Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-06-20
FoRT HILL, May 26, IS49.

FoRr HILL, May 26, ls49.
Gepllemen-I have received your invi
ration in behalf of the citizens of Memphis
10 be present. at smeeting Of citizens from
every part Of the country to be held there
Gu The 4lt of July next, for the purpose ol
aiding, by expressing public opinion, the
project Of constructing d railroad from The
valley of the Mississippi 10 The Pacific
ecean.
would be happy to accept your invita-
lion, aud TO be present on The occasion. but
regret 10 stale, that have an engagement
with which I cannot dispense, and which
will not permit me.
The object of your meeting | regard as
very important. Or all Inc projects of The
age, consider it as The one Of The greatest
magnitude, viewed either in its CONNER.
ciaI or political aspect. II would do more
than any other 10 facilitate intercourse be
tween The Two great oceans of the globe
the Atlantic and the Pacific-and hereby
unite, commercially and politically. the
western coast Of this continent ands'he
eastern coast of the old, with the eastern
coast Of this and The western coast of The
old, far more intimately than they have
ever heretofore been. The valley Of the
Mississippi would become the common
centre Of the intercourse between the Two
oceans and The extremes of both CONT.
nenls, with all the great benefits it would
confer.
Thus far, there can be no division OF
opinion; but it remains 10 be determined
whether q rail road is practicable; al what
point, if it is, should it commence on the
Mississippi and terminate on the Pacific !?
and what intermediate tract should it take
between what will be its cost! and
what plan should be adopted for its execu-
ton! All these questions should be de-
liherately ard carefully settled before the
work is undertaken. Nothing ought to be
hastily or precipitalelY done in a case of
such magnitude. A careful recognizance
and an actual survey. where necessary,
ought to be made by able and faithful en-
giueers of all The routes preparatory 10
determining the question Of fpracticabilily /;
and, if found TO be 20, to determine what
woald be the shortest, lbe most easily con-
siructed, the cheapest, and The most open
and readily passed over at iall seasons, and
what The actual cost Of constructing each
would be. All this. Information would be
necessarylo determine the point at which
it should commence on the Mississippi and
terminate on The Pacific. But in deler-
mining on these points, olher considerations
would have TO be taken into the estimate.
In determining the former, it will have TO
be considered, first, what point on the
river will best suit ils valley. aud in The
next, what will hest suit The rest Of The
Union, all things considered! The former
would involve the question, what point will,
at all seasons. be most easily, cheaply and
certainly approached by i,s walers, inclu-
dug It's great tributaries? And the latter,
the question, wha, point would, in like
manner, be approached by rail road from
other portions Of the Union? These are
questions which will demand. at the proper
lime. grave and careful examination. The
selection should be made 10 reference to
the general good Of the whole Union, and
not in reference to any particular portion.
The selection Of The point Of terminus
on the Pacific wiII'be less complicated.
The goodness of the port, its posi'iuq in
reference to the general trade Of that
ocean. and the facility of reaching it by a
rail road, should be considered in deter.
mining it.
But candor compels me TO stale, there
still remains another and greater question
for us of the South TO determine before are
finally decide what course we should lake
in reference to this great projecr, and that
is: what position are We to occupy in
reference to our territories on the Pacific,
acquired from Mexico by the late treaty
with her2 Are we 10 be excluded from
them ? Arc wei after having spent so
much Of our blsod and treasure for their
acquisition, 10 ,be deprived; contrary 10 the
provisions of the Constitution, and viola
lion of every principle Of equity and justice.
of our equal righl in them? Are 'hos TO
be made the means Of our humiliation
and subjec,ion to the rest Of the Uhion,
instead of our prosperity? And. if SO,
oHhII Wo VIII SV VII, opu oPCbo hi'''ohS VII
millions. in addition to what we have al
ready, in aggrandizing the rest Of the
Union at our own expense and for our SUBJ
jeclion / trust mol. l trust we shall
pause until it is ascerIained how we are 10
stand, a, TO those territories and-lhe rest OF
The Union, before we decide finally on our
course in reference TO the subject Of the
meeting. In the meantime steps may be
taken 10 obtain information preparatory 10
deciSion; but let us reserus that until zoe
can see Dhdt interest abe are to hdue in the
work.
With grea, respect, ! am, &c.
]. G. CALHOUN.
Mess7s. Robertson Topp, NJ. b. Winches-
ter. Juo. Il. Trezevant. aud others OF
the Committee of Correspondence.
HARD TO BEAT.-Our townsman, DIR.
J. w. Parker. obtained the orher Gay. al