Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-11-15

| towards the setting sun-Wllh his proud
spirit crushed and broken. They have
witnessed this SPLENDID city grow up,
where the wigwam stood but little while
ago. They have seen the majestic steam
er take the place Of the frail canoe.
| And having witnessed all this, having
seen it with their own eyes, and having
participated in almost every movement
which looked to this great result it will not
| be difficult 10 persuade such men as these,
Of the power and ability Of the govern
ment, 10 construct every work Of improve
ment which the actual necessities OF the
country shall require.
am not of an over-sanguine tempera-
ment-not inclined to anticipate results
too long before they happen. ! have
looked at this matter coolly and dispas-
sionately; have not participated in the dis
cussions, nor sympa,hised with any Of
the angry feeling which has been dis play
ed here have not found out the precise
grounds Of difference between gentlemen.
and have no wish to do so; feel no sort
Of excitement whatever, and am satisfied,
that even in this Convention, where there
seem TO be so many present elements Of
discord, there are convincing evidences
that this great road will be completed in
time to confer its benefits upon US. All
that is necessary for the present is, that
we shall quiet our excitement--lay The
whole question of the main trunk Of this
road before the country, and abide the re-
suit Of the popular judgement. The
American heart is in the right place. Its
impulses are all patriotic. Let it be
properly addressed, and there can be no
doubt OF its response. That response
am entirely willing TO abide, and such
hope will be the feeling Of this Convention.
| A resolution has already been passed
here, declaring that the Convention will
not undertake TO fix any eastern terminus
of the road. This is right: so far as il re-
lates TO the main trunk; that should be
left where it is. But fear If we stop
here, it will be said that we have accom-
| plished nothing by our Convention. And
| the resolutions reported from the commit
tee do not help us out OF the embarrass-
ment. They merely declare, in the most
general terms, in favor OF road to The
Pacific, and assert the power Of the Gen
eral Government 10 build it. All this,
and more too, has been resolved by the
primary meetings which appointed us.
Unless we can agree upon something more
tangible. we shall leave the whole ques-
ton just where we found it. We must
have some basis for future action-some
common GROUND 10 stand upon. If we do
not, we only transfer the controversy. in
regard to points OF termination, 10 the floor
of Congress. We gain nothing by this.
Congress is composed of men like our
selves, subject to the same exciiements
and the same local influences. II is as
hard to convince Representative against
the interests Of his constituents as it is the
constituent himself. The same influences
produce the same results upon the minds
Of all OF us. None Of us can appreciate
an argument directed against the places of
our residence. All OF us live at the best
cities, the best towns and the best neigh
borhoods in the country-emphalically H.
Illustrating, in our opinions and feelings,
the truth which the poet has declared,
that ''there is no place like homc.' II is
manifest, therefore, that, if We transfer the
question Of a starting points, to Congress,
the same elements Of discord will exist
there as here.
The resolutions which | have submit
ted furnish the necessary basis OF action.
They propose 10 harmonic all conflict
ing interests and opinions, and 10 unite
/ upon the one great idea OF central and
national road, with branches TO three lead
ing prominent points in the Valley Of the
Mississippi-Ch Chicago, 81. Louis and
.Nsmph,s. A road thus constructedis ca
pable Of being reached from every part Of
railroad now in progress in different parts
of the U. States that will connect it with
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Balti-
more, Cincinnati, Louisville, New Or
leans, Charleston, and the whole in,eri-
or Of the country. The combined inAu-
ence of these improvements will open up,
throughout the entire length and breadth
of the land, inexhaustible mines Of agri-
cultural and commercial wealth.
II makes no sort Of difference which
shall be ultimately callsd the main trunk
of the road. Let them all be SO called
II is not the mere name you may give
either of them, that viii determine its
character. Wherever the trade, the COM
nerce and the wealth shall be centred in
the highest degree, that, in poiht of fact,
will be the main trunk. II it shall be,
that these are to be found upon either the
Chicago or Memphis lines, in greater
proportions than on that which shall terni-
nate here-why, in the name Of all tha, is
icst and fair, let il be so and lei the main
trunk be there. But if they shall be here,
at this city, which stands in the centre Of
one of the richest agricultural districts in
the worlds there single man in this
Convention or in the country, who will
deny her this superiority, or who would
seek TO make her greatness less' Away
with all your jealousies and rival inter-
ests they but mar our happiness and re-
tard our greatness. All Of us are bone
of the same bone, and flesh of the same
flesh. We have common interest in all
that goes 10 make up the aggregate OF our
national prosperity. We have common
nationality. Under the blessings OF our
free institutions, lis only by tile combined
influences of our moral power, that we are
Shedding the light Of civilization and chris