The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-05-14

Pacific Railrsad schemes--Whig Policy.
There will be three, and perhaps four routes
this season, between the line of
settlements in the Mississippi valley and the
Pacific coast, with q view to the construction
Of railroad at the expense Of the national
government. The great Northern route, start
ing from this point, appears at this time to be
attracting the most attention. One Of the en-
gineers as we have already mentioned, Mr..
Lander, is upon the ground, and has been for
some days. He has been engaged in an ex-
animation with especial view to an eligible
crossing of the Mississippi, and has proceeded
over the country from St. Paul to Sank Rapids.
Before the arrival of Maj. Stevens, he contem-
plates an examination as far up as Swan river.
The views of Mr.. Lander in reference to the
most feasible point to cross the river, are not
proper subject Of newspaper comment at this
time; consequently our readers, if they wish to
know what they are, will have to find out the
best way they can.
There is no doubt but this Northern line is
the favorite route with all that portion of the
Union comprised within the basin of the Great
Lakes, as wen Us the whole or New York and
New England. This, added to the outside
pressure from British interests in Canada and
the Colonies east thereof, with no inconsidera-
bic interest felt and exercised even by English
capitalists on the other side of the Atlantic
will make our route q more formidable rival
when the contest comes off at Washington,
than our Central and Southern friends may
now dream Of Its superior advantages will be
duly enlarged upon as the survey progresses
We prefer, to use homely phrase not to
crow till we are out of the woods but merely
to keep note Of the fact that there is North
ern route for the main trunk of this great road,
running through the heart of Minnesota, with
an arm dverging to Lake Superior, and anoth-
er to st. Paul, and thence on southeast to Chi
cago, by the nearest and most direct course
1t is also fact not to be lost sight of, that in
the course Of two or three years, through the
Sault Ste. Marie ship canal, there will be an I'M
interrupted water communication from all the
lake cities, and Montreal, and Quebec, and
Boston, and New York, and the whole world in
fact, to the head of Lake Superior, within the
borders Of Minnesota, and within six or eight
hours railroad distance of st. Paul and St,
Anthony, and five hours of our settlements and
towns on the ST. Croix. Neither should we
neglect to mention, that when once at the head
OF Lake Superior, coming from the East, you
are half icay across the continent by ,cater,
which makes a vast and material difference in
the transportation of all the heavy articles of
commerce.
These facts and advantages have not been
lost sight of by our friends of Chicago and
elsewhere. They are setting them afioat across
the world, and they cannot fail to leave their
full impression wherever they travel. Perhaps
the head Of the present administration, owing
to the very pressure of local influences by his
immediate friends near his home, may have had
his mind more suddenly impressed with the i'm
portance OF authorizing preliminary survey of
this route at an early day. Certain it is, the
authorities at Washington have acted with
commendablc alacrity in the Premises Tue note
ofpreparaton has been sounded for the recon-
noisance of this line in advance of all others
We see among the dispatches and letters from
Washington many such paragraphs as the fol-
lowing:
"Major Stevens has nearly completed the ar
rangements for the survey of the northern
route for railway to the Pacific. Lieut.. Dun
can and sixteen others have been sent to Ore
gon, by way Of the Isthmus, to start from Pu-
gets Sound and meet the exploring party in
the mountains. A person has been in Canada
for some time collecting information from the
Hudson Bay Company"
The contemplation of all these facts and in
cidents, going to show the almost positive GER
tainty that Pacific railroad ,ciH be construct
ed, and that within very few years, is one of
the grandest themes for reflection that has ever
swelled the bosom of the American Citizen
The contamination Of this work will be deed
OF national glory greater than any yet achieved,
in peace or war, since the attainment of our in
dependence. And more especially is the adop-
ton OF this national internal improvement pol
Icy by the present political party in power-or
at least by its executive head and nine-tenths
OF its leading members and leading presses-a
matter Of selfgratulation to the party of which
we have the honor of being an humble member.
The policy which calls upon the General Gov
crnment to build this road is Wing policy, and
nothing else. When President Pierce sends
out his subordinates to survey these national
routes, he is but pursuing line OF policy advo-
Gated by Clay and Webster, and all the Wings.
twenty years ago, and opposed by Gen. Jack
son and all his party, including the now great
Pacific Railroad enthusiast, Thos. Hart Benton.
The Democratic Congress, when it appropriates
money for the survey and examination of the
several routes across the continent, and after
while, when millions are voted to construct the
national highway, is but practising that which
Mr. Clay preached in regard to the Cumberland
road and other public works, and which was
opposed by old Hickory and his party.
Ihis is called the age of progress, and the
party seif-styled Democratic is known as the
progressive party, par excellence. Perbans
this is SO in the main but they must have the
credit Of reversing the wheels of their locomo.
l.