The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-03-18

ierpnsing young all over The country, who can con-
mand the pttance OF forty or nifty dollars To pay then
railroad fare heads OF families who have the misfortune
TO be poor but spirit and energy enough TO seek comfort
and Independence by labor will no longer be restrained
by the necessity OF separating themselves from their am
lies, bal have il in their power with such small
as they may readily command, in eight Ten days,
ind themselves with their whole households transported
and set down in the midst OF the gold regions of the West
al iull liberty TO possess and enjoy whatever OF the rich
harvest spread out before him which his industry and
cray shall enlte him II will be theirs by good H.
Tie as any can boast who have had the TO precede
them We hear much said OF late OF the justice and policy
oil providing homestead, quarter section OF the pub
ic land TO every poor and landless family in the country
Make this road and you enable every poor in the
country TO buy much better homestead, and retain all
the PRIDE and spirit OF independence Gentlemen here
may say that the region OF California. inviting and
abundant now, Will soon be exhausted and all these
bright prospects Tor the enerprslng pass away NO.
SIR centuries will passages and ages must roll away
before those goldbeang mountains shall all have been
excavated-those aureroas sands and auyia deposits
shall give out all their wealth and after all these
shall have failed the beds OF the rivers will yield gen
erous return to the toll of the laborer.
But however great The importance OF this road ndis-
pensabe as II is TO the safety and defence OF The coun
try in military point of view however advantageous
TO the commerce OF the county, and however desirable
Il may be 10 the whole population, and especially TO- the
enterpllsing poor man, am not encouraged TO believe
that this will receive the sanction OF this Con-
gTess OF the next. Gentlemen Were perfectly tight
when they suggested thai is very difficult to keep The
influence OF capitalists out OF the consideration OF these
measures Capitalists get into legislative halls, 1t Is
suggested know OF no such influence in the Senate
But capitalists without have an influence. How many
and how great the Influences al work against this
project any other that could devise Tor the object
do not remember 10 have seen paragraph in the
Washington correspondence OF leading public JoAt
nal IN any OF the large cities favorable to this H
The general intelligence conveyed to the country
through the leading newspapers is that il is i'm
practicable one; that nothing can be done with II;
That such and such Ia project OF different complexion
is preferable; and that il is only of time 10
slider this. This is significant The honorable senator
from Virginia Mr. HuHTERl chimes in and says it is
only waste OF tlme and we can do nothing with IT,
know that he is under no improper influences in his
course, except that feel pretty sure that he is against
the road IN any shape. am sorry to see an advantage
taken of the interest excited by other business and
tons before the Senate 10 defeat this The res
olullons in relations to Cuba Central America, TO the
Clayton and Bnwer treaty, British Honduras, the Bay
Islands, the Iehuanepec grant, and The Texas debt bill
have each and all OF them been agned into subjects OF
far greater public interest than the construction OF rail-
road TO the Pacific In the midst OF so many more inter-
esling and exciting questions il is difficult to get senators
to give any attention to such project this The truth
is that this subject has not the advantage OF the outside
pressure OF personal and individual interest and solicit
ude, as some other measures have. All the INF fences
OF this kind are decidedly against it,
What are these outside iniluences II is said that
some $50 900 900 $40 900 will be required 10
plee the Panama railroad | have heard that much
larger amount than that will be vested in that road
There is the large capital said TO be vested in the inter
oceanic shPcana project on the route OF the San Juan
project which enlsts the Influence OF It's millions
Of capital against this road Although | do not
think those interested in these various enterprises
ought TO look with any jealousy upon the project
OF railroad within our own territory between the
Mississippi and The Pacific, yet il is in perfect keep
ing with human nature thrt they should do There
also several lines of splendid and costly steamers
poyed in carrying the mails and passengers both sides
OF the continsDt, and forming communication between
the ports of the Atlantic and the Pacific The propreors
of these lines are all likely to feel some jealousy OF the
railroad project connect the valley of the Mississippi
and the Pacific. and their influence will be thrown into
the scale against it, Not content with the profits OF the
present. with those OF the ten years to come before
this road be completed. still such is the mdty and
fareaching calculations OF capital, that there be
project however far the future, but excies dis
trust and alarm We thus have the combined influence
of all these great interests to contend against.
The senator IRON Virginia Mr. MAsosl says that how
important this road may be, will take twenty years
to complete it and he therefore concludes that the Ie
huantepec contract question is more important and more
practical at this ume concede good deal OF inn
portance TO the Tehuantepec question We must have
the right II is OF great importance that right OF way
through the Mexican territory by the Tehuan,epec bay
should be secured 10 this country but how does that
prove that the road mpaed by this bill should be
delayed II twenty years will be required to complete il,
according 10 his estimate II is OF more Importance that II
should be commenced at once believe 1t can easily be
passed since this road should have been commented
But there impedmens to the passage Of this bill OF
different nature from those influences OF which have
spoken There are some gentlemen who are not content
with any bill which leaves the eastern terminus OF the
road unsettled. Some gentlemen OF the Northwest want
such provisions as will secure the point OF terminus al
ST. Louis at some point north OF that city. We have
seen the evidences OF this influence in the progress OF
this discussion Some gentlemen OF the South and South
west would prefer TO have road unless II shall
have its eastern terminus pointing TO their own section OF
the country. think they both wrong. think the
time will come when they will have road leading from
the Southwest TO the Pacific, and one from The North
west II they do not get il and also think the IN
termediale position will be occupied in due time want
one, commence where you will, Northwest or At the
intermediate point looking towards Memphis, or some
southern point. Give one and you will satisfy me
for the present, not doubling that in time all these
nous sections will be graiihed
The great and the general interest OF the country de-
mands that shall have road com menced at some
pon, other; looking forward with confidence 10 the
growth and increased OF the country
antee that will have a second road very soon at
least branches communicating with the main trunk OF
any may now resolve to construct. There
be doubt that the main trunk will have branches in
five from the time OF its construction, looking to
all the important points Northwest Souihw west and 10 in
iermediale points. That is my view OF the subject
On a former occasion, Mr. President, alluded to the
Importance OF having communication by railway be-
the Mississippi river and the Pacific in the
event OF with any great maritime power con-
Tess that the debates upon the subject OF foreign
laons within the las, few weeks, II all that said had
commanded my full assent, would have dssipated very
much the force OF any argument which thought might
be fairly urged in favor OF this road necessary work
for the protection and security OF possessions on the
Pacific coast We hear II stated and reiterated by
grave and respectable and intelligent senator's that there
Is no reason that any should approhepd war with
either Great Britain FraDce-no now, at any time
in the future at all events, unless there shall be total
change in the condition, social political, and economical
OF those powers and especially regards Great Britain.
All who have spoken that there s prospect OF
war-none at all agree that can nothing in the
uatIk a ..uit. ,nt,. Inrrn data nd