The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1849-02-27

soon as this route 10 established and this
protection given, the wircs can be stretched
upon tho Whole rooio. Then, standing
upon The shores Of the Atlantic, ven shalt
hold converse with him who stands upon
the shores Of he Poeiic Ocean. You shall
talk to one another three thousand miles
distant.
Nothing, Mr.. President, is moro essential
than roads. II is nm old theme, sir; but l.
will bear the suggestion that no civilized
people can live without roads, and that i Is
The indispensable duty Of every nation
which has acquired any new possessions 70
open communication whit We know that
The Romans--from whom we borrow SO many
Of orr ideas, useful or grand-never consi-
dered conquered territory added tostke'
republic or the empire unit was perform
ted by rond. ThereI.wa no annexation
in their idea until there was communica-
lion. The idea was well founded, sir, and
one which we can practically carry OUT
Large and grand as our project of roads
seems, from iha Mississippi to tho Pacific,
and a mile ID width reserved for many
tracks---it is almost insignificant compared
to the roads Of the Roman empire. Her
territory was moi greater than ours--not SO
compact--her population not so homogene-
Gus as ours, nor aithe greatest as great as
ours will be in the lifetime Of the child
now born; and yet her roads far transccnded
in length and number anything that wo now
propose. Here is What Gibson says. AZ
ter enumeraiing the four thousand cities be-
longing to the Roman empire in Europe,
Asia and Africa, he goes on 10 say:
'"All these cities were connected with each
other, and with the capital, by the public high
ways, which, issning from the forum of Rome,
traversed Italy, pervaded the provinces, and were
terminated only by the frontiers Of the empire
If we carefully trace the distance from the wall
OF Antoninus to Rome, and from thence TO Jeru-
salem, it will be found that the great chain Of
Communication, from the northwest to the south
east point Of the empire, was drawn out to the
length Of four thousand and eighty Roman miles.
| The public roads were accurately divided by
mile. stones, and ran in direct line from one city
to another, with very little respect for the obsta-
ctes either Of nature or private property. Noun
trims were perforated, and bold arches thrown
over The broadest and most rapid streams The
middle part OF the road was raised into terrace
which commanded the adjacent country, consis-
ted Of several strata OF sand gravel, and cement,
and was paved with large stones. or in some
pluces, near the capital, with granite. Such was
the solid construction of the Roman highways,
whose 6rmness has not entirely yielded to the ef.
| forts of fifteen centuries. They united the sub
jecis Of the most distant provinces by an easy and
familiar intercourse; but their primary object had
been 10 facilitate the arches Of the lcPions. nor
was any country considered as subdued, ill il
had been rendered, in all its parts peryious 10 the
arms and authority Of the conqueror. The ad-
vantage of receiving the earlics intelligence,an
Of conveying their orders with celebrity, induced
tho Emperors to establish throughout their exien-
sve dominons the regular institution Of posts
Houses were everywhere erected at the distance
only Of five or six miles; each Of them was con-
stnny provided with 40 horses, and by the hep OF
these relays, u was easy TO travel an hundred
miles In day along ths Roman roads The use Of tho
rial mnndsis though originally intended the pub
lie service, sometimes INDUCED TO the business or
convenience OF private eiiizsns."
Such wis the extent and solidity Of the
Roman roads-a single line Of road above
1000 Roman, and equal 10 3740 English
milcs-and tha 1000 cities ofthe empire all
connected with roads Of equal solidiy be-
sides. The road which we propose is only
half the length Of one chain Of theirs. ]
mention them for their magpificence-lheir
grandeur land as presenting an example
worthy Of our imitation. The road | pro-
pose is necessary TO us, and now. We want
il now. The state Of our possessions on
the Pacific demands it. The time TO begin
has arrived. All the necessary information
is on hand. The means are ready. The
title 10 Oregon is settled, and government
established there, and population is grow
ing up. California is acquired; people are
there; and government must follow. We
have a fleet ON that coast--.troops there,
and going. Streams Of population arc con-
cenirating there. Since the discovery Of
the New World by Columbus there has no,
been such an unsctiling Of the foundations
of society. Not merely individuals and
companies, but communities and nations are
in commolion, al, bound 10 the setting sun
Ito the g;ded horizon Of Western Ameri-
ca. For want of an American road,
they seek foreign routes, far round
by sea and land, 10 reach by an i'm
nlense circuit what is part Of their own
land. Until we can get a road Of our own,
we must use. and support foreign route
but that is temporary resource, demanded
by the exigency Of The times, and until we
can get our own ready. Never did so grea,
an object present itself to the acceptance
Of nation. We own the country from sea
10 sea-Gom The Atlantic to the Pacific
aud upon breadth equal to the length Of
the Mssissppi---and embracing the whole
te emperate zone. Three thousand miles
across, and half that breadth, is the magnif-
cent para!lclogram Of our domain. We can
run a national central road through and
through, the whole distance, under our flag
and under our laws. Military reasons re-
quire us to make it; for troops and munitions
must go there. Political reasons require us
To make il il will be a chain Of union be.