Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-02-28


vessels, when shall be more firmly esta-
bshed and prosecuted with the Eastern Archipelago
other islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans when it
shall be more extensively pursued with Mexico Central
and South America, then shall begin feel that we
have laid the foundation for commercial enterprises which
will give almost the control the trade and naviga
ton OF those portions Of the globe Indeed may say
that this commerce. which is destined to be in its
extent and cvilizing and humanizing in its progress
must have wonderful influence the moral and po-
litcal destiny of the inhabitants of the East well
those dwelling upon the islands of the Pacific.
Your memoralists would urge upon Congress the pro-
priey Of giving all the aid and support within their power
to the most practicable scheme for connecting by steam
communication the ports of the of the United
States with the principal ports Of China No project
well have more interest TO people, or be of
Importance to the trade navigation Of the
| United States.
The products and commerce Of Eastern Asia have made
England the richest and the most powerful State in Eu-
rope Her possessions in the Pacific constitute the great
sorehouse of her immense wealth Her public ships
every port and her power felt in every extremity Of
the world. Russia will have her military forfca-
tons and naval depots and commercial emporium the
North Pacific In fact the of great
The discovery Of gold in California and Australia has
turned the attention of all the maritime States of Europe
to these extraordinary regions of the globe Such mag
nfcent field for commercial enterprise has in any
of the world been opened the energy and sagacy
of its merchants The rush of population to the shores
and the islands Of the Pacific from all quarters is destined
to produce important changes in the well
in the condition Of the States Of the world
Will country be indifferent to the dangers
which surround and the advantages which possess
We hope not
The whaling interests inevitably in few years be
transferred in whole in part from the ports of the At
lantc to the ports of the Pacific Already has this trade
attracted the attention of merchants and capitalists
and lighthouses indispensaby necessary to
the protection Of navigation interest and the want of
them has been the of the loss of millions of dollars
worth of property. Our commerce has become ex-
ensve bays and rivers and the Pacific that
our merchants are in danger of meeting with immense
and oh IN
! CATION.
Your memoralists omit mention the deep and
aabdng interest they take in the construction of the
great Pacific and Atlantic railroad The loss per annum
to the people of the Atlantic States well the peo
pie of the Of the United States for the Of
this great Highway is not less than forty millions of dol
lars, and to the Government likewise it is of ncons
derabe amount The various routes which are now
poyed for the transportation of emgrants and merchan
disc not only attended with hazard to life and
property but to vexatous delays which always prove
furious to merchants traders and emgrants The loss
of life alone is strong consideration for constructing this
vastly important public work with the least possible delay
The destruction of life the present routes between
the Atlantic States and on the west coast
of the United States since the discovery of gold and the
settlement of California is known to be fifteen thou
sand souls trip has yet been made except around the
Horn within the knowledge of your memoriasts, with
the loss of passengers, and is hardly
possible to hope that voyage be made without the
death Of and this does include the emgrants
the Plains The intercourse between these two i'm
portant sections of the Union has become intimate and
extensive both with the people and the Government that
there is possible expectation of arrestng diminish
ing the present trade transportation and travel II win
on increasing every year and every month In fact 1T
will continue to "grow with growth and strengthen
with strength a nation 1t matters but little how
great may be resources and however bold and enter
prsng merchants may be, the vast trade and pro-
ducts Of Eastern Asia be commanded by
til get more secure and rapid communication
the continent to supply all the States and
Territories Of the Rocky Mountains and Europe with
/ he and mar OF
sructon of this great highway not only gives the
ryng trade of the Pacific but it makes continent and
country the centre and the handspring of the
of the world. We but little whether this
terprise is constructed by the Government individuals
If it be thought that Congress has constitutional power
build this road then let the Government offer to ndi
vuas such inducements will enable the people 20 have
| it constructed.
1t is believed by those who competent Judge that
shall have before the close of the year 1862 popua
ton California alone of at least four hundred thousand
souls and within the year 1853 six hundred thou
sand Up to January 1856, the population in California
Oregon and the Sandwich Islands win not be far from
| two millions of inhabitants.
The necessity for this road therefore, will become alb
solutey essential to the Government The immense
interests that to the west coast cannot be
to the Inconvenience Of the present circutous and
he-way Of communication. The construc-
ton of the road is demanded to facilitate the admnstra-
of the Government protect the lives of the emil
grants protect and increase the trade and
of the country; to to be settled by thrifty and
industrious population the unoccupied lands in the great
basin between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Ne
vada to supply the States of Europe well own
country with the products and manufactures of Eastern
Asia for the preservation Of the Unon and for the civil
zation and improvement of the condition of mankind
This subject your memorialsts would suggest ought
not TO be delayed beyond the meeting Of Congress
The accumulation of interests well the accumulation
Of trade and population the west coast Of the United
States are on scale vast should induce TO use
the most rapid and certain of binding us together
Indeed every effort should be made to unite for uni
ted we are strong and powerful people, and united
our country may be able to protect and defend
In connection with this subject your memoralists be-
eve that the bill now before Congress asking for tele
graphic communication between the Atlantic States and
our possessions the Pacific is Of great i'm
portance. We cannot but hope that it viii pass both
Houses Of Congress this session.
The establishment of weekly mail between the chief
commercial cities Of the Atlantic and the principal
mercial cities the Pacific through steam communica-
ton is only Of the highest commercial and
national Importance but Of paramount necessity. Cali
fornia and Oregon far removed from the seat Of
the parent Government and the connexon between the
States the Atlantic and possessions the Pacific
important to the whole country, to render the
lutey essential The Government itself must feel this
necessity well as the people The delay of two weeks
in receiving intelligence from Oregon and California may
often great injury to the merchants and the people
living both sides Of the continent This delay TO the
Government also must operate as an obstacle to the
prompt administration of its affairs both in regard TO the
collection Of its revenues well in its military and
naval operations.
More than onehaf of the letters and newspapers which
now sent from the States the Atlantic to California
and Oregon go by and the Nicaragua steamers