The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-20

ana We trust Il will be aitentvty read by all who teel
an interest in this highly important subject His memo
a sells forth the and progress OF this
enterprise and the favor il has received from the people
al iage, from the State legislatures and the press,
wei as the great favor awarded to il in England
From this general approval and encouragement every
where, MT whitney, seems, has been urged on and
felt himself pledged 10 devote his life 10 this object He
prays that Congress will decide the question II in
his favor, he is ready TO commence the work but il
against him, he will feel himself absolved from the
pledges he has made to the people and may il moi be
considered injustice him and TO the public 10 delay
any longer'
The memorial also pretty clearly explains the plan by
which he proposes TO carry into execution this gigantic
enterprise
| The magnitude not only OF the proposed work it,
self but the result which con.empates that OF en-
drely revolulionizng the commercial world--to say
nothing OF the moral and political influences it would
have upon mankind generally is stupendcus that ii
is not at all surprising should have passed over by
many without examination, that IT should by some
have been considered visionary TO be beyond the
reach of human power accomplish it, And such would
have been Just conclusion had been proposed TO
dertake it from any ordinary plan OF means or from tho
treasury, to be conducted by the government But the
plan OF means proposed novel; and compares with the
grandeur and immensely of the undertaking.
| The whole distance is some two thousand miles,
through wilderness; but the plan proposes that the
work and settlement shall advance together each provid
Tor the Otler; not DC pOssiDlc "
dispose OF the lands in the first instance, TO furnish means
as rapidly as may be required for vigorous and rapid
prosecution and progress OF the work. still The ands with
road through them would be the very best and safest
investment for capital, and would enhance daily IRON the
use OF the road as well benefits from constantly in.
creasing settlements on its line. + a
Unlike all other works OF the kind the capital invested
would not look 10 the success earnings OF the road
when completed and operaion but would look
to the lands ony and, will be seen IN the memorial,
when each section of twelve miles OF the road is COM
pleted, the one-half of that sectonsay six miles by
sxty-is subject the expended for this twelve
miles Of road; and the advancement OF the road with
settlement constantly taking place It's line would. be-
yond doubt enhance the value of the lands which might
remain unsold and therefore increase the security for
The capital that may have been borrowed to build the
twelve miles OF road and on for other sections.
By the great increase in the value OF the lands as well
as by the increase in the population on the line OF the
Georgia and Tennessee railroad. we have practical
demonstration Of the feasibility of Mr. Whlney's plan
of means We do not, however know that his plan ID
doubted for far the lands are goodsay eight hum
bred miles but have heard II objected, and dld our
selves suppose objection before we examined that
in completing this eight hundred miles he will probably
gain very large fortune and the lands are poor be-
yond this there could be inducement to continue the
work aud il would there be stopped short' and this
would no doubt be valid objection, provided ne
should be allowed TO take all the lands sci apart
cannot do so for this eight hundred miles he can
take as the road is completed through it, only the
one half the allernaes, six miles by sixty each now
il this half uhese aernates, six miles by sixty Will
provide the 10 build this eight hundred miles OF
road and leave fortune besides is it not very clear that
the other half (the alternaes, six miles by slxy)
would Sc greatly enhanced in value beyond that OF the
Ifrs, half and, as is intended IN the plan, would make
sure and an available or fund to continue the
road over the mountains and 10 its completion This,
we think, may be considered one great and important
Feature in the PLAN and guarantees It's success, because
this certain aud available fund would render II an object
for Mr. Whitney others, 10 continue the work to Its
end
The importance of this work-we may say as the only
means OF connecting with, and of binding Pacific pos
sessions TO u.s. and OF binding our coniederacy to-
gether-we think cannot be overesumated. BY looking
at our geographical position on a gobe-and as Mr..
Whitney has clearly pointed Quilt will be seen "hat
the American continent forms aperec geographical COM
percia and political division OF the wod-that the At
antc slope will exchange with and supply ts different par
aes and Europe and the Pacific slope will also exchange
with and supply its different parallels, the islands,
and Asia Now, these natural laws and TINS natural
division are so unequvoca that population and commerce
must soon settle down under them and the interests
of the two slopes will be opposite, separate and dis
,nct and producing the same general commodities, their
exchanges with each other would necessarily be limited
Without this proposed road, a separation must, we
think, take place
! This proposed work is not less important as means
Of openng 10 settlement and usefulness our vast extent
Of fertile lands which remote from and without
cheap means for the transportation OF products to mar
ket that the settler get no return Tor hls labor and
hence we find that the settlers OF the Far West are fast
leaving their FARMS and migrating TO Oregon and Cali
fornia where they find better markets, with more
abundant return for their labor.
The Importance OF this work IN rendering the
commerce OF the world tributary to us (as is admitted
both here and in Europe that il will so render ~ who
can pretend 10 estimated
Almost every one admits its vast importance but Inc
oues,on with some has BEEN Can be accomplished and
howe by what means But can expect tbal sucn
work can be accomplished short OF an immense amount
of available means We know that some have and 40
believe that the public treasury must be looked 70 Tor me
means and the work must be executed and carried on by
and under the management OF the government; and
others look 10 loan Of the government credit Now,
we are frank 10 saying that cannot sanction either OF
heae plans and come from whatever source they may,
we believe that the democratic party can never sanction
ar sustan them The objections many and 40 OBJ
vous that we do not believe they could get The sanction
Of either OF the two great parties in the country.
And we are as frank in saying that we do approve OF
Mr. whitneys plan and sincerely hope il may be acted
upon and adopted during this session Of Congress We
approve of because is expedent, and we believe 10
be feasible We approve OF it because i involves no
1 n land sold n n