Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-11-15


To decide this question properly, we mus,
not conceal from ourselves our true posi-
ton. II is this: There are three sections
Of the country, each of which is disposed
to have interests involved in this enter
prise, conflicting with the other. One
route is advocated at the North, another
in the Centre, and still another at the
South. As now understood by the coun-
try, these are rival interests. How is
this rivalry to be removed, and all these
conflicting interests reconciled? is the
great practical question to be solved. |,
is not so difficult as is supposed, and every
vestige of it may be dispelled by that
spirit Of concession and compromise which
/ have endeavored to infuse into the reso-
lu,ions now pending. II is not likely Ia
be accomplished, 81 any thing short Of
that spirit.
You will understand what mean by
these rival routes of which have spoken
they are, one from Lake Michigan,
through the South Pass, TO Puget's Sound
/ or near the mouth Of the Columbia river
the one from this city, through the same
pass, and across the Sierra Nevada to San
Francisco; and that from Men, phis BY the
Rio Grande, and the valley north Of the
Gila, to San Diego and San Francisco
Now, what relation do these proposed
routes bear to each other, when considered
in this rival aspectp 1t is simply this
that if neither shall be willing to yield any
thing TO the other, SO must oil of them b.
lost. Neither is strong enough to secure
success by itself. The north is the strong.
est interest, arid the centre the ,reakest.-
Now, if The north shall stand, unyielding.
", upon what she supposes to be her
rights--and so with the centre and the
south-what else than the defeat of all
can be The inevitable result. 1t is inter-
esting 10 us all, then, TO know how this de-
feat may be avoided. It's quite apparent
TO my own mind that il may be, and | do
not despair Of seeing plan which may
result in success adopted by this Conven.
ton.
We all know that Legislation is the result,
concession and compromise. tits some.
what humiia,ing TO gentlemen Of sensitive
nerves and very nice conceptions Of poll.
tical morality, to characterize it by the
more homely phrase Of log-roliing but
It is, nevertheless, true, that this term does
furnish a very appropriate definition o.
legislation, both in the State and Genera
Governments. This we all know, and i,
Is of no use TO disguise the fact. We
must take things as they are, and calculate
the success Of the future by the results Of
the past 1t being apparent, then, thai
| neither OF these proposed routes can find
IN the National Legislature, strength
enough to expect success, If it shall bt
lett only TO such support as it may recev.
from loca! considerations, some plan mus
be devised to reconcile those difference,
which now exist between their respective
friends, and to bring about a union of pur
pose and action. In my judgement, III,
citizens of ST. Louis in the article adopted
and published by their committee, hay,
suggested that plan, and presented com
mon ground Of union. This plan is fle,
from every reasonable objection. 1t ma,
be consistently supported by The latitude
marian Of the north, and the strict construc
ZIONIST of the south. For a plan so liberia
and fair, this city has entitled itself to thu
gratitude of every friend of this work.
They have elevated themselves abov,
every thing like selfishness, and exhibite,
10 the country a most commendab|e liber
atty aud patriotism.
Ii we shall now attempt 10 60 farthe
than this, and pledge ourselves in favor o
a particular route, to the exclusion Of al
others, it is very easy to see that we shoul,
be embarrassed at every step Of our pro
gtess. How many Of us here, are pre-
pared 10 say whether in point Of fact a Rail
road can be constructed on any of thes
routes, at such cost as would justify il,
being undertaken by the Government? p
We have no doubt that it may be done up
on several of them, but we do not kno,
it. Such scientific investigation has no
yet been had as to settle the question SO a
! to satisfy our minds. Until such investi
CATION has been made, il is alike inexpe
dent and unwise TO insist that the roat
we advocate is better than all ne rest. .
Such is the rapidity with which on
countrymen follow each other into the al
most impenetrable forests, that we hav
learned, for the first time. since this Con
vcntion met, Of a newly discovered rou''
across the Rocky Mountains. In the lette
from Col. Fremont TO Col. Benton, whicl
we heard read the other day, he speaks o
pass recently discovered furnishing
practicable route across the mountain iron
the head waters of The Rio Grande to th
Great Basin. 1t is possible that such
pass does exist. 1t is certainly true, tina
Col. Fremont has confidence in the sourc
of his information in regard TO it. But a
he has not seen it, and has no further evi
dence of its existence than the statemen
or single individual, ! am inclined l.
doubt what his informant has said on tn
subject. That he has labored under TIL
belief that such pass did exist, is suffi
GENTLY proven by his having undertakes
his recent and most unfortunate explora
ton of that region. But am not prepar
ed, nor do think this Convention woul
be, TO assume IFS existence upon the YER
slight evidence which has been furnished
hope it may be true that such a pas
does exist. II 1t shall be, it may reliev
this question of much Of the embarrass
ment which, at present surrounds it: 70
:. In ...Llo The road Ia he oopSf ruct o 4