Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-03-18

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You propose TO give lands, at the pres on
value, at 81 25 an acre, amounting 10 six 500
lions, worth 81 800 for each mile Of railroad I,
be constructed, which mile would cost some.
ithing like $4,000. OF this sum $4,000 ar.
10 be cortribuiedby the State Of Missouri. OF
by individuals, who, il is 70 be presumed. wl
not throw away this amount Of capital without
some examination into the question, whether
the business Of the route is sufficient TO Weld ar
adequate return. And, indeed through The
fertile regions Of the West, if The business is
not there, LET your avenue point towards great
market, andthc road will bring il there. Till.
mately, routes running towards natural oenters
OF commerce, will pay. The title does not pass
from the United States, unless the road be ac-
tually constructed, and il the road be not built.
The land reverts. The work. then, must be
done, and the State, or individuals must contrib
ute the sum OF SIT, 200 or thereabouts-I do not
profess TO be accurate in this estimate Of the
cost-for every mile Of the road or else no land
Will be taken from the United States. If the
road be so eligible, or desirable to be built, thai
the State or individuals will contribute this a.
mount, then the probability is quite strong
enough that the road is required by the inter-
ests of the country, and will be built.
We'll, | said that the products of these States
the products of the valley of the Mississippi
mainly-the agricultural products, might say
ARE those which do now support the navira
ton of the United States. They constitute al
ready almost the whole. or your cotton, Won
send TO market from 100000 to 400 900 tons of
weight, of your Indian corn, 100000 to 100000
tons weight, and Of your -four 20O,O tons
lhese immense productions support and re-
q'lire navigation. Our ships would be useless,
If you take away these articles, which are pro-
duced at great distance from the Atlantic sea-
board, and which require these channels TO
bring them. Surely, then, it is important that
the old States, which have great navigating in
terests, and great commercial interests, should
look well 10 the agricultural interests of the
West; because it is that which keeps alive their
commercial and navigating interests. We are
their carriers, and without the freights they
bring TO us, our ships would rot in the docks
| am treating OF great national interest for the
benefits OF a free commerce are dillused among
the agricultural population of the country as
universally and as certainly as among those who
carry it oil. But because the West is already
everywhere alive TO these great interests, adj
dress myself more particularly to the CONNER
cial interests of the old States. Take the line
Of railroads that stretches from Boston to Buf-
loiO5 4NC" Il VI anu CIlllS lNdllld CdlldlS,
the Erie railroad, The Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road, and you will find that these works alone,
without including any others, receive from
$4,000, 900 10 $20,000,0O0 every year, for
tolls from the produce which passes over them
from the West 10 the East, and for the returns,
with the travel which this business causes
Fifteen or twenty millions of dollars n year is
the tax that is levied upon that transportation
inland. And when you come TO estimate the
cost and profit, as the transportation continues
across the ocean, it swells up TO an amount vastly
greater than tie profits upon the internal trans
portaton. Is not this, then, matter TO which
the old States--for l address nay remarks par
ticularly TO that section TO which belongs
not this matter to which New England, New
York Pennsylvania and Maryland ought to look?
The tolls they receive amount to $l5,000,000
or 800 100000, which is levied upon these ar
ticlcs Of produce. Their freights abroad, and
for returns amount to vast sums, which can
not pause TO measure now.
There is another great intercst-the manu-
featuring interest. Let me say but few
words upon this subject, and propose to say
but few. The great manufacturing interest
thri as its customers thrive, and it cannot
thrive without them, nor without their prosper
ity. The manufacturing interest in New Eng
land, New York, and Pennsy lvania pershes if
the West ceases TO be a good purchaser. The
danger to that interest is not from importations
from abroad. That interest in the Northeast
should cease 10 look with fear to the other side
of the Atlantic; but it should begin to look with
trinc for the people Of my section Of the co,,n-
try. May they learn it, and act upon it in sea-
son. Why, sir the manufacturing interest has
everything TO hope from the West, who are its
best customers.
Agriculture is not suffering when we open
the door TO allow her produce to pass TO hSr
toners; and manufactures do not suffer when
the agriculturists, receiving high price for
their surplus, have something left to eXpend.-
The interest of the agriculture of the West is
an open door to the largest markets free pas
sage back and forth to sell what may be dspo-
sable and TO purchase what may be DESIRED
That is the only sound doctrine for sensible
men. That being the interest of agriculture,
and the difference between the present state of
trade and that five years ago, amounting to The
vast sum which have named lis the enjoyment
of this field for his sales all the interest which
the manufacturer Northeast has in the keeping
up of the prices OF agricultural products which
is best done by opening the avenues TO market?
Not at ALL II is not merely that you enricl,
your customer, and therefore can seli 60 him
That is NOT all. am speaking 20 Northeastern
men. by what tenure does New England, does
New YORK, does Pennsylvania, hold the manu-
features which they now monopoize? Why dc
they mapufact for the West, and how long
will they do so? Not forever, My friend,
must be aware of that fact. 1t is not in the ma.
ture of things, il we look at them as they real
ly are, and do not try TO impose upon ourselve,
by any fanciSs in the matter. New EnglanC