The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-04-15

Texas. Whether the road will, if cons'ruc,
ed, take the direction of these mines I can
not, Of course, say, but in any event il
highly probable thnt much would be gained t
the country by the mineral development
which it would occasion wherever located.
say nothing Of the addition which may pos
sibIy be made to the incxhaustiblc supplies O
the precious metals which we already cnioy
have, confess, some serious ,nisgivinrs il
regard to this business Of gold hunting.
Tear II Is an arocation not exactly calculated
TO induce those habits oc steadiness. sobrietv
economy. ard sclfdeni0l, which are importan,
to the wcll-being Of society. What our peo
pie want is s:cudy employment, and moieratt
gains. indulge, however, no nconsideraLls
hopes that the experience Of the world wil
be reversed in California, and that our ciii
zens there will prove all that the friends O
free institutions could desire.
insist, Mr. President, in the next place
that this road will promote our internal trade
and commerce. Much of the surplus pr Jduc.s
OF the agriculture Of the country will be turn
ed over this road to California. and thus the
eastern markets will be relieved. and a-r;cnl.
turc everywhere benefited. If we could find
on the shores Of the Pacific a market for the
prolucts OF even few Of the western St1tes.
II wou!d be an immense benefit 10 all sections.
Inc great Iiiiiculiy with our agriculture is
over production. ANY considerable surplus
OF any crop, will frequently cast down its az
gresate value hundrcdfold more than the
value of the surplus itself; hence BY takinr
OH from our eastern markets some portion of
the pressure from the West, by openin,
vent in the direction OF the Pacific. we shall
confer an ircalculabie benefit on acricultrre
IN every part Of the Union The GOOD effect
VIII be aS sensibly felt in virginia and North
Caiolina az in Illinois and Missouri. It is
believed, also, that the manufacturers Of the
eastern and middle States will find market
Tor their fabrics over this road. This will
certainly be true of the lighter articles. as in
trade and business, speed and time are often
the great elements, and will oyeru!e all other
considerations.
The construction Of this road will facilitate
IN high degree intercclnmunication between
the eastern and western sides of the Continent.
aud Wi! save to our people much OF time,
money and life. journey to and from
California, by way OF the Isthmus, cannot
now be performed much if any short of two
months, and the expenses amount 10 $500 al
least. The hazards to life by that route are
considerable, but nothing in comparison with
those OF the route direct acr0s. the continent,
lhousahd5 OF our citizens have been commit
ted TO premature graves, in seeking new
homes on the shores of the Pacific, and evi-
denceS of mortality everywhere attend the
footsteps OF the traveller from the eastern TO
the western side Of the Rocky mountains.
NO DOUBT the saving TO the country BY means
OF this road would in all these forms lie i'm.
men5e. The lives Of Yirtuous. intelligent, &
upright citizens are napprecabIe, but we can
form some idea of how much would lie saved
OF money and OF time, (Which is said to be
money! when this road shall be constructe.i
anc the transit from the Mississippi to the
Pac;tic can be efftctei in a single week. 1t
ID not too much to say that the aggregate
would amount annually to six per cent in-
tereSt on the whole pit.l required to build
the road
This measure, asaia remark, will con-
tribute powerfully to the extension OF our ex-
terna trade and commerce. 1t is difficult to
form now an adequate conception of the ef-
Iect which weli-constructed, wtll-aDaonted.
and well-mansged railroad, connecting the
waters of the Mississippi with those OF the
PdcliIc' would have on the business relations
OF the world. 1t would probably ere long re-
suit IN great commercial revolution, and
make the United States the thorourhfure of
Europe in going to and from China, aud other
Oriental countries. Its tendency to bull W
our commercial emporium, and to advance il
towards a supremacy even in competition with
London, would be great, and might prove
decisive
The road, when constructed, will enable Us
to bring into subsection the wild Indian tribes
roaming over the Inferior of this continent,
" ho have been for years harasSing the from
tiers, particularly those of Texas, and doing
infinite mischief there and elsewhere We
shall also by such means lind ourselves in Il
condition to fulfill our treaty obligations to
Mexico in respect to these Indians, to which
we have hitherto paid little attention. By
the eleventh article OF treaty of Guadalupe
HidaIgo, we have bound ourselves in the most
positive and peremptory manner, to restrain
torcbly the incursons of the savages from
the United States into Mexico. | have be-
fore me that article, and it was my purpose t.
read it to the Senate, and comment on it, isl
do not believe honorable Senators are aware
how stringent its terms are, and how high
the obligations which we have assumed |
to keep those Indians within our own borders
but will not do SO, as wish to bring my |
to Il conclusion as S on as possible. |
This measure will greatly economize the |
administration of the Departments of War
and General Post Office. 1t will reduce the !
expenses Of our Army, particularly in the
Quartermaster and Commissary's Depart |
nents. The costs of transportation a nov
enormous. The troops are largely employed |
ar in the interior Of the continent, many
hundred miles beyond any raj Iroad or water
and all their supplies have to
pc dragged after them at a fright.ul expense
This cause has contributed more than any
'ther to swell the appropriations for the Arm,
o such an enormous amount. intenlrd t,
rave looked into the particulars, but | have
lot had time to Goso No doubt the additions