The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-28


which, aside from the great advantage TO the com
rherce of those States, afford additional advan-
tage to those sections of the nation wherein the y
are expended, by the circulation OF large sums OF
money, amounting to many millions, among the
people of those districts of country. The ne "
States do not reap the direct advantages and bless
ings OF such appropriations and expenditures, and
IT s alone by grants or appropriations OF land for
internal improvement that Congress can equalize
the public benefits Of the country; yet the West
does not support the appropriations for your At
lantic seaboard grudgingly, but as part Of this
great Union, interested in the prosperity of every
other, she lends it her cordial supp rt may
say that it is produce that enters into the
merce which swclls the sails OF your merchant
vessels.
Gentlemen may ask, what advantage will these
roads be 10 the Eastern States and to the CONNER
cial marine of those States which lie upon east-
ern seaboard? l ask you, gentlemen, what it is
that contributes to your commercial marine? Is
ii not the productions of our soi--our hemp, our
tobacco, and other products OF the West and South,
together with the manufactures OF your own work.
shops! Do you not, as you Increase the facilities
for the transportation of produce from the West in
crease the commercial business Of the East, and
swell the commerce OF your country, inland and
abroad AS well, sir, might you expect that no
bic bird which ID represented above YOU to spread
it's wings for flight when the barbed arrow has
drawn the life's blood from its body, see the
white sails of your merchantmen expanded for
foreign ports unless their ample and capacious
holds are filled with the productions Of the soil,
These products and manufactures form the life
blood Of your trade and commerce, and these great
railways are the arteries which convey it with
healthful bound TO the extrenties. If, then, you
would extend your commerce and swell the
amount of trade with foreign countries, extend to
ua the aid we ask in increasing facilities for
the transportation Of produce TO your eastern
markets. We connected with the South by
those great rivers of which have spoken, at least
30 far the mites concerned which lie upon
| those highways. But there interior counties
in our State which denied the great advantages
OF lntercommunicaton with the Southern States,
because of the want of facilities for the transporta-
ton Of produce from the homes Of tho farmers to
the Mississippi or Missouri river.
Again, sir, would ask, are not gentlemen OF
the manufacturing districts of our country inter
ested in extending the productions Of their work
shops in the great valley of the Mississippi? Let
them then, sir, aid by the extension of their
railroads into our country, for our roads would be,
when made, but links IN that great chain OF roads
which commence in the Eastern States and pene-
trate the valley Of the Mississippi. Already, sir, is
there a continuous line OF road from Pittsburgh to
Cincinnati, and the great roads OF New York will
soon be IN connexlon with the Cincinnati and
Cleveland road; and since left Missouri in No
vember last, q contract has been contaminated for
the completion of the road from Cincinnati 10 ST.
Louis Why stop there? Why shall your iron
horse be checked in his at the great Father
of Waters? Let him stop, if you please, TO slake
his thirst in that noble stream, and then bound
away with swift and Gathering foot, over our
and beautiful prairies. Let him bring to us the
manufactures of your workshops the beautiful fab
rics Of your looms for wives and daughters,
with all the varied forms OF mechanism which your
ingenuity has invented and your skill perfected.
Let him bear yours to US. and will return you
the rich produce of our felds-our hemp. corn,
our tobacco-whatever soil produces or our
mines will yield.
things? Are they not interested in xteuding the
demand and widening the market for their own
fabrics, and increasing the supply OF their wants
Every link which is added to the great chain OF
| roads extending from the Atlantic States west
ward adds 10 the trade and commerce of those
States.
Why, gentlemen, will you stop US Do you say
that the Mississippi shall bound the limits of your
road, and that Missouri, Arkansas Louisians, and
Mississippi shall not be penetrated by your rail-
roads In what have we sinned. that we not
entitled 10 the same justice which has been meted
out 10 other States, possessing, believe, no
higher claim than we do,
! beg leave to call the attention of gentlemen
from New York TO n remark which was made by
n distinguished statesman of that State more than
twenty years ago, and II is a remark which the
subsequent history Of this country and the eIpe
rience of the last ten years fully bears out as that
| OF n far sighted statesman. Hs remark wac, that
'cvery link which is added TO the great chain Of
roads extending from the Atlantic States west
ward ndds to !he trade and commerce Of those
States. and that there could'not be any improve
ment. however magnificent or however small,
n
structed in every State, north or SOUTH enst or
west, which tho State OF New York would not
feel the benefit Of" ] ask the gentlemen from
New York, has not the experience Of the last ten
years verified and sustained what was said by this
distinguished man Of your State more than twenty
years ago' And will you, with the experience Of
the past before your eyes, when we come to you
for pttance like this-~ill you say that these
railroads and means OF communication shall not
cross the Mississippi riverl
But will pass on 10 another branch of this sub
lect, and notice another objection which has been
made by gentlemen who yield a reluctant support
TO these grants. The objection ia this: The Gov
crnment Of the United Statcs, il is said, is not
proprietor holding the coil and obtaining enhanced
prices by reason of improvements growing out Of
settlement and population; II asks but price
from the beginning TO the end of the transaction,
and that price does but little more than cover the
cxpense Of the management and sale of the lands.
IL Is true that the Government does not ask adj
yanccd price for its lands; but is IL not virtually
enhancement Of the price, ifands which have been
in the market for years, when railroad 10 pro.
Jccted through them, are sold for 81 so an acre,
or even for 81 rs? Is II not, in other words,
making that available which before was totally
unavailable TO this Government for revenue, and
unavailable to the State for the same purpose'
But 1t is said that the price OF these lands does
but little more than pay the expenses Of manage
mcnt and sale Why 10 this2 | aak YOU, gentle
men, TO reflect on these acts and you have the an
swer to the question. Why is it that these lands
do not defray the expenses Of management and
sale Because you have To Keep open land oftlccs,
you have done in Missouri for the last thirty
ycars, long the lands in The State are unsaiG
able and unavailable. But il you project railroads
through those lands they will command n sale, and
your land offices may be shut, and your registers
and receivers may be dsmissod, and this vnst
pence saved to the Government
But pass to another part Of tho subject dc
sire gentlemen upon this floor 70 remember, that
while end Of these railroads untes with the
great highways which have been projected from
the Atlantic seaboard, have penetrated the Allo-
ghanies, and are now traversng the valley of the
Mississippi, the other end OF both of these roads
rests upon your frontier Immediately adjoining
your Indian possessions. | beg you 10 remember
the policy OF this Government in planting those
Indian tribes upon our western frontier. They
are scattered along opposite Missouri, Arkansas,
and lowe. 1t has been your policy TO place them
there; but I'M the progress OF the age and OF this
Government. the position of the Indian has be-
come like that Of the scorpion girt by fire."
He sees the white man 10 east Of him end at his
heels that he has bounded awny beyond him.
and now busy thousands tread the shores of the
Pacific west Of him. He secs his hunting ground
invaded by the white man. He that the elk,
D