjust and not de-
| served by the citizens here, or their dele
gates in the Convention, so far as have
| seen, or have been enabled to ascertain
In the original call for the Convention and
in the address accompanying it, there is
nothing Of the kind. The idea Of nation
atty is prominent in all they have said
and done. Ii is certainly very natural and
very iustifable that, whenever the road
shall be built, they should desire St Louis
to be one Of the points touched by it,
But think it may be safely denied, that,
so far as their feeling has been publicly
exhibited, it has been either selfish or
contracted. Indeed, undertake to as
sert, that it has been the reverse--for the
/ resolutions have now offered are bor-
rowed from suggestion made in the very
able article published in the "Western
| Journal" and circulated and endorsed by
the St Louis committee. It is doing this
city injustice, then, to make this acensa-
ton against it. And yet she would be
unjust 10 herself were she not to make
every reasonable and suitable effort 10 Sc
cure whatever advantages she could de-
rive from national railroad to the Pacific
She stands here in most advantageous
position. Providence seems TO have pro.
vided for great city just here, upon the
bank Of the Father OF Waters" 1t is SC
situated that it already controls a very
large portion Of the trade Of this valley,
and must hereafter control more. Upon
the Upper Mississippi, it stands without
rival, and must always so stand, SO long
as the tributaries OF this mighty river con-
tinue 10 pour their riches into her lap
Her position is, as it were, at the con-
verging point Of great natural basin,
where trade, and commerce, and wealth,
must continue TO aggregate. As a citizen
Of another State, feel proud of such a
city, as | do Of all the great cities Of the
country. will not even allow one Of its
own citizens to surpass me in admiration
Of its success, its commerce and its enter
prise. know nothing which surpasses
either Of these, unless it be the genuine,
old fashioned hospitality of its citizens,
which we have SO largely shared since
we came here.
For myself. willingly confess, that if
had the power of fixing the Eastern
terminus Of this road, would give St
Louis the preference over any other
named point. This have heretofore
publicly declared. But, at the same time,
will not conceal the fact that am some
what selfish in this opinion. Such term
mus would more Immediately benefit my
place of residence than one farther north
or south. Yet do not desire this Con-
vention to express this preference--it is
not right that it should do so. We should
be careful to do nothing which looks like
an abandonment Of the idea Of nationality,
which, if we expect success, must be
kept constantly in view, in all our proceed
ings. This, am satisfied, is the feeling
Of all my colleagues, and Of the section Of
country from which we come. 1t is the
sentiment have endeavored to embody in
the resolutions now before the Conv ention.
While l avow this preference for ST
Louis,-from the consideration Of local
advantages to myself do not hesitate to
declare that am prepared TO submit the
whole question Of the main trunk Of this
road TO Congress. If, after full and
careful examination, it shall be deemed
most advisable 10 have but single termi.
nus on the Mississippi, and that at anoth-
err point than St Louis--Whether il be
Memphis or Chicago,-1 shall be content
1t is more important that we should have
the road, as the common property of thi
people Of the United States, than that the
commercial interests Of any one section o.
the country should gain temporary as.
cendancy over those Of another. We
want a road, which shall span the cont
nent from East 70 West, and connect the
its shores. 1t is this great idea by which
the American mind is now excited, ant
which is calling forth so much Of the re.
MUS an enterprise Of our countrymen.--
Let us have the road somewhere If no,
at one place, then at another. But to gel
1t, we must approach the question with +;
determination to forget the immediate
neighborhoods from whence we come, ant
to look at ii as one which involves the in.
terests Of all sections Of the Union. The
North must not fail to remember that the
South is part of itself ;--nor must we o
the West forget, that in the East are 10 bt
found our brethren and our friends. AL
sectional considerations must give way
and an enlarged, lofty and elevated patri
oiism prevail amongst all the friends o
this magnificent undertaking "a patriot.
ism which prompts its possessor even te
forget himself, when the happiness ant
prosperity Of his country shall demand it
We were entertained and instructed OF
yesterday, by very able and eloquen
speech iromthe distinguished Senator from
this State, (Mr Benton.) II will be hare
for us to forget the earnest and powerful
appeal he has made 10 IRIS, in behalf of thi.
great work and with what emphasis h,
characterized it as worthy Of the genius o
the age. He was right: it is great ques
ton which we are now deciding. Ii is