The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-01

lght-that he will duly appreciate them,
and act with an eye single 10 "JUSTlCE
AND THE PUBLIC GOOD"
A VIRoINIAN.
SPEECH OF COL. BENTON AT PITTS.
BURG, ON RAILROADS..
There was large meeting held at Pitts.
burg on the 23d instant, to promote the
construction Of the Ohio and Pennsylvania
Railroad, TO connect, at Pittsburgh, with the
Great West. Mr.. Benton being called
upon, spoke as follows Il NJ Y. Herald.
Mr.. Chairman and Fellow Citizens:
have not arrived at that age Of life in which
! might say was ] too feeble to speak, mol
can plead the excuse Of being too tired to.
night to address you arrived here this
evening, and am passing on in the morning
and have had the honor--to me an unex-
pected one--of being waited upon and invi-
ted to attend this meeting. If it had been
political meeting, should have made my
customary excuse, and that is, that never
speak upon political subjects, outside Of my
own bailiwick. Hear, hear, and applause
But as the subject of this meeting is one
larger than politics--as il is an object char
acterstic Of the age in which we live-as il
is an object unitarian in the highest degree,
| came TO this meeting, if for no other pur-
pose, at least for the purpose Of showing that
| was in favor Of all such great, such mag
nifcient improvements, as that, the accom-
plishment Of which you have met to con
slider tonight. applause The Presi-
dent Of the Company has well observed that,
as local question, ] could not be expected
to enter into details; and It is question
with myself whether ! shall be able 10 say
anything on the immediate subject Of the
meeting but he also touched point which
touched me, inasmuch as one end Of this
road points to st. Louis, and St. Louis is
on the high road in straight line to the
Pacific ocean and to Canton. (Applause.)
My name has been connected (as well il
might, for while should consider all discus
sion as to who was the first to propose a
railroad to the Pacific ocean, as being on an
equality with the question as to who would
be the first man to ride on horseback instead
Of going afoot,) yet thirty years ago, taking
up the great ideas Of men and the progress
sion Of things, Chat same progression which
brought Columbus to these shores thirty
years ago ! not only said but wrote it,
thirty years ago not only said and wrote
it, but gave il to those who constitute
the monuments which never die (the print
ing press, and by the printing press It was
then written down thirty years ago
said and wrote that, sooner or later, grea,
national high road would be made from the
Missouri to the Pacific ocean-that that
road would be made either Immediately, by
the help Of the Federal Government, or
eventually, and without that help, by the
force Of circumstances and the progress Of
events. Thirty years ago ! wrote this
down, and was as confident Of it then as
am at this day. (Great applause.) Every
road, then, which points towards st. Louis
connects itself with this gigantic idea Of the
age in which we live--the highway Of ma
tons Of Africa, Of Asia, Of Europe Of gener
atoms yet unbom-a highway from ocean t,
ocean, under one law, under one flag, unde
one language, under one government, Cane
that republican government, too,) from
one end to the other (Great applause.
That great idea is now abroad stalking owe
the land, and commends itself with sucl
force to all imaginations, that universe
appreciation has arisen in its favor, Zap
plause,) and there can be little doubt that il
short time we shall witness its completion
(Renewed applause have brought for
ward scheme, ] have proposed pc
centum Of the sales Of the public lands;
per centum---I merely said that by way o
feeler, (cheers,) TO see how il would take
and it takes well, much better than either
or any one else anticipated proposed ;
per centum Of the public lands, a hypotheca.
ton Of them, to raise the means 10 go OF
with this great work, and to go on with i
to its final completion. (Applause.) &c
ahead with the work, (cheers y go ahead
is the the word, (renewcd cheers y 60 ahead
and turn all the force and power you can
command upon the object you have in view
Whatever il is, be it peace or be it war, be
it railroads or canals, go ahead--progres-
sion--tl,at is the great, the Distinguishing
characteristic the American people. { Con-
tinued applause) The wonders which we
see in the ancient world-such, for example,
as the pyramids Of Egypt; structures EN-
ploying myriads upon myriads Of men--how
did they arisei AT the command Of Sow
creigns, who at once were political and reli-
gious tyrants--who had dominion over the
conscience as well as dominion over the
purse-who commanded a nation to come
forward TO work--and for what the wis
dom Of the world for three thousand years
has not been able to tell. But what is the
case with u.s. Where is the msn--be he
king or be he president---be he high or low
be he rich or poor-be he eloquent or speech.
ess--where is the man can do this in Anne.
rica' (Cheers.) Where is the man in the
whole Of this broad republic can command
that which the people disapprove-( cheers) y
that which does not commend itself to the
sound pIacticalcommon sense' (Renewe.
applause No, no-Americans have taker
utility for their guide in every object; ant