The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-05-09
Railroad to the Pacific.


gard to the Wilmot Proviso, has been to a consid-
cradle extent Gained. Sensible men from all Sec
lions of the Union now perceive that contest
about words, which could never lead to any thing
practical or end in any thing but dissatisfaction to
both Sides is fit employment only for the intellects
of schoolmen and the fances of Missionaries Hence
the discussion as to slavery in the territories of New
Mexico and California has almost ceased But a
far more important struggle is about to commence
between the North and the South-a struggle, not
for the intangible and ideal, but for the practical
and materal-a struggle, not as to whether certain
deductions can be drawn from the articles of the
constitution, but as to whether the immense trade
soon to spring up between the Pacific and the At
lantc shores of the United States is to be carried
by Northern or a Southern route.
In this competition for the trade Of the Pacific,
we are afraid that the North will get the start OF
u.s. All the Northern States are now alive on the
subject of a railroad to San Francisco. large
meeting was lately held in Boston, and the capital
lists of that city, little used they to engage in
impracticabe schemes listened with eagerness and
satisfaction to plan for building road, with the
aid and assistance of the General Government.
Mr.. Benton was called on by the citizens of Pitts
burg as he passed through that place to address
them and he delivered characteristic speech
about himself, Col Fremont and his railroad plans.
And most important for us to know, the Pennsyl-
vanians listened with intense interest to what he
said on the subject of the Pacific railroad. They
swallowed every word he uttered; and not sem
tence he pronounced but was received with loud
and enthusiastic cheers. A few days after this
speech at Pttsburg, large Convention was held
at Steubenville in order to consider the project OF
the great central railroad from Philadelphia to St
Louis, and all the members of the assemblage
seemed bent on carrying out the plan without the
least delay. St. Louis is thoroughly awake on the
subject, and is acting with wisdom and energy.
She is connecting herself with Cincinnati and the
valley of the Ohio on the one hand, while on the
other she is attempting to bind to her interests
Philadelphia and New York.
What is the South doing in this matter! Is she
concentrating her strength for great effort in the
future. Is she crouching in order that she
may spring farther and with more certainty in the
end Is she preparing for great demonstration
at Memphis on the fourth of July next ! or is she
wasting her energie in town meetings approving
of the conduct of those who signed the Southern
address, and denouncing traitors all those who
adhere to the Wilmot Proviso How are Mr.. Cal
houn and Judge Butler spending the interval be-
tween the seasons of their senatorial labors! Com
pare them with Mr.. Benton, and say which of
them-the South Carolinians or the Missouri Sena-
tors truest to their constituents The Carolini-
ans are getting up dinners, at which they drink, it
is said, very good wine, and spout, we well know,
very bad logic and rhetoric. They calling in
dignation meetings and organizing committees of
public safety, and declaring non-intercourse with
the North-all of which every dispassionate man
must know is nonsense, sound and fury signifying
nothing. While, on the other hand, Mr.. Benton is
travelling towards independence in order to address
the emigrants that are starting for California He
says nothing about the Wmot Proviso non-inter
course, and all that; but talks of what every one
feels is real, railroad to San Francisco and the
trade of the East transported across the Rocky
Mountains.
We suppose the Central Convention, as it is
called, met at jackson yesterday, and passed some
fiery resolutions about Northern aggression and
abolition interference in the rights of The South
but what will such resolutions though prefaced
by thousand whereases and therefores, effect
Will they build house, or construct road, or
clear out forest, or drain swamp, or plant a
field Compare the results of the Steubenville
Convention-smple and practical in its objects
with those OF The MISSISSIPPI COnVenuon-FaSue
and indefinite in its designs--and you may see the
different ways in which the North and the South
are acting at the present time in regard TO our
territories. The Northern people are aiming at
something that may be accomplished our Southern
Hotspurs are thinking only of danger and honor"
which never set limb or filed an empty stomach.
The Memphis Convention is the only step yet
proposed for organizing Southern sentiment and
action in regard to the Pacific road. 1t is to be
hoped, that while hundreds are crowding to the
Indignation meetings of South Carolina and the
Central Convention of Mississippi, that the Mem
phis Convention will not be entirely overlooked |;
snd that on the fourth of July next, full delega.
lions from sl the South and West will oongrsgsts,
in order to take counsel together fer the frtheranoe
Of useful designs, and for the construction Of works
that will cemen. more firmly together, and not
weaken this great confsderacy Of States.
IS
BAD CONSEQUENCES OF OFFICIAL DELAY
Bya statement in the London Times of the 18th
ult, it appears that the resumption Of hostilites
between Scheswig and Denmark was owing to
Lord Palmerston's not opening the seal of des.
match hro,,1b+ m n,don Marob 0etb h,, a oo,,,o.