Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-11-09

'eHtluu lue immaculate CONTRADICTION W Inflla'
~ road from the Mississippi 10 The Paciti; is
required 10 enable The Government To fulfil the
stipulatinns Of lie recent treaty with Mexico,
10 protect our southern frontier, and 10 facilitate
the passage Of emigrdnts to California unl Orc
gon.
3. Resolved, That the present commercial
communication Of the Atlantic cities and the
valley Of lie Mississippi with the western coast
Of The continent of America and Eastern Asia,
IS of vast importance 10 every portion Of the
country; that such present communication can
be obtained by railroad or canal across the
lslhmus Of Tehuantepec, Nicaragua and Pana-
ma, which railroads or canals may be construc-
led by private enterprise; and this convention,
IN order 10 encourage such constructions, re-
commends the passage Of law BY the Congress
OF The United States directing the Postmaster
General and Secretary of War TO make annual
contracts for the transportation Of the mails.
troops, aud military stores OF the Government
belween the Atlantic and Pacif: por,s OF the
country BY the shortest, cheapest, and speediest
route.
Mr. Campbell, OF Alabama, alter some able
and luminous remarks in regard 10 the ST. Louis
Conve nIiOn aid the difficulties in that CJnVen-
hon on the constitutional question involved in
The disputed power Of government ~ build rail-
roads, offered the following resolutions:
Resolved, That il is The opinion OF This Con.
venliou, that 10 relieve Congress from all embar.
EASEMENTS arising from The Col Lclns state OF
opinion, on The subject OF lis powers, that pre-
paratory 10 the commencement oil lie work oi
constructing a line OF communication between
tie Pacific Ocean and The Atlantic, The Cult oi
Mexico and Northern Lakes, ior the purposes u
Commerce and national defence; that an amend.
men; should be 0blaine1 10 The Constitution Il
The United States, conierring ample authority Tor
that purpose.
Resolved That in the opinion OF this Conyen.
lion, the public lands oi The United States con.
sIitu!c legitimate and proper fund Tor this obs
jecl.
Resolved, That in The event OF the appropria-
lion by Congress OF a considerable portion ol
The putlic lands, or Of lbc PROCEEDS OF The sales
thereof, 10 The CONSTRUCTION oi railroad from the
Valley 10 The Pacific Ocean that al
The same time liberal appropriation vi The pub
lie lands lying within the limits vi tn: respective
States, should be made 10 aid Them IN The con.
s rucllon vi their works OF Internal Improve
inenl.
Ashb-l Smith, Of Texas, presented the follow
ing resolution:
CONSIST ot one from each Sale and Territory rep.
in This Convention who shall present
- Congress, setting iorh The inpur-
lance, AID indeed necessity OF opening military
road, which shall commence On The Red River
al some point between The 81 and j3i destee o!
noah latitude, thence 10 ii Paso, and thence
along Or near our Mexican frontier, 10 some
poin! On The Pacific Ocean: and also OF eslab
fishing lighthouses along ms route through the
Indian country. al such intervals as may be
deemed necessary 20 protect travellers and ira
iefS on his ruad.
J D Below, ot La, presented the following
resolution:
Resolved. That special committee OF seven
De appointed by the President U! The Convention,
u collect aud publish Information, and 10 pre-
pare memorial TO The Congress aud people Of
Inc United States, upon the suffice. OF increasing
The facilities oil intercourse between the Atlantic
aid Pacific Ocean.
Al Yates, Of Texas, presented the following
resolution:
Resolved, That The committee appointed to re-.
port on The pracicablily vi a Railroad from the
Pacific 10 lac Valley Of The Mississippi, have
also referred 10 them The consideration OF 4 like
ifom The Pacific Ocean TO The
Cult OF Mexico.
Col K Topp offered The following resolutions:
Resolved, Tnal 10 The opinion VI this Conven-
lion, il is The duty ui The General Government 10
provide, nj an carly period, Tor The construction
Q; National Railroad ifom The Valley OF the
TO The Pacific Ocean.
Resolved, Tina! il is The duty Of the GeacIal
Government, in the opinion of this Convention
without delay, To employ several abe, d.siner>
esled aLd scientific corps oi insineeTs, charged
with The service OF making thorough aud com.
plete surveys Of all the various routes which
have been designated by public opinion, from
The Valley Of lac Mississippi 10 The Pacific
Ocean.
Resolved That after thorough and scientific
surveys shall have been made, il is the duty Of
the General Government, in the opinion OF this
Convention, 10 adopt such route from The Valley
oil the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean, as shall
have been ascerlained to be best convenient OIL
construction, cheapest and as nearly as may be
central TO lac unied States.
Resolved, In The opinion Of this Convention
that il is The du'y Of The General Government
alter having adopted The roule ici The Main Ma
tional Railway trunk trog. line Mississippi Val
ley lu the Pacific Ocean, 10 aid, by means oil lht
national domain and otherwise, in the cons,ruc'
ticn d, such branches as will best connect will
Inc Northern Lakes, AMI with the Mississippi
River at such point as will best connect with th'
great thorou2htarcs leading 10 The East, and viii
The Mississippi River al such other point as VII
best Connect with he great line Of Improvements
made and making, from the Mississippi River II
the Southern Atlantic cities; and also 0fanci
ftum the main trunk 10 some suitable pom! ot
the Gull OF Mexico.
Col G G Mills, OF Texas, Offered the following
resolutions:
Resolved, That in the opinion Of this Cuhven
ton. the construction VI Railroad from SaI
Diego IN the Pacific Ocean, alCn. The ella river
nr near il. in 4 direction 10 the 81 Pdsso on lht
Rio Grarde, ard thence across III. s ale ot Tex
as 10 its northern boundary, between 32i and 80
Of forth misunderstanding on The Mlssissip
nj River nv one or more branches, between III,
mouth oi The Ohio and Red Rivers, is recon-
mended by Considerations of great importance
as we'll commercial as rational, ard that lht
connection Of the Wcsiern, Middle and Atlantic
States with the Pacifr, by this route, is worthy
Of the attention OF the American people.
Resolved, That the Government Of The United
States he requested 10 comprehend TINS route n
the survey and explorations ihit may DC ordered
Tor the purpose of facilitating these communities
lions.
Resolved, That in the event Of connecting III,
waters of The Atlantic with the Pacific, il shunl,
be found important 10 run National Railroad
through any part of the Mexican dominions
that the Government Of The Unied SAFES be re-
uue,;ed 10 secure be RICH. al way b. ccs ION OF
purchase; and that negotiations be opened wI'f
Inc Government oi Mexico for that purpose.
IA Campbell moved to amend by inserting
"ty cession, conquest or otherwise"
MIR Campbell, OF Alabama, moved thai all r.
solutions On HE Speakers table he referred lc
the Committee en- Resolutions. Carried.
Cap, Charles Naylor, Of Pennsylvania, Io''
and addressed the convention on the sut 'ct Of The
Southern runlf: "Th- discussion on this subject,
he said "reminied him OF school boy hoanIihe
The Uuiltd States during the war with Mexico. lie
began by saying ON the North By the ICY pole, on
The Ea,i by Inc Atlantic. on The Wesi by he Ia
ciGc, and On The Southland here The boy hung
down hi, head To consi4er, knowing thai ou
troops were in Mexico, and replied, on the Soutt
Just as lar as we d-n please. Roars oil laugh
ter And so found il when WAS in Mexico
lhc boundary was just waere W. d-n Pleased IL
make, il. This IS the boundary oiouf country or
The South Then who will say tha. W canno
make a railroad wherever we wanll Fom th'
remarks Of the President, and from The efsa
aouetuct ol public feeling in the bosom Vi M
pronle. el that we are all III iavsr Of iht
SEN ui.loy's boundary" Capt y. then alluded Il
h,sh rrpf