The daily republic., 1853-08-23

mia before a declaration Of war, would easily
bIockode the State, - that the most remote
miner ia the mouatains woulA fssl the oanss-
quences. An army, tbsa. wAich should occupy
four moashs ia crossing the plains. ooald not
present isself upon the ceast Of California in
time to save the Stals from starvation and ca
pItulation; while an army shipped by way of
the Horn would have to fight its way during
fur months nearly nine thousand miles, and
upon its arrival would have very little proyi-
sion or protection to bestow upon the surviving
citizens. 3
The immediate and efficientSdefence Of Cal
ifornia by any existing means is therefore i'm
possible.
The contract price which the United States
could therefore afford to pay for the means of
defending California, is just limited by the
value of California ITSELF and the cost of its re-
conquest. .
! We will suppose, then, that if competent
contractors should present themselves, the
Federal Government could readily afford to
pay millions Of dollars upon an engagement to
transport and deliver upon the Pacific coast any
number of troops, or any amount of material
and provisions, at any time and upon the short
est notice, and to pay any agreed rate OF
interest upon the advance when the service
was not required. The cost of mail service
is more easily estimated. For the direct trans
porta,ion of the mail by railroad a distance OF
two thousand miles, the Federal Government
might well agree to pay principal sum which
would produce an annual interest of 5000, 600
or $lO,000,0 900 in cash. and so in proportion
for additional service.
1 The Federal Government would also grant
public lands for the same purpose.
l The terms Of the contract for the perform
: ance of these great services should be an obli-
cation to submit all questions Of difference be-
tween the Federal Government and the con
tractor to the Federal courts for adjudication,
4 with mortgage to secure the contract money,
conditions of forfeiture, and other penalties,
and such regulations in regard to the payment
of the contract price as Congress might under
an agreement impose.
But the question would arise, upon what
route should this subscription be given2 The
contract should be made for transportation upon
that route which should present the shortest
equated distance and the lightest average
grades, and the contract should be awarded to
the company or companies which should give
assurance of their ability to perform the contract
service upon the preferred route in the shortest
| time and for the lowest price. We have here
tofore indicated that the control of this road
should be within thegovernments controlling the
4 territory through which it passed. Wetherefore
state that we think the Federal Government
should have no more representation in the af-
fairs of the road or control over its incidental
operations than it would have over the passen-
gers or baggage of a stage-coach or railway-car
carrying the United States mail, or the Incl
dental operations Of any other contractor CON
Meeting private operations with the execution
of public service. The Federal Government
would stand in the relation of an employer to-
wards contractor; it would be empowered to de-
mand the execution of the contract, nothing more.
1t is unnecessary to state the contributions of
the States through which this road will pass;
these contributions have been to some extent
already made, and consist Of money and public
lands. Indeed, the road is believed to nave
been provided for upon several routes as far
as the frontier of Missouri, Arkansas, and
Texas. But the Atlantic States would
no doubt contribute according to the necessity
of the case. The same may be expected of the
Eastern corporations interested in this extern
sion. Individuals here and in Europe will be
Influenced by the organization and method of
management. There is oquestion that the stock
of the Pacific railroad can be made par secu-
rity if it shall be located on route that cannot
suffer from competition; nor can it be doubted
that if private enterprise and capital is not sat
isfed with the route selected by the Federal
Government, or with its management, shorter
stroy or impair the public Investment.
We have thus endeavored to demonstrate
|. That the construction Of Pacific railroad
under Federal authority is unwise and unne-
cessary.
2. That the authority of the States and Fed
eral Government is adequate for the construc-
| tion of such road.
3. That the Pacific railroad should be con
structed by the contributions of the Federal
and State governments, combined with those
of corporations and individuals.
| a. That the railroad should be subject to the
jurisdiction of the States and Federal Govern
ment, within the several States and Terrific
ries which it shall traverse. s.
| p,l
! We have noticed the beautiful edition of the