Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1849-11-29
A Id ID IL Il 9 y
OF THE
National Road Convention,
Assembled at 81. Louis.

The Convention of Delegates from
fourteen States Of the Union, which as.
sembled at 81. Louis on the 10th day
of October last, being unanimously ia.
vorabe to the construction of a Cen.
trail National Railroad from the Misss.
sippi river TO the waters of the Pacific
ocean, authorized the undersigned
members of committee appointed for
that purpose, to address the people ofthe
United States, and to urge their coop.
GRAFTON in procuring such action on the
part of Congress as may be necessary
to carry out the views of the Conven-
ton.
We bespeak, therefore, for the voice
of the Convention, a National audience.
We ask, for their proceedings, the seri.
Gus considerations Of the whole coun.
try. The subject addresses itself to the
whole people, as elevated above par
ties, above sectional divisions, and per-
sonal attachments, and as one in coun-
try, in government and in destiny
The spirit of Columbus, after the search
of centuries, points to the secret ST RAFT
which brings Europe and America in
direct communication with Asia, by
the Western route, through the heart
of North America, and invokes us to
avail ourselves of its unspeakable ad.
van,ages.
The great and leading idea to which
the Convention gave its cordial and
unanimous assent was, that a Central
National Railroad from the Mississippi
river TO the waters of the Pacific. is of
eminent and overruling necessity; ne
cessity arising from recent events, cor
relative with our duty to sustain our
country in its mission of freedom and
civilization, and its material progress,
and ofpreserving our union of States,
WHOSE tAtcnSlol IIoul oCCdh W oCCou 10
practicable only through the achieve
ments of modern science, which assure
us of easy intercourse with all its parts,
however remote.
But the Convention did not undertake
to dictate to the country the plan on
the route to be adopted. Nor do they
Eentef into the questions ofconstitution.
al power, or attempt to demonstrate the
prospects of through freight and travel,
or the probable value and increase OF
way patronage, or affect to know more
than is already in possession of the Gov
eminent in regard TO the great coal
fields and other mineral deposits of the
Western plains and Of the Mountains,
or of the other qualities of the Central
region, as they relate to the question OF
economy and practicability in tho con-
struction of the road. Satisfied that
practicable routes exist-practicable
for construction and operation, refer
ring to the adoption of the surface as
well as to the accessibility of fuel and
water, and practicable inrespect to the
patronage which will support a rail!
way, especially as connected with the
interest of the Government as a lane
proprietor, and with the political, mill
tary and social reasons which justify
it-all doubts and questions were wal
we'd in the expression of the emphatic
opinion, that it is "the DUTY of the Gov
eminent" to construct the road.
The public mind is evidently prepar
ed for the consummaiion of this grea
measure. The numerous convention
which have assembled in various part
of the country, the expressions of NOR
than half of the State Legislature, ant
of many other respectable bodies, indi
: cate the readiness and decisiveness o
the general will. To make these indi
cations more complete, and indisPuta
bic, il is only necessary to awaken on
countrymen to sense of the gloriou
responsibility that is resting upon ,hei
age and generation. and to give then
opportunity TO indicate their claims T.
!, intelligence and patriotism, by submit
ting 10 them the alternative of aPpro
# val or rejection. Clear it is that no"
# ever men, according to their knowledg
r may have favored or condemned PaI
,icular routes or specific termini-.he
they may have differed in regard to tn
i mode of Observation-Disclosures cor
. Aic,ing may have been mans interest
and though remote from each other an