Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1853-03-02
VOL. XVIHH.---NO. z.

insure HpnuS 10 70 Toullu Wy "HtcI t'ui W
upon this land route, unless it should be built
up with cities, and these rich lands, so much
spoken of, should be found for the promising
settlements that seem to have excited the iinagl-
nation of some of the gentlemen who have:
spoken upon the subject, and whose Imagination
have impaired an interest to thuse lands far be-
yond their real value. All accounts OF the
engineers who have passed over them, concur IN
one common statenent-ihat large proportion
Of the lands over which this road must pass is Il
desert, and unfit for the habitation OF man.
Some portion is said to be an arid, sterile
m ,untainous range, without water, and without
grass, resembling more the description OF the
Dead Sen, than that given to it by the cloquent
Senator from Illinois. All the richness they
have, fear is what they have received from
cfIilsons of rhetoric-their poverty is the gilt
| of nature.
This road itself is, thus far. very much in.
debtcd for the favor it has received, to zeal ana
cloqucnce They have poured out upon it the
first steam it has ever received, and trust the
last, until We have received better information
as 20 the choice Of routes and general Practica-
bility of the whole scheme. Yes, MIR. Presl-
dent, will repeat, that thus far parliamentary
eloquencc and conjectural estimates have super
seeded all other agencies heretofore resorted 10,
for the Lying out and construction of railroads.:
They have superseded the surveys and maps OF
engineers. They have made conjecture better
;han Clcts; for it has been g;aSeIy said, II we
wait for 4 survey the road will never be oullt,
and thus we are required TO commit ourselves
by the way of experiment, as the snrest way OF
involving us in this great enterprise. are not
such questions rs these, Mr.. President, peru.
ncnt! Is there suficiency of water, on any
of the routes thus far brought to notice. 10
supply The steam for the propelling power o.;
this road? Some gentlemen have SAID, lhat IL
water would not be found on the surface, u
would be found by digging into the earth. hn-
other question: Have we any survey OF the
height of the mountains? No, sir, we nave NOT.
But the broad ground is taken, that WIN money z
enougl, all these difficulties can be overcome.
Yes, sir, the Federal Treasury is 10 supply,
water, level down mountains, and provide an
the other agencies that may be necessary 1or
the construction Of this great road. WISH ~
be understood, that do not take the gronlna,
that some road may not be practicable, !or u
has been said, if you will give an engineer,
money he will go anywhere anu undeE. tHe
light Of science, which is nov. blazing out irol.
81 many sources, do not know that theFe are O.
any physical iinpossibiliticS in the way OF ! .ne
ScluS vi
will even supersidc water or steam as lale Ma.se
agents. The facilities of communication, from
one part of the earth tothe other, seem 70 keep
pace with the demands Of man. Here allow
me to say onc.thng in reference to what !e'
|. from nv honorable friend from Mass: Mr..
DAVIS Eycstcrday nfd iie Said With q plttoso-s
phical turn Of thought that admired 3atif 90 2
time. He said that it seems, in the great ProVi-
dence Of God, that the facility OF communca-
tipn from one cou TRY to another has KEPT up
with the progress of discovery. The anciehts
thought the Pillars of Hercules the uAlmd fhue
O, the earth; but no sooner was the compass
discovered than Columbus found America; ana
scarcely had America been discovered, wheh 'he
means of establishing Il communication between
i. and Europe were found. Scarcely had mat
been effected, when this great power OF steam,
to which the honorable Senator allnded. came
forth, and it may be reserved for another power
to carry us over dry lands. 1t may be t''at lhe
discovery of calnric, as motive power, IS one
which will enable US 10 fulfil that beautiful
providence of God, that man shall not DC Il
stranger to man, If he cunsults the great prlhci-
pies of science and truth. 1t may be that thls
motive power will supply the place ot steam
and that we can 90 to the great Parlilc ocean ny
the ail of fuel alone only requiring water 10
supply the wants of MN. | say 1t may De 80
but when we urgc these things with too much
rapiliv under this doctrine OF progress !et me
tell you gentlemen that there Is danger III me
tcmerity of accrleration. You have no rlgns
to anticipate for poserliv what perhaps pos'erl.y
my accomplish with the lights before II: wheh
it shall br properly called upon 10 act, ana un-
dcriake to say, with an arrogance that may oe
regarded az somewhat presnmpiive, tNat you eau
I A.. - n, fpr
self. prefer trusting the ordinary nethod or
rcttinr round TO Californi: in thirty days by
steamship navigation for some time yet I" cnme'
than 10 rush hradlong into the field OF wild ex-
pertinent.
And in any point of view, if, my vote is to nave
anv inference over the measure, and am torced
to vote for one route or the other, Wish 10 nave
some lati!ude in NV choice do not wish TO DO
compelled 10 give decision upon one rome
alone. want light. want the information
of scientific and practical men. WIN inc 'lgnG
nt present before me, am not sure that woula
not select several routes in preference 10 this
one. But upon that subject | do not commit
myself, and for Il very Obvious reason thae
may not have the boldncss other gentlemen have
exhibited of their readiness to leap IN the DARK.
Nv notions are illustrated by the familiar remark
made concerning children: .'thcy should cra"!
before they walk" This bill rcvcrses that ana
assumes that the child can run before II can
crawl. II is Young America. out and our.
haze seen in a book Of hcraldry, ambition,
represented, by serpent crawling up Il smoo'n
column of dangerous ami difficult ascent, Inc
dangers increasing with the progress OF thc as
cent, and with these significant words issuing
from lis mouth: &" Sal ciio 81 sal tlao." This IL
applicable to more passions than ambition, and
inculcates lesson of wisdom and caution.
There is another provision Of this bill to which
wish to draw the attention Of the Senate and
the country, and that is the eleventh section. 1t
aysums that Congress- not only has jurisdiction
over the subject of internal improvements, by
the specific provisions OF any particular law, but
IN authority to restrict States and Companies
from the right of making railroads, tcxcept in
subordinaion to its authority. For fear may
do injustice, will here insert the section itself.
"SEc. IL. And be il further enacted, That
Congress may, at any time hereafter, authorize
individuals, companies, or States, to form con-
NJ c;ion between said railroad and any railroad or
railroads under their control, respectively" &c.
This making State tributary to, or depend
ant upon corporation, of Federal crcation is y
blow upon the rights of the sovereign Statcsof
this Union, to which shall never give my assent,
and in my opinion, that alone is cause enough to.
seal the fate of this bill.
| have thus inlinated some Of my objections
to tho amendment introduced by the honorable
Senator from Texas. may be asked what
course would recommend in relation to this