The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-12-02
From the Charleston Mercury
The Connexion OF the Oceans.


The Connexion OF the Oceans.
We have paid less attention than perhaps some Of our
readers may think they merted to the recent conventions
OF ST. Louis and Memphis. The proceedings OF these
published in full will embody much useful information
For this we shall be ready others to thank them.
But these proceedings will nfaby demonstrate that the
teal effect to some Of several projects for building
railroad the contnen-was conceived in the spirit
OF dreams, and not oil sober wakefulness.
At the St Louis convention estimates were made by
distinguished engineer of the cost of railway from the
Mississippi river the Rock mountains at the South
Park, thence through the central part Of the California
basin, the Sierra Nevada TO the waters OF the
San Francisco bay. Considering the nature Of the
try its extent OF two thousand miles, and the very
little Of proper exploration to which large part OF it has
been subjected 1T rather bold thing TO attempt
estimate OF cost But he set down the moderate
OF eighty nine millions OF dollars, and the convention
so Tar from being scared BY such sum- that they
%n o oaSb
made TO branch in three drecons-to Memphis, St Louis
and Chicago; and they were Of opinion that when the
federal government shall have fabricated this menster
with main trunk Of fifteen hundred miles, and three
tails OF FIVE hundred miles each, will simply have done
its duty by providing for wants OF the country equal in
MAGNITUDE 70 the works oy which they are 70 DC sausned
tons was 10 us matter OF great wonder and might
have continued so but for subsequent developments.
The 8, Louis convention was speedily FOLLOWED BY
equally well attended and respectable al Memphis,
the outward manifestations CT which were not unlike IFS
predecessor Il also voted for railway from the Mis-
sissppi to the Pacific, but without the tails, and il gave
pretty distinct preference for the shorter and far less
frghfu route through Texas by the river Ga, TO San
Diego on the southern OF California This con.
venton too not so heated in fancy the subject OF
the advantages of thus putting grdle round the CONT
nent and seems to have admitted some scrupes TO the
poprety of setting the general government about such
work. Sillfor all their published proceedings told
We were warranted in concluding that they were only
little less visionary than their brethren Of St Louis
not that they were truly in their sober senses
Fortunately for them, the people OF Mobile held pub
lie meeting the return OF their delegation, AT which Mr.
intent and effect Of the dongs at Memphis According
to him, the result OF the early consultations OF the
bers OF the convention general conviction that the
railway across the continent was, unless at distant
point in the future, altogether hopeless project; that
all the best-informed men Lieut. Maury, the president Of
the convention, among them) admitted that the China
trade could be carried that route and that
consequently the resources OF the road would be limited
to the trade and travel OF the people Of the United States
Mr. Stewart thought however, that the convention would
do much good that il would give an impulse TO southern
enterprise would contribute TO the more speedy compile
ton Of the communications between the Atlantic and the
Mississippi through Georgia and Tennessee, and would
bring into favorable light the proposed union othe oceans
by the sthmus OF Tehuantepec, in which Mobile was
from the action Of the convention, do not find stated
the brief report OF his speech But nasmuch ais the
vention has its share Of welnformed men, and is deb
eraons were generally characterized by good temper is
natural TO infer that it's full proceedings will afford body
Of highly useful information, and that the kndling OF
many leading minds by peaceful collision, will diuse
wholesome warmth through the States But II they had
railway two thousand miles long acros. ny mighty
ranges OF mountains, through the savage haunts of the
Camanches, Navajos, Utahs, Diggers, and fifty other
races OF diabolical cut throas, was great humbug,
should cheerfuy admit Mr. Stewards tribute to the use
fulness oil the Memphis convention. There are some
other topics in this connection which defer to another
day.