Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1849-03-01
Number 52.

'hrough, The whole distance, under our flag
and under our laws. Military reasons re-
quire US TO make il: for troops and NUM-
tons must go there. Political reasons re-
qulre US 10 make ii; it will be a chain of
union 10 The Atlantic and Mississippi states
Commercial reasons demand il from US: and
here | touch a boundless field, dazzling and
bewiIdering the Imagination from its vast
ness and importance. The trade of the
Pacific ocean, of the western coast of North
America and of eastern Asia, will all take
lis track; and not only for ourselves, but
for posterity. The trade Of India which
has been shifting its channels from the time
of the PhGnicians TO the present, is desti
ned TO shift once more, and 10 realize the
grand idea Of Columbus. The american
road to India will also become the Euro
pean track 10 that region. The European
merchant, as well as the American, will fly
across our continent on a strait line to Cuba.
The rich commerce of Asia will flow thro'
our centre. And where has that commerce
ever flowed without carrying wealth and
dominion wit III Look at its ancient chan.
nels and the cities which it raised into king
doms, and the populations which upon its
treasures became resplendent, in science,
learning and the arts. Tyre, Sidon, Bal
bee, Palmyra, Alexandria among its an
cient emporums, attest the power Of this
commerce 10 enrich, to aggrandize, and 10
enllghten nations. Constantinople, in the
middle ages, and in the time of the crusades
was the wonder of western Europe; and all,
because she was then q throughfare of
Asiatic commerce. Genoa and Venice,
mere cities, in later time, became the match
of kingdoms, and the envy of the kings,
from the mere divided streams Of this trade
of which they became the throughfare.-
Lisbon had her great day, and Portugal her
prominence during the little while that the
discovery of the Cape Of Good Hope put
her in communication with the East Am
sterdam, the city of little territory res
cued from the sea, and the Seven United
Provinces, not equal in extent TO one of our
lesser States became great in arms, in let
tiers, in wealth, and in power; and all upon
the Eas, India trade. And, London, what
makes her the commercial mistress Of the
world-what makes an island no larger
than one of our first class Sta,es-the mis-
tress of possession in the four quarters Of
the globe-a match for half of Europe
and dominant in Asia2 VIVA, makes oil
this or contributes most TO make it, but this
/
failed TO carry the nation or the people
which possessed it, to the highest pinnacle
of wealth and power, and with il, the high.
est attainments Of letters, arts and success.
| And so will it continue 10 be. An American
road 10 India through the hear, of our coun-
! try, will revive upon its line all the wonders
of which we have read-and eclipse them.
The western wilderness, from the Pacific
TO the Mississippi will start into life under
its touch. A long line of cities will grow
up. Existing cities will take new start.
The state of the world ca lis for new road
to India, and it is our destiny 10 give it
the last and greatest. Let us act up 10 the
greatness of the occasion, and show our
selves worthy of the extraordinary circum-
stances in which we are placed, by secur-
ing, while we can, an American road 10
lndia--central and national-for ourselves
and our posterity--now and hereafter, for
thousands of years to come.
| now ask leave to introduce the BILL
Leave having been granted, Mr.. BENTON
introduced his bill; which was read twice.
and referred 10 the committee on Military
Affairs.
1t is as follows:
A BILL to provide for the location and
constructed of a central national road
from the Pacific ocean 10 the Mississippi
river, with a branch Of said road 10 tho
Columbia river.
BE it enacted, DC, That seventy five
per cenium of the proceeds of the public
lands in Oregon and California, and fifty
per centum of the amount of the sales of
all other pulic lands in the United States,
shall be, and the same hereby are, SET apart
and pledged 10 defray the expenses of To-
eating and constructing a central national
road from the Pacific ocean to the Mssis-
sippi river, with n branch of said road to
the Columbia river.
} SEC. 2. And be ii further enacted, That
the said central national road shall com.
mence on the bay of San Francisco, at a
suitable point 10 connect with the ocean
, navigation of the Pacific. and terminate at
+; ST. Louis, in the Stale of Missouri. And
/ the said branch road shall commence on
: The tide-water region of the Columbia RI
= yer, 10 connect with ocean navigation al
e that point, and shall in,ersect the central
S national road at some suitable point west
e of the Rocky mountains.
: SEC. 3. And be ii further enacted, That
8 The said central and branch roads shall be
o iron railways where practicable and ad
f van,ageous, and shall be mpcadamized OF
: otherwise constructed, where not so practi
r cable aad advantageous; and breadth o.
l. one mile wide from the frontier of the Stat,
m &C M;csouri IN the Raw of San Eranc;sc,