The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-09-24

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the interior. We have felt them in the growth of
our manufactures; in the extension Of our com
merce; In the growing demand Tor products OF
agriculture; in the increase OF our population.
We have felt them prodigiousY in transportation
and travel. The nhabitant Of the country has felt
them in the ease with which be resorts 10 the city
markets, whether as seller or purchaser. The
inhabitant of the city has felt them, IN the facility
with which he can get to sister city, to the
country; with which he can get back to his native
village-to see the old folks, ay, sir, and some of
the young folks-with which he can get mouth
ful of pure mountain air-or run down in dog days
TO Gloucester. or Phillips beach, or Plymouth, or
Cohasset, or New Bedford.
81 say, sir we have felt the benefit of our rail
way system in these and a hundred other forms, in
which, penetrating far beyond material interests,
ntertwines itself with all the concensand relations
of life and society; but have never had its bene-
fits brought home TO me sensibly on the pres
cnt occasion. Think, sir, how 1t has annihilated
time and space in reference TO thls festival, and
how greatly to our advantage and delight. When
DR.. Franklin, in 1854, projected plan Of union
for these colonies with Philadelphia the metrop-
oils, he gave as reason for this part OF the plan
that philadelphia was situated about halfway be-
tween the extremes, and could be conveniently
reached even from Portsmouth, New Hampshire,
IN eighteen days. From Portsmouth to Philadel-
Phia in eighteen days believe the President Of
the United States, who has honored us with his
company at this Joyous festival. not more than
twenty -four hours actually on the road from Wash
ington TO Boston; two to Baltimore, seven more to
Philadelphia, five more to New York, and ten more
TO Boston.
BILE region-Canada now brought to our very door.
II journey had been contemplated in that direc-
ton in DIR. Franklin's time, 1t would have been
with such feelings as a man would have nova
days who going to start for the mouth OF the
Copper Mine river and the shores of the Arctic
Sea. But no, sir, such thing was never thought
of-neyer dreamed Of. a horrible wilderness,
rivers and lakes unspanned by human art, painless
Int do fha Hach
to enter, threaded by nothing more practicable
than the Indian trail, echong with no sound more
inviting than the yell of the wolf and the warhoop
OF the savage; these it was that filled the space be-
tween and Canada. The inhabitants Of the Brit
ish colonies never entered Canada in those days
but as provincial troops Indian captives; and
lucky he that got back with his scalp This state
of things existed less than one hundred years ago;
there are men living in Massachusetts who were
born before the last incursion of French and Indi
ans to the banks of Connecticut river.
GAS lately as when had the honor to be the Gov
| ernor of the Commonwealth signed the pension
warrant of man who lost his arm in conflict with
French and Indians in of the border wars, in
| those dreary Canadian forests; and now, sir, by
the magic power OF these modern works OF art, the
forest is thrown openthe rivers and the lakes are
bridged-the valleys rise the mountains bow their
everlasting heads; and the Governor General OF
Canada takes his breakfast in Montreal, and his
dinner in Boston, reading a newspaper leisurely
by the way which was printed a fortnight ago in
London. In the excavations made in the construc-
ton Of the Vermont railroads, the skeletons of fos
sill whales and paloozoc elephants have been brought
to light. believe, sir, il a live whale had been
seen spoutng in Lake Champlain, or a native ele-
plant had walked leisurely into Burlington Of n
summers morning. it would not be more wonder
full than our fathers would have regarded Lord FL
gins journey to US this week, could il have been
foretold TO them century ago, with all the cir
cumstances of despatch, convenience, and safety.
:" But, sir, as have already said, 1t 10 not the
material results of this railway system in which its
happiest influences are seem Irecollect that eight
or ten years ago there project to carry rail
road into the lake country in Engand-into the
heart Of Westmoreland and Cumberland Mr.
Wordsworth, the lately deceased poet, resident
in the centre OF this region, opposed the project.
He thought that the retirement and secusion of this
delightful region would be disturbed by the pant
ing of the locomotives, and the cry Of the steam
whistle. II | am not mistaken, he published one
or two sonnets in depreciation of the enterprise.
Mr.. Wordsworth was kind hearted man, but en-
tirely mistaken in this matter The quiet of
few spots may be disturbed; but hundred quiet
spots rendered Accessibility the hustle of the
station house may take the place of the druidical
silence of some shady dell; but, gracious heavens,
sir, how many of those cathedral arches, entwined
by the hand of God in our painless woods, are
opened to the grateful worship of men by these
means of communication.
Chow little of rural beauty you lose, even in
country of comparatively narrow dimensions like
Engand--a little strip along the line of the road
which partially changes its character, while the
compensation you bring all this rural beauty,
"'rhe warbling woodland, the resounding shore,
The pomp of groves, the garniture Of fields
within the reach, not of score of luxurious tour
istss but of the great mass OF the population You
throw ii open, with all its soothing and humaniz-
ing influences, to thousands who but for your rail-
ways and steamers, would have lived and died with
out ever having breathed the life giving air Of the
mountains; yes sir, to tens of thousands who would
have gone to their graves without ever having
caught glimpse of a glorious combing wave, as
it's soft green ridge bursts into crest of snow and
settles and dies along the sands; aye sir, and who
would have gone to their graves the sooner for the
privation.
"But even this is nothing compared with the
great social and moral effects of this system in
binding the States together family, and
uniting US to our neighbors as brethren and kins-
folk. do not know, sir, but in this way from the
kindly seeds which have been sown this day, in
your visit TO Boston, and that of the distinguished
gentlemen who have preceded and accompanied
you, our children and grandchildren, long
this great Anglo Saxon race shall occupy the con-
tinent, may reap harvest worth all the cost which
has devolved on this generation