Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-11-09
RICH MOND, w
Friday Morning, Novca Der 0. ls4s.
Mr,,pu1s CONVENTION.


ulluo, after session OF four days. Inc o'd'es
represented we're fourteen in NUMBER VIZ
Pennsylvania, Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama
South Carolina, Louisiana, Illinois, hfKansa''
Texas, Kentucky, New York, Virginia, Mis-
sissippi, and Georgia.
The following resolutions, reported through
Lieutenant Muury, from the Committee on neS'
olulons, were unanimously adopleu:
l. Resolved, Tina, ii is the opinion Of this Con
yentop. that il is The duly OF The General Govern
mrnl 10 provide, al an early prod, Tor Inc COP
struc,ion of National Railroad irom Inc MIS-
sissippi River 10 the Pacific ocean.
2 Resolved, That TO facilitate Inc accom-
nlishment OF this object in the opinion OF this
Convention, il is the duty CT The GeneIal uoV-
ernmrni, 10 constitute an efficient ana competent
corps of Engineers to make complete explorations
and surveys OF all The routes mat nave peen ae'
sisnaled by public opinion as proper iof Inc i'he
OF this road.
Resolved, That, after the proper surveys
shall have been completed, in The opinion oil hls
convention il is the duty oil the General Govern
men 10 uca'e the line of the road; and, IN max,
ing the location hGt route should be sclccleu
which is easiest OF AZ cess, best calculated 10 SUD-
serve Inc purposes Of national defence, most con-
yenienl IL he people OF, and As lar as praclica-
BILE central to all The United States, and upon
which railroad can be constructed Cd Inc
cheapest and best terms.
Resolved, That, TO carry inlo eject Inc oo'
iec OF The first resolution, 10 The opinion OF ms
Convention, the public lands oil The Unlled o'a'es
constitute legitimate and proper luhd.
Resolved, That alter The construction oil tut
National Rail Way Trunk from the Mississippi
river TO The Pacific ocean, in The opinion oil ms
convention, il is The duty OF Congress 10 aid, oy
the appropriation OF The National domain 10 1he
cons, inclion Of sucn branch rail roads as VIII
best connect il with The Northern Lakes, anu me
great lhuroughiares leading 10 The Atlantic ocean,
| and with such olhcr points, on the MISSISSIPPI
river as will connect il with The lines oil improves
meni completed or in The course Of construction
| an also aid in The construction OF Dldnches
from The main runS 10 suitable points on Inc
| Cult Of Mexico, either East or We>t OF 'hS
| Mississippi river
6. Resolved, That, in the opinion Of This con-
yeution il is The duly Of The General Govern
menl 10 provide, under liberal conditions, Tor
connection between The main lrunk Vt this Mas
liunal Rail Road and ral roads now made, or
| which may hereafter be constructed, oy Inc au-
,horiy Of The several States and territories Of The
| unicn.
| Resol;eJ, That, as an important meals, a ne
cessary preliminary 10 The construction oil ran
road, il is the first duty VI Congress |" lake me
necessary measures Tor the eslabi>ilm nj oi mlli-
| tary posts, from the VT sefn confines ui our YVES
| Tern States, along The Southern bouLddiIes Of oni
| Repubc and our Indian frontier 10 The PaciiIc
ocean--lhat these posts should De es'aoli'heu, ~
all proper PLACES not lar distant from each DINER,
and that civilized and productive settlements
should be encouraged around them, by sales ana
the gran, Of prc,emplon righ OF The public LANDS
10 actual settlers and by snch other encourages
menl as may be deemed necessary so thal, oy
these means, ample opportunities my DC dHoIo.
cd 10 our engineers for the immediate survey ana
! recoana>ancc .! cur POSSESSIONS, wing oe.Wreh
our Western id Southwestern States annthe "a
citic ocean, and so, also, tai by these means, sale,
| prac,lcal roads, ono or more, with facilities oil
| navel, may be Immediately formed iof our cl'i'
zens auc Tor the Transportation Of troops and NUM-
lions OF war, &c. acI0sc oDr own territories from
The Atlantic 10 The Pacific shores, and iii order
| that our Government may lulhl It's recent treaty
| slipulalions with MEXICO.
Your committee would fuuher report that, in
their opinion, it would be highly advantageous
lo The commerce OF this country, and add greatly
TO its political power and influence i an imme'
dia;e connection, By rail road or canal, cou'a oe
| obla ined between lie Sui oil Mexico anu lhe
Pacific ocean. Many projects OF sfealer or less
1
cessafy works 10 complete such communication
| have been OF late agilalei, and Without IN Inc
| present stale 81 cur knowledge upon The snoJect,
' pretending 10 decide upon their relative inrfils,
! lhey beg leave 10 recommend The adoption oil The
| following readlal:Dh. .
Resolved That, while lie contemplated ran
| road across The continent is being consiiu<.e'',
present communication between Inc states OF ms
| Union ani The American ard Aslaic COASTS oil
the Pacific occaa IS ri vast importance 10 every
| potion oi This County; lhai s-ca commuhlcds
lion can be oblained BIZ ship canal II faii Tnah
/, ac,nss the lslhmus of TthIan;epec, Nicaragua
| or Panama, or across them all, which rail loads
or canals may De cons!uclcd by private enter
| Prise and this convention, in order 10 encourage
The undertaking anu completion OF sach WORKS,
rccumne nj the passage OF law, by line Con-
sIe>s CT the United States, directing Inc Pos'
| Master General Secretary OF War and Sccle
tary oil tn Navy, 10 make annual contracts ior
the iran aporlaion o. he mails, troops, anu mn,
| tary ara naval s:o.ss OF The SoVeiGmenl, NOM
The Atlantic 10 The PacInc p"s.s = The country,
| by The IN uresi, speeciest ard cheapest route.
| The committee on resolutions To which was
referred The resolution that declares THAT, 10
the event Of The appropriation by CONGRESS oil
| considerable norlinn Of the proceeds u The pub
| lie ia5ao ~ The construction OF railroad nom
The Mississippi river - ihe Pacific Ocean, lha;, al
! the same lime, liberal appropriations u! Inc pun
| lie lands, lying within the limits OF The States,
should be made 10 AID larm respectively in theif
works OF lniefnal improvement" have had inc
/ same under consideration, ana nave inslIu'
me 10 report; that the ella m at The States u flui-
| table because The lan:s OF the Uniled Sla0ts
| within the Stare bear ne charges Tor local i'm
pIoyrment, nor Tor The expenditure OF me o'a'e
government, and receive cement irom oolh sour.
| COS CT expenditure" They therefore recommend
| the adoption Of The resolution:
| Resolved, That, in The event q The approPri-
( alton by Congress OF considerable pollioh 81
the public lands, or OF he proceeds OF inc saIe
thereof, 10 The consrucl,an III \ raj road from
The Mississippi river to The Fachc OCEAN, hoe
raj appropriations OF lts pubic lands, iyinS
within The limits Of the respective States, should
| be made 10 aid them in The construction oil lheir
works OF In crEal improvement
| The following addiliona T.solntIon was aooP>
| TED with tremendous applause"
"Resolved, That, in The present sta'e Oh oul
knoweasr ne feel warranted in recommending
to inc particular attention The General Govern
menl, iur examination as possessing special ad-
| yan,sces. The route commencing al San Dleeo
on thr Pacific Ocean, crossing The Colorado vi
The YES running along Ire Iila river, or near
| II in . direriion 10 the Paso Del Noric, and
,hence across The lsin OF Texas 10 is noT'heas-
tern boundary, between 50 snd % aesfe.' Q.
north latitude, terminating a. some point on Inc
Mississippi between The mouth Of The ONO river
and the mouth OF Red RIVER.
The following Resolutions were offered by The
Hon. J A Woodward, OF South Carolina, but
nol aiapled:
"RrsG,.,t, That i, is highly eIpedien', in
miii;aiy aud commercial ,.oinl OF view. that a
communication, by Railsay, sholh eEisI be-
tween The waters OF the Mississippi river and ihe
Pacific ocean; and that every means and faciiily
lh2l may lie wllhin the c"rs i'uiional powers OF
lie Government !, any do, should be applied 10
such Officer.
"Resolvrd That route 10 terminate west
waId.y al San Diego, on The Pacific ocean, and
east~aldiy a. Memphis, IN tie Mississippi ri.
yer, is strongly INDICATED by climate, lempera-
lure, geosfa phcai and c"nIlaer'ia. relations d.
recness 81 cuuis', ceuHa'iv. AMI an equal Re-
aard 10 lie interests ui ry'ry part 81 the Union