Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-02-06
THE GOVERNORS REPLY.

RICHMOND, January 81. lS49.
Dear Sir: Your obising letter Of the 18th in
slant was received duly, and take this, the very
FIRST leisure moment from my numerous engage
ments, to drop you line in reply.
apprehend that al this day there can be no
,go opinions amongst we'll Informed men about
,be paramount Importance of practical con-
nexion, al proper place, between the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans.
All do see and know that in such an event Inc
entire commerce Of the whole world would under
30 an immediate and everlasting evolution
The continent OF Norm America, which lies right
n he way OF ships plying between Europe and
India. as well as between tn commercial portions
ot our own country and that region, would, b.
This means OF connection, moi only be removed as
an obstacle, but rendered in reality hencfl. and
an advantage; Tor The railroad would form
communication SO much nore rapid and sale,
that these considerations alone would effect inc
change. But the great cause Wcnid be- foani IN
ne immense SAVING Of time. The mercantile
world regard a week, ami even single day "a oi
real i'm Rurance in the transaction OF lheir great
interests. How vas, then, would BE- the gain by
| an improvcme Il which would save 10 them not
only weeks, but months Such would be, and
such some Gay will be, The effect produced by the
| contemplated railroad. How vast, how incalcu-
| liable, how almost ncomprebensible must De The
results produced by lhis stupendous schemel l.
will constitute the United States the great toll
! ,ate through which mus! pass all the commerce
| Of the earth The cnrrent Of commerce which
| pow descenLs The valley OF The Mississippi, worth
annually Two hundred millions o! dollars, would
| be crossed by another stream setting from the In
dies TO the Atlantic ocean, worth great deal
| more.
The commerce of India has, from earlies,
history, enriched beyond calculation every ma.
ton on earth into whose bosom her golden
streams have poured. Without adverlng to
The effects produced by it upon all the nations
OF antiquity, it is sufficient to look at England
as she stands in her grandeur, her wisdom, and
her strength. She owes more Of her strength
and power to her commerce with the Indie.
than to all the bayonets and all the broadsde:
that ever glttered in the sunshine or thunder
ed across the bosom of the deep. This built uE
her manufactures, and they in turn upheld the
| hundred interests of the slaud. She is now to
the commerce of the earth what the principle
| OF navigation is 10 the material world, thai
which regulates and upholds all.
The United States now have it in their pow.
er to wrest from England the sceptre of the
seas Let the road be constructed, and at once
the India fleets OF Europe will be as efectual!J
| despatched from the bosom OF the sea. as have
been the caravans which formerly carried acros:
the deserts the rich silks and spices of the
East upon their backs
This, too, will be such contest for wealth
and commercial ascendancy as Christian people
may engage in without scruple, and phian-
throphist witness with delight. No groan oil
the dying, no wall Of the widow or the orphan
shall come up disturbing the victor in his hour
Of triumph.
The manner in which you propose TO construct
the road, il understand il properly, is tree from
the objections urged by the Slate-rights men
against internal improvemeo. by the general go
ysrnmeni. You propose 10 build The road by the
sale Of lands at an enhanced price, which you
| have previously bought from The u. States at a
(which would no, exceed, for passenger from the
lake 10 the Pacific. $50; for bushe Of Is cents
for barrel Of -four 81; for weight Of merchandise
slo ton measurement Of foas Ia half ton weight
! butt IS.