, 1853-03-05
Interesting Letter from Washington.


OF BtUtIdl interest uaS yet Oeeu ulSposeu VI
in either House.
The topics of Conversational discussion
here, which most interests readers On the |
Pacific, relates 10 the construction of a rail
road which shall bind you to the sister
States OF The Atlantic. am happy 10 say |
that the indications arc every day more IA
vorablc foT the road; and there is good rea- |
son to hope that bill for its construction
will pass during the present session. was
somewhat in error in attributng 10 Mr.. |
Gwinn the project TO carry the road by uni
ting the several proposition for its construc
ton with the scheme for a steam line to
China. The fact is, Mr.. Gwinn is welded
to no particular scheme. While he has in
tToduced bill on the subject, he declares
his only purpose 10 be to get the subject be-
fore Congress, when he will be ready tn
vote for any scheme that promises the road
at the earliest day. have reason TO be-
lievc that he is not himself entirely satisfied
with the bill he introduced, but he put Il in
a shape which might be expected 10 COM
promise the sectional interests which have
heretofore prevented final action on the
measure. These interests of rival sections
it is, which have defeated the road time and
again; and success can only be accomplish
ed by some scheme which shall not, on its
face, seem 10 build up one of these inter
ests at the expense Of the others. Such a
scheme IS about to come before Congress.
A company of wealthy New York capital
ists-with George Law at the foundation,
| mot on inc surface), are about getting a
charter from the Legislature Of that State,
under which they will come before Con-
grcss, and propose to build the road within
five years, asking nothing but the right Of
way through the public domain, and loan
Of the credit of the United States to the ex-
tent Of $4,000 per mile, for which they
pledge the road itself-the money loaned
to be placed at the disposal of the company
only so fast as the road is constructed. This
company propose to say nothing about the
route, preferring that Congress shall leave
to them .he power of locating it just where
they deem it best That would seem TO be
the true course because as capitalists they
would naturally seek the cheapest route,
which would prove the best for business,
and consequently the best for their own
pockets. Congress may well follow the line
marked out by such a company.
If this scheme is passed, as think it will
be, a thousand miles Of the road will be
put under contract within thirty days aller
the adjournment of Congress, and il is be-
licved the road can be completed in three
years time. or course, a private company
would, from motives Of intsrest, got the
road IN running order at the earliest day, in
order that its stockholders might begin TO
realize on their investment. have relson
10 believe the company, n leo to their own
choice Of route, will start from opposite
Memphis, run across about on the line of
33 degrees 30 minutes, pierce the noun
talns by Walkers Pass, have one branch
from the main trunk to San Diago, and an
other 10 Upper California.
The whole subject is made the special
order in the Senate for the 10th inst, when
The several propositions for an overland
communication will all come up for final
disposition. hardly think the friends Of
the road can fail to unite on some scheme
for its accomplishment at this session.
We shall have an interesting and impoT-
iant debate in the Senate soon on the entire
Cuban question. Mr.. Mason, of Virginia,
(who Is suspected Of opposing Cuban acqui-
silion because of1earing the consequences Of
its annexation at the present time), intro
duced resolution, few days ago, calling
upon the President for copies Of The official
notes which passed between the governments
Of the Uni.ed States and Of Great Britain
and France, in winch the latter proposed
tripartite treaty for guaranteeing Spain in
her possession Of Cuba. Mr.. NJ. made
quite speech on the Cuban question, de-
claring his belief that Cuba would sooner or
later come into the American Union, decla-
ring that the island can never be permitted
10 fall into othe- hands, but opposing in toto
all attempts 10 acquire il by force, and all
6llibuStering. He approved the course Of
the President in declining the proposition
for the treaty, and declared that every con-
sideratiOn of honor demanded that not only
should we not encourage filibudering from
our shores, but are bound 10 take every pos
sible pains &c suppress it.
Gen Cass (Who had evidently conferred
with Mr. Msson), delivered a prepared
speech, in which he sci forth the " manifest
destiny" Of the country, and reafirmed
the Monroe doctrine in high-toned terms.
The position OF the case now IA just this
there is a party Of hold-baek Cuban annex
ationisis, and another of go-righi- strnigbt.
ahead anncxatioRists. Mason and Cass lead
the former nId Soule and Douglass the
latter. The opposing teams arc strong
ones, and whsn the struggle comes " some
thin must break"
The Hon. VIM. r. King continues in
very bad health. Indeed, although he has
days of temporary relief, he is gradually
sinking. | don't believe he will live two
months. .... ......l
Cabinet making goes on apacc but re |
ally there is nothing on which to found any
relinblc nrcdlclions as TO the constitutional |