The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-06-17
Views OF the Hon. John @
railroad 20 tho Caihoun ON


C;ESrlrmEs-Ih have rec r. HILL, Io.n ,,s way iosy
half Of the citizens e. Isssd your Invitation IN be-
meeting Of citizen iron, y nort Of the csnntrv 70
De nSla 'I.,s on the 9Th july next for the purpose
constructing ra ro S Hasv es Miss %.
sippi to the pacif @ ocean
o nront an ppy to accept your invitation and to
De present ." the OCCASION but regret to state that
nv sgement with which snnot dispense, and
". Tba "" " not permit me-.
oject Of your meeting regard very impor-
M or all the projects of the age consider it as
@ of the greatest magnitude. viewed either in its
ercial or political aspect t would do more than
Great oceans OF the globe-tbe Atlantic and the Pac-
fc and thereby unite commercially aud poiiticaiy,
the western coast of this continent and the eastern
coast Of the old with the eastern coast OF TINS ana m
western coast of the old far more intimately than hey
have ever heretofore been The valley OF Inc Mlsss
eipp would become the common centre Oh tue ihter-
course between the two oceans and the extremes OF
both continents with all the great benefits 1t would
| confer, :.
Thus far there can be division of opinion but it
remains be determined whethena railroad Is practi-
cable at what point if it is, should it commence on
| the Mssissppl and terminate the Pacifc and what
intermediate tract should IL take between what will
h. It's cost and what plan should be adopted for its
eeution All these questions should be deliberately and
carefully settled before the work is undertaken No
thing ought Ito be hastily or precipitatey done in
ca of blna gnitude careful reconno and
actual survey where necessary. ought to be made by
and faithful engineers OF all the routes preparatory
to determining the question of practcabilty; and, If
to determine what would be the shortest
the most easily constructed the cheapest and the most
readily passed at all anu what
the actual cost Of constructing each would be- All this
information would be necessary to determine the point
at which it should commence on the mississippi and
terminate the Pacific But in determining on these
points other considerations would have to be taken
into the estimate In determining the former, it will
have to be considered, first, what point the river
will best suit it's valley and in the next what will best
suit the rest of the Union. all things considered The
former would involve the question: what point will at
all be most easily cheaply and certainly ap
preached by its waters including its great tributaries
And the latter the question whnt point would IN like
be approached by railroad from other portions
of the Union These are questions which will demand,
Mt the proper time grave and careful examination -
The selection should be made in reference to the gene
raj good of the whole Union and not in reference to
particular portion.
The selection of the point of terminus the Pacific
will be less complicated The goodness of the port it's
position in reference to the general trade Of that
and the facility Of reaching it by railroad,
should be considered in determining it.
But candor compes me to state, there still remains
another greater question for of the South
termine before finally decide what should
take in reference to this great project; and that Is,
what position to occupy in reference to ter
ritores the Pacific acquired from Mexico by the late
treaty with her! Are to be excluded from them
Are We after having spent so much of our blood and
treasure for their acquisition to be deprived contrary
to the provisions of the constitution and violation
every principle Of equity and justice of our right
in them? Are they to be MADE the means Of hu-
initiation and subsection to the rest of the Union, in
stead of our prosperity And, il shall still 60
and spend millions millions in addition to what
have already in aggrandizng the rest Of the Union at
our own expense and for our subsection? trust not.
trust We shall pause until it, is ascerained how we
to stand to those territories and the rest of the
Union, before decide finally in refer
to the subject of the meeting. In the meantime
steps may be taken to obtain information preparatory
to decision but let us that until we can sec
| what interest we are to have in the work.
| JOHN C. CALHOUN.