Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-07-02
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD

Having recently published several letters n re-
latlon to the proposed Railroad to the Pacific 4 i
due to the Senator from Ohio that the follou,;nr
Letter OF an analogous character should also have
place IN our columns 1t was addressed to num-
Der OF the most respectable citizens of ST. Louis
who united in an invitation to Mr. CHASE to deli.
yer an address in that city the interesting sub
Ject to which the letter refers
.Sr. LOUIS, JUNE IL, 1853
GENTLEMEN: 1t would afford me no little satisfaction
70 address the people of your great and cty
upon the interesting and important theme which you in
vie me TO discuss but regret to find that the private
aHairs which have brought here win require 50 large
share OF my time and attention as to leave no oppor
ny Tor Inc preparation due to the magnitude of the sub
Jeco anu 70 tne intelligence of ST. Louis auditory
Permit me- however, thank you very earnestly for the
invitation with which have honored me- and for the
kindness OF the terms in which it is conveyed
II Is indeed pleasing reflection me that almost the
hrs and almost the last proposition Of any Importance
brought forward by in the Senate of the United
was calculated to advance the growth and commercial
prosperity OF your city, as well Of that in which re-
side myself The first for the erection Of public
buildings for the accommodation Of the customs most
office, and other national Offices ST. Louis and Cncn
natl while the second for the survey and exploration
Of railroad routes to the Pacific in which AGAIN a.
Louis and Cincinnati sooh to be united in iron wedock
and not those cities only but the great States also Of
which they are the commercial capitals have common
interest.
That both these propositions received the sanction Of
congress due, however far less any efforts of mine
than to their intrinsic merits to the iberaty ard
justice of Senators and Representatives and in to
the hrst Of them to the powerful support of Col Benton
by whom, indeed the ST. Louis branch of the custom
house proposition originally drawn.
In expressing my own decided opinion when the sub
ect of railroad routes to the Pacific under discussion
last winter in favor Of the of the National
Railroad the western border of Missouri point
where your own Pacific railroad will terminate, simply
discharged what seemed to me a clear public duty.
Frankness requires the declaration that should the
in atrafA
superiority Of another route shall hesitate to sur
render that opinion as erroneous fail to give the
railway ITSELF whatever route may be finally ascertaned
to be the best and perseverng support But
anticipate no such issue. look confidently the
suit OF these explorations sustain and forfy my org
nal Judgment and hope to have the satisfaction during
the next session of Congress- of contributing my humble
aid to the Inauguration of the greatest work of modern
times upon the most direct and practicable route for the
termination of the St Louis Pacific Railroad the State
line OF California, or to San Francisco.
Renewing my thanks to you, gentlemen, for your kind
ness and hoping upon future OCCASION have the
opportunity of more fully expressing my views the cit
zens of st. Louis, beg leave to subscribe myself
Your obliged friend and fellow citizen,
s. P. CHASE.