The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-12-19


columns to-day, copy of a bill introduced by Col.
Benton, of Missouri, into the United States Senate
on Monday last, for the constfu elton of a grand
national road to connect the Western States With
Oregon and California. Previous to the discovery
of the gold mines OF California, or indeed previous
TO the acquisition of that new State, the idea be-
came general that il was of the highest impor-
lance to have such a communication. The ac-
QUESTION of that new State she immense pepu-
lation which focked thither, and its growing
importance, render it almost unnecessary to say
word on the importance of the work, or OF the abb
solue necessity which will soon exist tor its con-
struc.ion.
Col. BeRton's bill proposes-irst, that this grand
national road shall begin and end between the
thirty eighth and thrty-ninth parallels Of north
latitude, which would cover the central parts OF
the Atlantic States, the centre of the valley of the
Mississippi, cut the centre of the territory west of
the Mississippi, and stri ke the Pacific coast at the
central point of our possessions. He proposes,
also, that il shall be national road-not a single
one, but Of system of roads adapted to all kinds
of travelling, and all kinds of carrying, free
from monopoly and private interests, aad free
from tolls. He proposes railroad aud a
common road-theylatter to be commenced at
once-with such other roads, either IN acadia mixed,
plank, or additional tracks of railroad, and mar
gin for lines OF magnetic telegraphs, all running
parallel TO each other, and al sufficient distances
apart to avoid interference, and yet near enough to
admit of easy transition from one to the other.
The means which Col. Benton proposes, are the
following
/. strip of land from the frontiers of Missouri to
the hay OF san Francisco, hundred miles vide and
ed fnr rha atn hthu A
strip fifty miles wide and about two hundred long
from point on the main road, the Upper Arkan-
sas, TO santa Fee from the New Mexican branch. A
strip city miles wide and about ave hundred long,
from come point on the main highway in the Grest
Basin TO the mouth Of the Columbia for the Oregon
branch !. The income from the customs and the
sales OF the public lands in California Oregon and
New Mexico and above the expenditures in those
places o. Loans In antici patton of these resour-
ces, founded upon their hypothecation.
The lands to be thus set apart, he estimates at
one hundred and fifty millions of acres. We have
thus given an outline of Mr.. Benon's bill for the
construction of the proposed work. IL was read a
first and second time and then referred to the Com
mi,tee on Roads and Canals, and ordered TO be
printed
1t certainly gigantic project, and we hope it
Will receive the attention which its importance de-
mands; for II is evident that unless we desire 10
throw away one of the tRest opportunities that
ever nation possessed to make itself gre at and
powerful at home and abroad, we mus form some
means OF rapid communication with our rising
States on the shores of the Pacific Independent
ofthe necessity which exists of bringing Oregon and
California as close to us possible, il will turn tbs
tide OF Asiatic commerce through our O vn terri
tory, and make us the carriers of the world. If
common road were first undertaken, a railro id
would shortly follow. Ii would not be very great
undertaking for large and prosperous nation like
the United States, to build a wagon road from the
frontiers of Missouri to California for q very large
portion OF the route would require nothing more
than stalking out. AS it is, thousands of wagons
travelled over that territory last year, and doubt
less thousands more will do the same next When
that was accomplished, a railroad would be con
structed shortly afterwards, that would before
many years, become the high way of the whole
civilized world. Objections may, aud doubtless
will, be made to Mr.. Benton's plan but we are not
committed to his or any other PERSONS. Tia better
one can be proposed, let it be done, and let Con-
gress aid in the enterprise. We want to see the
work commenced under the auspices of the general
government, and prosecuted vigorously to compile.
ton.
We hope, therefore, that something .yi, b. so.o
by Congress, during the present session, towards
the beginning of this great Undertaking.
The FUGIrvE SLAVE CASE IN BosroS-AsorHEs
VIKw OF TIE CAsK.-Mr w. II. Hughes, the
sgen, selected by the owners of the slaves, Crafts
and his wife, to recover those fugitves and take
them back to Georgia, has published another and
a lengthy card in the Georgia Trapeler, in which
he Iefutes a series Of charges that were made
against him in connection with that business. The
statements he makes 60 to show that he used all
I~c 81 81 L. H.. Al
in taking the fugitves, if the United States autho
rites in Boston had properly discharged their
duties. He distinctly says that il was not until
after he had made successive applications to Judge
Woodbury., the United States District Attorney,
the United States Commissioner and Judge Sprague,
and to another United States Commissioner, that
he at length procured warrant for the arrest of
the slaver, and when he did get it, II was of no
avail. In an affidavit which he afterwards made,
he charges the Boston officers with neglect and eva
sion Of duty. No unprejudiced person can reflect
on these things without arriving at the conclu-
sion that the Fugitive Slave law was purposely
eyaded by the Boston authorities, in the case Of
Crafts. Such shutting, and twisting, and turning
amounted toa denial of Mr.. Hughes demands, and
were clearly violation Of the law, and the United
States Marshal Of that district ought to be dis
missed. We sincerely hepe that on the next oc-
cason, the Fugitive Slave law will be enforced at
all hazards.
WILL THERE Wan IN EUROPE The next
news from Europe il looked for with increasing
interest. Our last telegfaphic advices informed us
that Austria had demanded the immediate
withdrawal Of the Prussan troops from Hesse
Csssel War or peace may turn on the compliance
or non compliance of Prussia with that demand IL
the next intelligence, due to morrow, or next day,
by the Africa, confirm the report that such a de.
mand had been made and had been refused by Pus-
sis, we may consider that affairs on the continent
have assumed very critical shape. war be-