The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-29

Maria from Boston,
ARRIVAL OF THE STEAMSHIP TENNESSEE
fine steamship Tennessee, Capt. Collins, arrived
at an early hour yesterday morning from Savannah,
bringing us papers two days in advance of the
mail, for which Capt. G. will please accept our
thanks. We are, also, indebted to the Offices of
the Savannah Republican and Georgian for papers.
Speech of Colonel Benton at Pittsburgh,
on Railroads.
There was large meeting held at Pittsburgh on
the 23d inst, to promote the construction of the
Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroad, to connect, at
Pittsburgh, with the Great West. Mr.. Benton be-
ing called upon, spoke as tollows-
Mr. Chairman and fellow citizens Il have not arrived
at that age Of life in which might say was too feeble
speak plead the of being tired to-
passing on in the morning and have had the honor
to me unexpected one-of being waited upon and
invited attend this meeting If it had been polit
zeal meeting should have made my customary excuse
and that is that never speak upon political subjects
But as subject of this meeting is larger than
poticsas it is object Of the age in
which live it is object utilitarian in the high
est degree to this citing if for other pur-
pose, at least for the purpose Of showing that in
favor of all such great such magnificent improvements
as that the accomplishment of which you have met
consider night; (Appause) The President of the
could not be expected to enter into details and s
question with myself whether shall be able to say
anything on the immediate subject Of thu mectirg
but he also touched point which touched me,
| inasmuch end of this road points to 81.
Louis and ST. Louis is the high road in straight
line to the Pacific Ocean and to Canton. (Applause)
NV name has been connected Gas well it might for
while should consider all discussion to who was the
first propose railroad to the Pacific being
on an equality with the question to who would DO
the first man to ride on horseback instead of going
afoot yet thirty years ago, taking up the great ideas
of men and the progression of things Chat same pro-
| erosion which brought Columbus to these shores-
thirty years ago not only said but wrote i-thirty
| MOI only said and wrote it, bu tn
those who constitute the monuments which never die
| Uhe printing press, and by the printing press it
| then written dewn)thrty years ago said and wrote
that later, great national high road would
be made from the Missouri to the Pacific ocean-that
that road would be made either Immediately by the
help of the Federal government. eventually, and
without that help by the force of circumstances and
dow n and confident Of it then am at this
day (Great applause Every road then, which points
lea of the age in which we live-th highway Of ma
tons of Africa of ASIA of Europe of generations yet
unborna highway from ocean to ocean under one law
under flag, under one language under govern
ment, land that republican government too) from
end to the other. Great aPpause) That great idea
is now abroad stalking the land and commends
itself with such force to all imagnations that uni
versa appreciation has arisen in It's favor (appause0
and there can be little doubt that in short time we
shall witness its completion (Rcnewed appause)
| have brought forward a scheme have proposed
per centum of the sales of the public lands a per
centum-I merely said that by way of feecr (cheers0
to how it would take and it takes well much better
than either or any else anticipated proposed a
per of the public lands ahypothecation of them
to raise the means to go on with this great work, and
to go with it to its final completion. Npplause)
| Go ahead with the work. (ch:crs) go ahead is the
tie word, rcnewcd cheors) go ahead, and turn all the
force and power you command upon the object you
have in view. Whatever it is, be it peace be it war,
be it railroads canals 90 is
the great the distinguishing characteristic the Ame
| rican people. Continued applause) The wonders
which see in the ancient word-such, for example,
the pyramids ofEgypt; structures employing myriads
| upon myriads of men-how did they arise? At the
| command of Sovercigns who at were political and
| religious tyrants-who had dominion over the con-
science we'll as dominion the purse-who COM
manded nation to come forward to work-and for
what the wisdom of the world for three thousand
has not beeE able to tell But what is the
with us Where is the man-be he king or be he pre-
sident-be he high or low-be he rich or poor-be he
eloquent or speechless-where is the do this
in America' (Cheers) Where is the man in the
whole Of this broad republic command that which
the people dsapprove (cheers) that which does not
commend itself to their sound practical common sense!
utility for their guide in every object and they come
forwardnot at the bidding of priests presidents and
kingsbut from feeling which has its origin in their
own bosoms a feeling that tells them that what they
going to 10 is to benefit themselves and their ~
terty-(appause) -ana now tell you that this Ame
rican federal government has nothing do but to lay
off the lines Of that great road and give the people per-
mission to work upon it. and immediately you will see
it lined with aborcrs from the Missouri tho Pacifc
the sound of the implements of Improvement and in
dustry will be heard from end to the other; in
period less than-comparatively speaking will take
you to debcratc-this great, national, unparalleled
| work in the history Of the world will be completed
and America will reap the glory. Immense applause)
The Romans whom we so much admire would not go
sneaking round amountain in making road. They
scorned to 60 round mountain; over it or through
| it, was their motto; and we in America can rival
them Great applause) This great road will be
madc while the government are celebrating about IL
| the people themselves making it, the people
will make it, the hoof of horses the tread of mems
feet-ycs, the tread of chdrens feet who shall const
tute the fathers and mothers of future generations
building up and consolidating this great ropublic-the
tread of chdrens feet the grinding of wagons will
make this road. Npplause) Tens of thousands of
people will go it this very year making the road as
they 20. 1t will be made and 1t is in that point of
in the State of Missouri; for while that great trunk
will run like mighty river straight to its terminus
there viii be branches to the right and to the left and
when 1t reaches St Louis there ii will be in connec-
ton with all the great modes Of communication; and
great then as may be the advantages in the continue
ton Of roads from St Louis not merely east but to
every point Of the compass taking for its
the lakes and the borders of the Atlantic Mexico
the whole Of these will derive immense additional
value from coming into communication at the other
end Of the great trunk which will bring Asia with all
its riches into tho United States (AppIausoI We.
gentlemen, that road will made; and while both In
Europe and America the vast country beyond the Pa
cfc remained so long sealed book-while the vast
regions from Missouri TO the Pacific considered
desert where people could never livenow the curtain
has been lifted, and young man has employed himself
seven years in threading twenty thousand miles of
wilderness with telescope in his hand fixing the lat
tudcs and longtudes, writing down everything and
strange in nature, and from him that what
was considered an impossible barrier, Is habi-
table mountain, more beautiful than any in Swift
zerand Nppaue( And while this was con.
sdcred the mot barren, the most savage part
Of this country that place which hss boon 80
commonly spoken Of as IN great salt Lake -
that country has been laid open. rot only ~ a
country susceptible Of improvement but afford
ing many advantages for civilized habltation; and
had his frat exploration revealed tho true
dton of that rcsion which lies beyond the great Salt
Lake, than The people wandering from East to West
have gone thithcr to establish themselves and are al
Nancing with all tho comforts and improvements of |
eNiii2ation (Applausc( 10 that people this young
man has been Moses-ho has shewn them land TO |
Wmeh they have gone. And now, fellow citizens after
thtc brief expressions after reminding you that tho
Mol a, country byord the Mississippi clear to the
t1.l all