The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-08
Hon. ]. p Winchester.
THE PANAMA RAIL ROAD.


THE PANAMA RAIL ROAD.
The daily discussion Of this project in the
Senate Chamber, developes beyond doubt,
that it is the only feasible one by the exc
cution Of which, the people of the United
States can hope, for years to come, if not
forever, to get to the region Of Gold on our
Pacific coast quickly and cheaply. Allother
propositions for roads across the continent
involve an expenditure both Of time and
money, that would appear to be utterly out
of the question. 1t is the present, however,
| that the country would avail itself Of. Ma
ture points out the lsthmus Of Panama as the
route most accessible and the soonest passed,
even as it is. Build an iron road across it,
and the transit Of the continent will be the
work of a couple Of short hours. Mr.. Web
ster, in his speech of Tuesday, showed, be-
yond the possibility Of reiutation, in our opin-
ion, that the United States Government
would be doing no more than a duty which
it owes to its citizens, to contract with the
energetic and enterprising proprietors Of the
right Of way across the barrier of the 18th
mus, for the transportation ofour munitions Of
war, soldiers and public mails, upon the most
liberal terms: He exploded the idea Of the
immense profits that this road would afford
to the proprietors, but we hold that capital
invested in such an undertaking ought to
reap rich profits. II is a hazardous UNDER.
taking in every respect, and the rule IS, that
the profits Of capital ought always to be pro-
portionate to the hazard to be encountered
in its employment. It is no just argument
against this government paying the whole
amount asked by Aspinwall & Co., because
their profits may be large. To be sure, it
is the duty of the government to get its work
done on the most favorable terms, consistent
with the public interests, but care should be
taken to get it nell done, and money paid
for such purpose is never thrown away,
We hope, that the wisdom of Congress
may regard the proposition in the light, that
Mr.. Benton and Mr. Webster look upon it.
That it should meet with the appreciation of
the eminently practical minds Of these two
Statesmen, ought to be recommendation Of
the project, and we have no doubt, their adj
vocacy Of it will have its due effect upon the
Congressional mind The question wheth-
Ell the United States have the right or not
to appropriate money, TO build a railroad out
Of the United States or in the United States,
is avoided by the proposition Of Aspinwall
& Co. Nobody, we think, will deny the
right and power of the United States to con-
tract for the transportation Of their public
mails, their soldiers and their munitions Of
war, from one part Of the United States TO
another, over the sea and over the public
highways in other countries. The power,
we believe, has never been called in ques-
ton. The only point in dispute, so far as
we have followed the debate, seems to be,
the expedency Of contracting in advance for
the purpose Of securing our public transport
taton over the proposed railroad The ex-
pcdiency, in our opinion, is too plain for ar
gument. 1t is palpablc, that the interests Of
the country requires certain and short means
Of communication between the east and west
portions Of the United States, between the
Atlantic and the Pacific portions Of the con-
federacy. AL agree to this proposition, -
How is this means to be securcd--is the
next question We have not yet seen any
proposition, which is capable of accomplish
ing the object sought, so surely, so speedily
and so cheaply, as that Of Aspinwall & Co.
They ask no money from the United States,
to assist them in building the railroad in
question. All they ask is, a contract for
transporting what the United States may
have to carry to California and back, upon
their Isthmus Railroad at reasonable rates.
They do not come as specializing paupers,
asking the government to do for them what
they cannot do themselves. They come
with fair business proposition, which it is
entirely within the power Of the Congress to
consider, without compromising the United
States in any way. 1t bears on its face hon
esty Of purpose, and we hope il will be adop-
ted and agreed to by Congress. We want
to get to California and back again by the
shortest route and the cheapest route and
the surest route possible. Aspinwal & Co.
say to us--we have this route, give Us a
contract on fair terms for series Of years
for carrying across ths Isthmus Of Panama
what you need to be transported to Callior-
MIA and back, and we will at once build
rail way across this lsthmus Investigation
proves, that it is the only short, sure and