The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-09-04
The Pacific Railroad.

The ST. Louis Republican of the 14th
instant contains long and an eloquent
address TO the people of the United States
en- subject of paramount importance-a
route across the continent to the Pacific.
The address is written in the right spirit
All sectional prejudices, all local interests
are abandoned, and an appeal is made to
the whole nation to send delegates to the
convention to be held in the city of St.
Louis on the 18th of October next.
The interests of every department of
the Government are appealed to in this
address. The political relations of the
country, its military affairs, its social and
commercial business, are referred to; and
the important bearing which the compile
ton of such an undertaking would have
on the speedy occupation of the shores of
the Pacific, by permanent population, is
demonstrated. 1t is not too much to say,
that if such a road be practicable, The saw
ing of expense required for the transpor-
tation Of troops and supplies on the Pacific
would in short space Of time recompense
the United States for one-half of the cost
of the construction. The immense value
of the trade which, in the nature of things,
would tend to the Pacific coast, and thence
across the continent, is thus demonstra-
ted:
"Werc il completed, the first car that should
rumble over the Stony Mountains in it, fiery
course across the continent, from the Atlantic 10
the Pacific would send a sensation through
the world. Britannia. empress Of the sea- losing
much of her prctension upon her great marine en-
ploycd in the India trade, woudfecl that the foun
dations Of that supremacy were about 10 crumble,
while from the Icy Cape 10 the far islands Of the
South Pacific and along the eastern shores and
islands Of Asia and Australasia and gbout all
the terra iuna Of the Pacific seas, would be awak-
oncd new spirit, ideas Of new destiny, and feel
ings Of attraction. The eyes Of those nations
would be drawn 10 the new lights, which will ilu-
inmate the peaks Of the Sierra Nevada; nor would
their gaze be- turned until their regrnersted mer
chant vessels, mOored in American harl,ors, should
have exchanged their costly burdens for the sub
stantal products Of the United States. Attracted
90 the great station Of the continental road
a. steel 10 the magnet, freight would roll down
upon the States Of the Union, such the India cOmps
mics never saw embracing the urs Of the NORTH the
drugs and spices Of the south, the teas, silks and
grapes Of China, the cashmeres Of Thibct, the dia
monds Of India and Bornco, the various products
Of the Japan islands, Manchooria, Australasia, and
Polynesia the results Of the whale fishery, the gold
silver quic ksilver, jevels and precious stones Of
California, and the innumersblc and unimaginable
elements Of commerce which would be brought into
life from the depths Of the sea, and from new and
unex plorcd regions, by the enterprise and ingenu
ity of our countrymen. These elements would be
distributed throughout the Union giving a new
impulse population trade, to industry, 10 art,
and 20 all the employmens Of our people. Our sur
plus meat and bread. cotton goods, hemp and cord
age, lard, leather, and hardware, and other pro-
ducts, would find new, large, and increasing
market in returns while the Bible, the printing
press, the balot-boS, and the steam engine, would
receive welcome passage into vast and unregen-
Grated fields, where their magic powers and blessed
influence greatly needed"
The chief question before the conven-
ton will doubtless be, the prscticability Of
the construction of the road; for though it
has been demonstrated that nothing is inn
possible to the science Of the engineer,
and that all constructions no, in violation
of natural laws resolve themselves into
matter OF cost and expense, il may not be
certain that so large disbursement as a
road three thousand miles in length would
require would be judicious in the present
state OF our country.
The Hon. john c. CLARKE arrived in