The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-12-01
COMMUNICATION.

I----------------------
Communication with ths Paoinc.-No.L
To the Delegates of the Memphis Convention and their
STEAMBOAT .'ALEcx ScorT,"
Mississippi River, Nov. A, 1s49.
The two most prominent subjects before the
10 the Pacific ocean, and ship canal across the sthmus
Unexpectedly called to preside at the convention,
tented myself with stating briefly the objects Of the
venion. was not prepared TO express my own views
as fully as now desire to do; nor would it have been
proper 80 10 do had been prepared, for should have
espassed overmuch. both upon the patience and kind.
A committee was appointed by the convention to me-
moriaze the Congress and address the people of the
United States upon these subjects They no doubt will
eal MI psesent purpose is not to represent the views
either OF the committee the convention, OF any body
ne eny.s by S . ssa . % he %Ss
views with regard these two great measures. more
. az N 90
government those Of providing for the common defence
are clear and paramount And il was held in conven-
cc ocean, over which troops and The munitions Of war
may be transported with facility will be the strongest,
the best and the most efficient fertilization that be
devised for the defence and protection OF those distant
shores.
California has been acquired at an immense cost OF
treasure; we have obtained il at the sacrifice OF many
poured out their blood and laid down their lives that we
might enjoy that land il Is douby dear. We should.
therefore, be prepared to defend il in any emergency and
defence cannot be commenced there too soon
The government alive to this feeling, has already
out joint commission OF army and navy officers to ex
Notifications This was one Of the first acts But may
well be doubted, that railroads and magnetic tele
graphs have been brought into such general and success
full operation, whether the old system OF proceeding TO
provide for the defence. by lining coast with
forts and castles does not require modification fort-
caton can at best but protect single point The prn
found in the importance OF the point to be protected The
size and cost Of the work measured by this rule, and
the engineer proceeds to make il capable OF whsandng
the largest force that an enemy could or would probably
By this rule single fertilization on the Atlantic has
been made to cost several millions OF dollars But while
forts and castles protect points, railroads enable us to
defend lines; and the principle upon which the size and
strength OF forts and castles hereafter TO be measured
will Be the facilities Of railroad communication between
them. II will be waste of money and time to give them
more strength than that which required to withstand
siege for few days. and until the railroads having com
muncations with Them can bring achievements and re-
Lief.
The fact belongs to the unwren history Of the day.
but il may be mentioned in this communication without
Improperly. In the difficulties with Great Britain, pend
ing the northeastern boundary question, that power, be-
fore she sent her minister penpoentary TO ashington
with her utmatum proceeded to assemble on our coasts
and around us feet greater than the whole American
navy and Notwithstanding she was engaged in two dis
ant and expensive wars, onehird o. the whole standing
army Of Great Bs;ssin wss sent to North America Her
captains had instructions, in case certain conn-
gency should arise to proceed and without further or
ders to commence hostlities BY attack upon prn
c war was 70 % declared sss a. ns cs
New York, and that the systems OF railroads and mag
nec telegraphs in the old States had been then
pete as they are, before the echoes OF the first
broadside from her wooden walls had died away in the
highlands OF Neyersnk, the magnetic telegraph would
have announced the fact Of war. Bloody war all parts
trains Of thousand engines filed with soldiers from the
North, and the South, and the West all speeding with
terrible rapidly TO the scene Of action; II may well be
questioned whether the railroads already built and build
ing 10 the Atlantic States, byprvae enterprise have not
provided more eectuay for the common defence than
all the forts or castles that the general government has
II the alternative could be submitted TO our military
men as to whether in defending this country, they would
rather have the present Notifications without the rail-
roads or the railroads without the Notifications, there
would be but little doubt as TO the choice.
The first time this country shall be called to put forth
its real energies in war, railroads viii be found 10 be the
strongest Notifications and the magnetic telegraph 10 be
the most powerful battery that has been brought
bear in military operations Henceorh, in providing for
the common defence the part that railroads are to play
must be considered railroad from the Mississippi to
the Pacific is necessary for the protection Of California
Il is possession that the whole world covets and that
Power upon whose flag the sun never sets Is watching
cation she saw hat jewel fan into our possession and
in the event of war; her first object will be 10 seize upon
il and hold il she With her possessions, her mil
itary posts and her naval stations, she is now much
nearer 10 il than we In Of now she could
assemble fleets and land troops and operate there Tor
months before a ship or soldier could arrive there
from here In this time she could erect Notifications
al the entrances OF the harbors plant guns in the
tain passes which would eectuay exclude all the sue
cor from this quarter either by land by at any
rate the difficulties OF disodgment would be great
railroad to the Pacific would make the defences there
easy Connecting on the banks OF the Mississippi with
the network OF railroads running NORTH south, and
east the Pacific would receive whatever forces the gov
eminent and Atlantic States might have TO send All
these connecting roads being constructed with common
gauge cars and engines sufficient TO transport an army OF
one hundred thousand might, in case Of emergency,
be hired or impressed in day, and the whole body be
landed on the shores Of the Pacific in week from the
day on which the first note Of war was sounded
Ii Is urged that such railway cannot support itself by
it's receipts from freight and passengers and therefore Il
ought not to be built Pray what castle, what ship or
what other work Of all hitherto constructed by this or
any other government for the great purposes OF national
defence, supports itself from any sourcei Because the
means OF defence TO consist in railroad which Is to
subserve the great purposes OF trade. rave and popular
convenences IN peace as well as the objects and require
ments Of the nation in war, must new rule be set up,
90 as TO require that hereafter when work OF national
defence is to be built, II must pay Tor ITSELF in other
words il must cost nothngi The expense OF providing
for the common defence is the greatest expense OF gov
eminent Since its creation Il has expended hundreds
OF millions for this purpose, and the question OF dividend
in the shape OF dollars and cents has never been asked
once Of such expenditure. But, unlike all other works
undertaken for the purpose Of national defence, this
Pacific railway will pay for itself many times over and
that right II will be TO the slopes OF country be-
tween the waters Of the Mississippi and the Pacific ocean
what that river Is TO its own valley increasing the value
Of every OF land, and adding TO the prosperity OF