The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-16

Republic.
The most extensive dominion ever established and
lpermaneniy maintained was that OF the Roman EN-
pire. Our own territorial extent Ia now perhaps,
greater than TINT over which the power Of Rome held
sway, while the principle Of unity with Ms is Inn
meaaurably sironger
was nbove two thousand miles in breadth from the
extreme border Of Britain and the northern limits Of
Dacia 10 Mount Atlas md the Tropic Of Cancer; II
extended In length moro than three thousand miles,
from the Western ocean 10 the Enprates. The pop.
naiion, according TO Gibbnn's estimate, amounted
10 one hundred and twenty millions. ~
The main elements Of cohesion, by which this vast
body was kept together, were 10 be found Ia the mil
nry strength Of the empire, in the liberalizng in
ucnces of the Roman laws and civilization the ben
efts of which were extended 10 al the provinces |;
and TO these influences may be added the means and
facilities of REORGANIZATION throughout the en- !.
approved principles Of science known in that day
belonged 10 the wonders of antiquity. Gibbons
account of them is in these words:
All these cities were connected with each other
and with the capital, by the public highways, which
issuing from The forum Of Rome iraversed Italy per-
yaded the provinces, and were terminated only by
tho frontiers of the empire II we carefully truce the
distance from the wall of Antoninus 10 Rome, and
from thence to Jerusalem, II will be found that the
great chain Of communication from the northwest TO
The southeast 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 10
another with very little respect for the obstacles
either OF nature or private property. Mountains
were perforated and bold arches thrown over the
broadcast and most rapid streams. The middle part
of the road was raised into terrace which COM
manded the adjacent country, consisted OF several
strata of sand, gravel, and cement, and was paved
with large stones, or in some places the capital
with granite.
Such was the solid construction of the Roman
highways, whose frmness has not entirely yielded 10
the effort Of fifteen centuries They united the sub
Of tho Distant urOyinrPs hv IN ansv md
familiar intercourse and there primary object had
been TO facilitate the march of the legons; nor was
any country considered as snbdued, ill 1t had been
rendered, In all lis parts, pervious TO the and
authority of the ronqueror. The advantage of re-
ceving the earliest intelligence, and of conveying
their orders with celebrity, induced the Empeiors TO
establish throughout their extensive domnions the
regular institutions Of posts. Houses were every
where erected ut The distance only Of five six miles,
each of them was constantly provided with forty
horses AMI by the help of these relays ensy
travel an hundred miles In day along the Roman
roads. The use Of the posts was allowed 10 those
who claimed il BY an imperial mandates but, though
originally intended for the public service, II was
sometimes INDUCED to The business or conyeniAncy
Of private Citizens
I These great avenues, penetrating to the remotest
cxtromities Of the empire, and opening the channels
OF mutual intercourse through al the parts, formed
the means Of a,lnity which nature herself had not
supplied or indicated. There was indeed, tho Med
erranean central basin, upon the shores Of which
the European, African, and Asiatic provinces con-
vcrged, and by means of which they could be ap-
preached and commanded. But modern civilization
has shown how feeble In themselves were the natural
aflinites which connected together that great EN-.
pre OF Rome, broken up The same extended terri.
tory now Is into many kindoms and States.
Nevertheless so thorough was the TRANSMISSION Of
the imperial power and spirit by means Of the great
roads which ran III every direction from the Forum
that so long as the vital element of Roman energy
remained the integrity of the empire was preserved
IL was not by o. It's extent that the empire fell
to pieces but from the decay Of an exhausted civil.
zition. Caristia.lty containing the only sanalive
and restorative e.em .nts then IN The world could moi
find access 10 the corrupt heart Of the empire 80 fully
as TO res1scitnie Its energies II drew 10 itself all
that was good and sound and preserved il; the Pa
gan refuse perished
But our purpose in these illusions 10 the ancient
Roman empire was to point oul The immense adyan-
tases which tins Republic possesses over those OF
Rome IN the way OF cementing our great and grow
ing Union. The Introduction OF railroads and the
use Of steam on land and river and ocean, are them.
selves sufficient 10 work entire revolution In their
sphere but in addition these wonderful agencies
the telegraph alsp included we have natural con.
hgnraiion OF territory most admirably adapted 10
unity. We need have fears that tho extension OF
our settlements towards the Pacific win weaken the
cohesion of on national body. Not at all but the
contrary. The grand road, however, must be made
the road from the Mississippi TO the Pacific, as
proposed by Mr.. Benton.
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