The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-30

abandon after that PERIOD being fully persuaded tn
can never after be accomplished.
State legislatures, generally by unanimous votes, should
encourage Congress to speedy action.
Most respectfully, your o5edient servant,
A. WHITNEY.
His Excellency JOHN B FLOYD,
Governor OF Virginia
The Governors Reply.
| RICHMOND, January 81, ls4o.
DEAR SIR Your oblgng letter OF the 18th instant was
received duly and take this the very leisure moment
from my numerous engagements TO drop you line in
reply.
apprehend that this day there be two opin-
ions amongst well informed men about the paramonn nj
poance of practical conneyion, at proper place. be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific oceans
All do and know that in such event the entire
commerce of the whole world would undergo imme-
diae and everlasting revolution The continent of North
America which lies right in the way Of ships plying be-
tween Europe and lnda well as between the commer
cal portions OF country and that REGION would,
by this means OF connexion, not only be removed an
obstacle but rendered in reality benefit and advantage;
Tor the railroad would form communication so much
rapid and SAFE that these considerations alone would
effect the change But the great would be found
| in the immense saving of time The mercantile world
regard week, and even a single day. of real import
ance in the transaction of their great interests. How
vast then, would be the gain by Improvement which
would save to them not only weeks but months Such
would be- and such day will be- the effect produced by
the contemplated railroad How vast, how incalculable
how almost ncomprehensible must be the results pro-
duced by this stupendous schemes 1t will constitute the
United States the great toll gate through which pass
all the commerce of the earth. The current of com
merce which descends the valley of the Mississippi,
worth annually two hundred millions OF dollars, would
be crossed by another stream setting from the Indies
the Atlantic ocean, worth great deal more.
The commerce Of India has, from earliest history.
nched beyond calculation every nation earth into
whose bosom her golden streams have poured. Without
adverting the effects produced BY upon all the nations
of antiquity. i, is sufficient look at England as she
stands in her grandeur, her wdslom, and her strength
She owes more of her strength and power to her com
,k,, al
the broadsides that gered in the sunshine hun-
dered the bosom of the deep This built up her
manufactures and they in turn upheld the hundred in
terests OF the island She is the commerce of the
earth what the principle of grayitaon TO the material
world that which regulates and upholds all.
The United States now have in their power to wrest
from England the scepre of the Let the road be
constructed, and at the India fleets of Europe will
be as etecually despatched from the bosom of the
have been the caravans which formerly carried
the deserts the rich silks and spices of the East upon
their backs
This, too, will be such contest for wealth and com
mercia ascendency as Christian people may engage in
without scrupe. and phanthropist witness with de-
light No groan OF the dying, no wal 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 if understand properly is free from the objec
tons urged by the State-rghs men against internal I'M
provement by the general government You propose TO
build the road by the sale of lands at enhanced price,
which you have previously bought from the United States
reduced expressly for this specific purpose and
no other You propose build the road all ofts entire
length upon your own land thus acquired
is contemplated to build the road if it starts at
States | in this no objection to ii; and, in
deed, would carry out this great object although had
to very near indeed TO the cherished doctrines in
Virginia hold so dear.
AS TO the practicaby OF the scheme, do not doubt
it, if the provided by the tract of country apart
for be sucient-and incline strongly to The belief that
they
very strong consideration with me in favor of this
communication above all others is that il will be the
means of settling all the lands capable of sustaining
population between the banks of the Mississippi and the
shores of the Pacific anyw here the line OF the road
This object of the greatest national importance; for
unless there be this certain SAFE and rapid of
accommodation between the valley of the Mississippi
and the country beyond the Rocky mountains through
our territory, there will be continued dangers of
dismemberment of empire by the secession of that
mote and inaccessible region lis wealth in gold and
other commercial advantages will hasten the catastrophe
This will be obviaed by the chain OF population which
will stretch across from Missouri to California and the
frequent and continual intercourse which the railroad will
command
Lying as il is proposed from Lake Michigan across
through by the South Pass. this railroad will bring the
trade from the Pacific to different points its line
accessible TO all the Atlantic cities of the United States
than any other route whatever and crossing the valley
of the Mississippi towards the of waters, the
entire West would, along down each stream,
necessarily crossed by this commercial tide setting towards
the Atlantic its share, 10 be deposited like their
rich aluvium throughout their entire length New
Orleans, Charleston, Norfolk, Baltimore Philadelphia,
New York, Boston, would each have It's railroad
ion with the great common track, and what fancy
approximate the startling results be produced by
this communication
In political point of view, too, it would be of meal
cuabe value have shown how it would secure to us
our Pacific possessions The continual intercourse which
the network of railroads produced thereby would
among the entire population OF the Atlantic States, the
uxtapositon thus given to the North and South would
strengthen their attachment for each ohe and give
consequently, additional guarantees for the perpeuity of
our blessed Union. That Union could not be dissolved
which cemented by the affections of the people, and
bound ether every direction by these snews of IRON
have thrown together these very hasty and fear in
coherent views, having time only TO glance at some of
the points obvious and striking In the contemplation
of this great scheme.
hope, sir, you may live to the consummation of
your plan, and reap the honors and rewards which in
that event you will 50 richly deserve.
With the highest sentiments OF respect am, sir, your
most obedent servant, JOHN b. FLOYD.
Mr. A. WHITNEY
OFFICIAL.
JAMES X. POLK,