The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-12-13
From the Pennsylvania.
The Pacific Railroad.

pared by the committee appointed at the
Convention held at St. Louis, in October
last, III order to further the construction of
the great railroad from the valley of the
Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean There
Were several questions of great interest
involved In this work, not the least of
which are, the constitutional objections
entertained by many enlightened men, as
to the right OF Congress to engage in inter-
nal improvements. Others contend that
the whole idea ofa railroad to the Pacific
is visionary; and it has always seemed
doubtful to US, whether any road could be
made over the line marked out by Col
Fremont-especiallyi in the face of obsta-
cles such as compelled him and his little
band to fall back, in perfect destitution,
and with great loss, more than year ago.
The following extracts from the address
are interesting and eloquent. The move
ment is to be additionally urged and ad-
vocated at great meeting to be held in
this city on the first Monday of April
next.
"The establishment Of line of Military
posts from the western confines of the
western States to the Pacific Ocean, was
preliminary step in the preparation of the
rail way. These posts, although they
need not be permanent garrisons, vet would
serve TO maintain peace among aborigines
would lay out and open military roads;
assist III the erection and protection of the
electric telegraph; offer present guide and
refuge to the emigrant, and give aid and
security TO the various parties of engineers
which may be sent out by the government
to locate the best route for the railroad;
while settlers, by liberal policy exercised
towards them; might be induced TO cluster
rapidly in the neighborhood of the posts.
soon, by their own numbers and strength,
superceding the necessity of the military.
There seemed to be no argument in favor
of establishing ihis line OF posts along the
Mexican frontier on the south, that would
not be good in behalf of a similar line
along the British frontier on the NORTH
The Convention therefore, contemplated
only such line as would lead direc tly
through the heart of the western territories
on or near the route which nature seemed
to indicate, and commercial and political
seemed to require, as the
most suitable location of national rail
road.
"And the convention not fearing physi-
cal difficulties SO much as those which
might be interposed by political and seb-
tional feelings-leoking to the fact that
northern route from the lakes to Oregon,
and southern route through Texas to
San Diego, were each strongly urged upon
the public consideration, and well know
ing the fatal dangers of the delay which
the threatened dispute would be sure to
invoke-indicate a central route between
these two extremes, for the main stem,
with branches TO the northern, to the mid
die, and to the southern States. This Of
fer TO propitiate the claims of nationality
will, it is hoped, be as satisfactory to the
extreme sections, as it seemed TO be to
their respective representatives In the con-
ventlon. 1t is that fraternal spirit of con-
cession, and compromise in which our
Government itself was founded, and has
been safely conducted through many por-
tentous storms, which the convention con-
suited, and 10 which the country must look
for speedy solution of all the difficulties
which sectional selishnes will interpose
against the constructin of the road. Sec
tlonal jealousy without patriotism, like
avarice without benevoleuce, sinks 10
vice that '.to be hated, needs to be seen,"
and in relation to this great measure, whose
influence and whose benefits will be co
extensive with the Union, cannot be tol-
Grated, and we trust will not be seen.
''Elevatlng ourselves above the prejudi-
ces of party. the passions of persons, the
jealousies of sections, let us proceed to the
execution of this work, with the singleness
of purpose which distinguishes true patri-
otlsm. Let US exhibit to the world peo-
pie united and busy in securing the foun-
dations of Unprecedented grandeur, and
concious of a destiny which it is vain to
oppose, and which is every day more and
more unfolding itself to the amazement of
nations. 1t needs but the
fiat of the people, and the application of
the means and authority of their govern
ment, 10 consummate the masterpiece of
powerful and patriotic nation. For such,
saving the constitution, would it truly be.
No nation has ever executed a work of
superior importance 10 the interests of the
human race. The Appian Way, the Re
gina Iiaratn,, of the Romans, though last
ing eight centuries and exhausting at one
time the Roman treasury. and on which
five days were consumed in travelling
from Rome to Capua, bears no comparison
to it. That pointed to Asia Minor, which