The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-20

minlsh the industrial resources OF the territory,
they would only exercise the most common
and inevitable attribute of their qualified sove-
reignty by prohibiting it, as a simple meas
ure Of political economy. If they think the
presence Of slaves has demoralizing effect
upon the laboring classes, that it degrades
industry in public estimation, they have a
right, and it is their duty as heads Of the
police, and guardians Of the public peace and
public morals, to emancipate the saves at
once, or to exclude them from the country.
To deny to the territories these powers, is
to deny them all legislative power whatever;
it is to deny them the power to whip thief,
or to chain murderer, and yet it is the ex-
ercise Of this power which Mr. Calhoun wish
es to embarass by threats Of hostility, to
any project for constructing road to Cali
fornia. We can imagine no earthly way in
which the slave holding interest, can be pre-
JUDGED by an indefinite multiplication of
roads between the United States and the
Pacific Ocean, but if they were to prove ever
so prejudicial, the hostility Of the people in
the territories to slavery, would furnish no
pretext whatever for opposing the construc-
| ton OF such roads.
If Congress were to anticipate the local
governments in prohibiting slavery in the
territories, It would furnish Mr.. Calhoun
with more plausible ground for complaint
against those who. should vote in favor Of
such prohibition, but it would not give
him single good reason for wreaking his
resentment upon this enterprise, because, as
we said before, the advantages Of the road
have nothing to do with slavery; they would
inure to the whole Union whether the road
ran to or through free or slave territory, and
the making or not making the road will have
nothing to do with aiding or resisting the APP
plication of the proviso to the territory it may
communicate with.
The hollowness Of the reasons given by
Mr.. Calhoun for suspending the Pacific Rail.
road movement naturally puts those who are
acquainted with the peculiar structure Of that
statesman's mind and the restessness Of his
ambition, upon inquiring for some explana.
ton Of a course which is apparently so dis.
creditable both to his conscience and his
understanding,
We have not space at present to speculate
upon the matter, but it is very easy to per-
ceive that the senator from Missouri has, in
some way, appropriated whatever politica
advantage has resulted, or is likely to result,
from the Western Improvement Juror, and
that all Mr.. Calhoun's schemes and labors
in that direction are being converted to the
profit Of his most formidable foe and rival.
There are those who will be uncharitable
enough to suppose that the chill which Mr..
Calhoun's enthusiasm in the cause Of inter-
nal Improvements has received, and which
he is trying to communicate to his followers,
has some conneXion with this unfortunate
turn which his prospects have taken since
Mr.. Benton placed himself at the head Of the
Pacific Railroad movement.
ILctter from John g. CaIhou to the Menu
phis Convention.
FoRr Hill, 26th May, lS49
GENTLEMEN | have received your invitation, in
behalf of the citizens of Memphis 10 be present ut
meeting of citizens from every part of the country
to be held there on the ith of July next for the pur
pose Of aiding, by expressing public opinion, the
project OF constructing railroad from the valley OF
tho Mississippi tothc Pacific ocean.
would be happy to accept your invitation,
and to be present on the occasion but regret to state
that have. an engagement with which | cannot
dispense, and which will not permit me.
The object OF your meeting regard us very i'm
portdnt OF all the projects Of the age consider il
as one of the greatest magnitude, viewed either in
its commercial or political aspect. 1t would do
more than any other TO facilitate intercourse between
the two great oceans Of the glohc-the Atlantic and
the Pacific--and thereby unite commercially and
politically, the western oil this continent and
the eastern coast OF the old with the eastern of
this and the western coast Of the old far more init
mately than they have heretofore been. The valley
of the Mississippi would become the common centre
OF the intercourse between the two oceans and the
extremes Of both continents, with all the great BEN
efits II would confer.
Thus far there can be no division OF opinion; but
II remains TO be determined whether u railroad is
practicable at what point II II Is, should 1t COM
mence on the Mississippi, and terminate on the
Pacific and what intermediate tract should II take
between? what will be its cost and what plan
should be adopted for its eXecuonl All these ques-
tons should be deliberately and carefully settled be-
fore the work is undertaken Nothing ought to be
hastily or preciptaely done in case of such mag
nitude. careful reconnaissance and an actual sur
vey, where necessary, ought 10 be made by able and
faithful engineers, of all the routes preparatory
determining the question Of practcabty; and, II
found 10 be so, to determine what would be the
shortest, the most easily constructed, the cheapest
and the most open and readily passed over ut all
seasons, and what the actual cost of constructing
each would be. All this information would be me-
| cessary determine the point at which 1t should
commence on the Mississippi and terminate on the
Pacific. @' -#
But in determining on these points, other consid-
eratons would have 10 be taken into the estimate.
In determining the former II will have to be consid-
cred first, what point the river will best suit its
valley and in the next what will best suit the rest
Of the Union, all things considered The former
would involve the question, what point will, at all
seasons, be most easiy, cheaply, and certainly APP
preached by its waters, including its great tributa
ries And the latter the question: what point would,
in like manner, be approached by railroad from other
portions OF the Union2 These are questions which
will demand, at the proper time, grave and careful
examination. The selection should be made In refer
to the general good Of The whole Union and not
in reference to any particular portion.
The selection OF the point of terminus on the Pa
cifc will be less complicated. The goodness of the
port, Its position in reference TO the general trade Of
that ocean, and the facility of reaching il by rail-
road should be considered in determining IT,
But candor compels TO state, there still re-
mains another and grnyer question for us Of the
South to determine, before finally decide what
course should take In reference to this great pro-
ject, and tina. is, what position we to occupy in
reference to territories the Pacific acquired
from Mexico by the late treaty with herl Are we
to be excluded from ,hem2 Are we after having
spent so much Of our blood and treasure for their
acquisition, to be deprived, contrary the provis
ions Of the constitution and in violation Of every