The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-19
BY TELEGRAPH.
REPORTED FOR THE REPUBLIC
The Pacific Railway Convention at 81.
Louis.

The Pacific Railway Convention at 81.
Louis.
ST. Loyls, October To-
The convention assembled at ~ O'Clock yester-
day, and organized by the appointment of
Judge Ellis, of Vincennes, temporary chairman.
A committee of one from each State was appoint
ed 10 designate officers OF the convention, after
which il adjourned until nine O'clock this morning
There is a very full attendance.
AT o'clock this morning, the committee, pur
suant to adjournment, reported as permanent OH
| GERS for the convention the following named gen
uemen:
A. Douglass, of Illinois, President.
L. Totem, of Penn; S. Foster, of Ohio; Samuel
Emmerson, Of Indiana; H. j. Easton, OF kentucky;
J. Williams, of Iowa; g. Braneker, OF Wisconsin;
Henry s. Grear, of Missouri; J. Riddle, of Mchi-
gan; ii. X. Williams, of New York; and Bryce
Stewart, of Tennessee-Vice Presidents.
w G. Minor and A. b. Chambers, of Missouri;
A. ). Stewart, of Illinois; and w. ii. Wallace, of
Iowa, Secretaries.
The Hon A. Douglass was conducted to the
chair; he delivered short but eloquent speech
| There was much discussion ON a motion from the
chair to appoint committee ON resolutions.
The motion finally carried, and the chair
appointed three from each State.
The resolution having been introduced calling
on Congress 10 act promptly in relation to the Pa
chic railroad, Mr.. Benton rose and read letter
just received from Colonel Fremont, stating that
the convention should designate no road across the
Rocky mountains. He believed the pass between
the head of the Arkansas and the Del Norte the
most practicable and nearest to the Pacific. Gen
eral Smith had sent out an exploring party, with a
view to report route before the termination of the
next Congress. He dwelt long and eloquently on
the Importance and nationality OF the road. He
was repeatedly and loudly cheered.
There are 464 delegates present from Missouri,
IL from Pennsylvania, from New York, 20 from
Ohio, l3 from Tennessee, 50 from Indiana, from
Kentucky, 264 from Illinois, Al from Iowa, from
Wisconsin, and from Michigan.
After the recess, and on the assembling of the
m finn Mr. Iafh ltaa I'D, nd a,isA
president, being delegate from Louisiana.
resolution was passed that committee of one
be appointed from each State to draft memorial
to Congress, presenting the objects designed by the
convention.
Judge Birch presented a resolution recommend
ing the fourth parallel of latitude the best route
for the proposed railroad.
He was replied to by Governor King, of Mis-
souri,, very warmly; the project being, he said,
opposed to that of Bcnton's.
political division of the Democratic delegates
| from Missouri here manifested itself.
Mr.. Clarke, of Missouri, interfered to quel dis
pute, and was followed in the most forcibe manner
| by Judge Williams.
On motion Of Mr.. Lathrop of Louisiana, the re-
solution was laid on the table, and harmony was
| temporarily restored.
| Letters from distin guished persons in various
| parts Of the Union were read and ordered to be
| printed.
The reports of the typographical engineers on the
various routes were referred to committee, and
the convention adjourned.
| DAY.
ST.. LOUIS, Oct. II, lS49.
] The delegations from Virginia and New Jersey
arrived here to-day. Lieut. Mott of Virginia, and
Robert Chambers, of New Jersey, were announced
as vice presidents from those States.
Various resolutions touching the routes were re-
| ferred to the committee resolutions.
resolution was introduced asking that Congress
| should be memorialized to favor the immediate
commencement OF the road, at a point west OF the
States, and continued to San Francisco.
This resolution caused quite excitement, and
Senator Smith, of Iowa, opposed the resolution in a
speech of an hours length, setting forth its imprac-
ticabiiy He said if was unconstitutional for Con-
| gress to have authorized the construction Of the
whole road, Congress should be mcmorialized u
amend, so as to meet the object in view.
| Mr.. Douglass is answering Mr. Smith, at length.
During the debate, illusions having been made
TO views expressed by the president of the conven-
| ton at a mass meeting held last night caused him
to resign his seat, and MIR. Henry S. Grear, vice
president, OF Missouri was Installed president of the
| convention.
Joseph p Elder, of Maryland was appointed a
vice president from that State
| Mr. Darsie, of pennsylvania, was appointed pres
ident OF the convention, vice Mr.. Grear Withdrawn.
Franklin Steele was appointed vice president from
| Minnesota.
| The committee on resolutions reported a series OF
resolutions for the consideration Of the convention
setting forth that the object and spirit of the con
vcntion were truly misunderstanding neither
party sectional, nor local interest and recommend
| ing that Congress make immediate provision fol
constructing great trunk road to the Pacific, ia
California, with branch for Oregon, from some
point on the Mississippi frontier, may be found
| eligible-tbat all eastern lines now tending west
may be considered part of the same-that Congress
establish posts the route for the protection of set
! tiers and emgrants and that grants Of land bt
made encouraging popuation-that Congress be
memorlalzcd To construct telegraph lines on the
route-that a committee Of five be appointed by the
Chair TO prepare and publish an address-that the
people Of the Union urge incorporation and the
procuring action of Congress.
Hon. J. w. Thompson, of Indiana, addressed the
convention IN an eloquent manner for two hours ON
the resolutions, and offered the following amend
ment: That the Grand Trunk Railroad be CON
structod with branches 10 st. Louis, Memphis, and
1 Chicago, and that committee Of fifty BE- sent u
the Memphis convention. requesting the co-opera-
! ton of that body.
The resolution, as amended, passed unanimously.
OCTOBER ~.
The convention has adjourned to meet in Phila
| dclphia in April