The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-01-14
The Dubuque aud Pembina Railroad

ed road, would have been re.rarded as ldiotic +;
md, indeed, in any country but our own, il
would even now be so regarded, But, like Pat n
rick Henry, we have learned to sjudse of The @
future by the past, and therefore, it is, that our
pubic enterprises are so numerous, and On so
scale We have Learned that the
great difficulty consists, in our inability to keep
pace with the industrial and commercial wants
Of the people, and that the tmdty and caution
heretofore exercised by capitalists, in the in
ves'ment of their dormant resources, have
been more visionary than real, and have origi-
mated from neglect OF proper attention, to the
rapidly accumula,ing power and resources of
the West. 1t is graf flying to observe the cfi-
cheney and spirit which parvaded the tone and
sentiment of the meeting held on this
subject, on the evening of the 9th at the Globe |
Buildings.
With Maj NJ. Mobly as Chairman, and Judge |
Lowell of the Committee resolutions the fol |
lowing memorial and resolutions were read and
adopcd
Resolved. That the continuation of the Mo
bile and Dubuque Railroad on by the great cad
Of the ST Peters river to North Red River, is of
vast national Importance, as it will furnish
safe and speedy conveyance for the surplus
productions of these inland regions, and great
avenue OF commerce, over Wnlch may be ex-
changed the varied products of our latitude
Resolved. That this great trunk Railway
when constructed, uniting as it will the waters
of Hudsons Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, and
forming a continuous communication from
North 10 South, through entire national
possessions, will serve one main artery to
d;tiuse Throughout! the whole country The bless
! ings which, without it, would be enjoyed only
by the most favor d sections, and thus III inland
! , riuns of common country would be
made the abode Of millions of prosperous, in,
tcllgent, and happy cit:z>ns
Resolved, That means OF national de-
fence, IN the transportation of troops and NUM-
tions O! war, as an expeditions, and safe mode for
the transmit sion Of the public mails, and as a
means of uniting in one common brotherhood
the South and the North cementing the bonds
of our glorious Union, this contemplated Rail
road is equalled only by that proposed from the
Atlantic to the Pacific.
| Resolved That in view of the immense
tracts ofwild land now owned, and which shall
be added, should the late treaty with the Sioux
DC ratified by the Government, we see, in the
speedy sale of lands, and rapid settlement of
the country, all that should make this grant a
national an! important one.
/ Resolved, That to Stephen A. Douglas more
than to any one Of the great American states
men, who are now so actively engaged in open
ing mp the resources of our Wes'ers country,
ny ifdHS vi 8idiitS VI diltIUalc StCtiouS VI tue
Public Lands, belongs the honor of this great
enterprise and we do, without intending to be
invidious towards others, present TO the hen
orablc Senator the public thanks OF this meet
ing.
Resolved, That we fully concur, and corci-
ally adopt tie sentiments expressed by our
friends at the lata Railroad meeting at West
Union, in the following language, to wit;
Resolved, That the unparalleled growth Of
the West, in population and wealth, removes
from an enterprise for the immediate construc-
ton # the contemplated Road, character of
!. witness or extravag ance, which might sccm
to attach to it, from the r, cent settlement oftlie
coun;rr.
Resolved, That, as experience has shown that
j Railroads cunduce TO the moral and intellectual
progress of sociey, well as 10 the d; velop-
ment OF the resources of the country, the phi
lantliropsi, equally with the husbandman, and
capitalist, is interested in their construct Oh.
/ Resolved, That Committee IF two be ap-
! pcinte,. to confer with the Convention to be
held at Dei,,. and that j. w. Rogers, Esq, and
Rev, II. S. Bsunson be appointed SAID Com
mittee.
Resolved, That we adopt, as expressive OF
our wishes, the acten that should be had by
Government upon this great enterprise, the
Memorial of the Rockville Convention.
The following is the Memorial of the Rock
vile Conventions
To THE HoNoRARIE the Senate and House
Of Representatives. ofMe United States of .4nscr-
lea, IN Congress assembled:
Your menorialists, citizens Of Northern
Iowa, IN behalf of ourselves, and the citizens of
Minnesota Territory respectfully represent that
we view with great satisfaction disposition on
the part ef the General Government to aid the
New States and Territories Of ,he United
ton through them by means Of grant of alter
nate sections of public land. This is hunlbly
conceived to be an enlightened policy, in thus
furnishing iimitca portions Of the public domain
for works of internal Improvement, reserv.ng
the residuary sections along the line at an adj
vanced minimum.
In this wise and beneGccnt policy the general
Treasury is not drawn upon, while at the same
time large quantities Of wild lands are rendered
saleable by means of these public improve
ments.
We would especially recommend to your
favorable consideration the grant Of land for
Minnesota Territory, proposed by the Hon. S.
A. .Dougias, to complete the plan of the Cen
trail Rai;ruad from North TO South bv the pass
age Of the Mobile and Dubuque Railroad bill,
and the passage through the Senate Of bill 10
continue the same to Red River by the great
bend in the ST. Peters RIVER.
I We also refer your honorable body to the
memorial Of the General Assembly Of the State
of Iowa, approved Jan. 2Sth. 1851, in which
this plan is strongly urged for reasons of great
Importance. This grant, if made to Minnesota
and northern Iowa respectively, would greatly
facilitate the settlement of the country, espe-
cia!y along that portion of the contemplated
Railroad from the Mississippi river at Dubuque,
to the big bend Of the St. Peters river; which
is even now rapidly filiag up and viii re-
quire the construction of this thorough fare to
supply the wants of this interior region. The
balance to Red river will thus be secured,
while the land can be spared, and finally be &C
complished, for experience has demonstrated
that the amount granted to Illinois along the
| line is abundantly sufficient to raise the means
of construction.
From 81. Peters southwark the country is
| FAST populating, and to reserve a portion ofthe
| lands with which to improve the remaining
millions IF acres in the hands ofthc govern
| ment, is, We trust, the part of sound wisdom
and true public policy. A grand trunk Rail-
road extending from Mobile to the Red River
of the North, and from the East to California
on the West, thus passing great avenues of
commerce through c"untr. in different di
rcctions, will make it the abode Of an enliolI-
tened population.
In this point of view it is we'll worthy of our
national councils, worthy of the age in which
we live, and worthy of the American name
We, therefore, your memorialis:s, feeling
that the question has deep national interest
and is identified with the present and future
welfare ofthe American people, would earnest
~ request that the said grant Of land to Mime
sofa and Iowa should be made to aid in this
great impr,vemet.
This convention further represents, that the
emigration to all this portion of interior country
is even ROW very considerable and as the con-
struetion of the Railroad in question depends
alcne on the proposed grant of lands, that the
proposed grant should not be delayed for the |
obvious reason that most Of the lands will be
located by individuals, and any delay would
defeat the intention the act granting them.
In order then TO confer This great blessing, it |
seems necessary that Congress should make
said grant the present session and thereby Sc
cure to s;!c people, the means Of opening up |
this interior region to the markets of the world,
and to the general Governments great high
way through its possessions from the extreme
North at Pembina, TO Noble at the South over
which may be exchanged the products OF our
varieo la,itudcs II would oniy remain to con-
struct national Railway from wl'hin the ter
ritorics west Of the Missouri river, where your
honorable body haze undoub,ed iurisi iction