, 1853-07-23
The Pacific Rail Road.

war, aIIer paAuh9 lHe HOIIOI9 u wa
with the most dreadful, ghastly colors, turns
aside from the sickening subject, and put
ting on a sprighlly, happy face, says;
"Thanks to our good fortune, Young
America can do a thing greater, nobler,
more original, and more effective than war.
Let the treasure and force Of this nation be
expended in building that communication
with the Pacific which is best fitted to the
wants of ten years hence be it where it
will, be it long or steep, be it track through
the deserts and mountain SHOWS, Or be it
phegmalic canal across Panama or Tehuan.
tepec. All this matters but little, for it
must in any case be a potent civilizer,
great highway for family affections between
our States and, more than this, its iron
way will be conductor through which the
electric vigor of our national muscle can be
discharged into the far Pacific. Let the
muddled brains of Europe have a sole priv
ilege in mutual knocks but let us do, in
our own way, thing subimer than Aus
terlitz or Waterloo. The energies and ex,
pendtures of single war, large enough TO
be respectable as these things go, would
span our entire domain with a rail road anat-
Omy in which the blood of a mighty nations
social and commercial life can course at
will for all ages. Let the heart Of Young
America once fall in love with this kind of
achievement, and let its reSistless muscles
respond 10 that ardor, then a better time
will always be coming, and always be arri-
wing too"
We agree with his views in the main,
and are only surprised at the interminable
discussonin favor of the Pacific road. We
consider the question settled. Facts and
circumstances have settled it. The country
is anxious for the road, demands immediate
action, and complains Of Congress for its
iardiness in the matter. THAT the road will
be built we are very sanguine, and that it
will come to Puget Sound, we consider al
most equally sure. Our fortunate position,
splendid harbor for shipPing-yea, for fleets
upon fleets, and the heallhfulness Of the
northern latitude will bring 10 US the road
and its attendant advantages, to make
WASHINGTON what its great name signifies
ii should be, the "Star of Empire that
westward came. AT its terminus on the
Sound will be the WONDER OF THE WORLD,
a magnificent city sprung forth in an instant
Comparatively from nature, where mill
ions upon millions Of the fruits of earth and
fabrics Of man will meet, be exchanged, aud
fly hence in every direction to supply the
wants and tastes of the whole human family:
where squadrons Of mammoth steam, caloric,
electromagnetic and clipper ships will be
owned and employed in commerce with the
western coast Of the two Americas, Russia,
Japan, China, India, Australia, the Sand,
wch, Society, PHILIPPINE and other Islands
in the great south sea. We fancy We be-
hold it, city of almost miraculous growth,
and of unparalleled power and splendor.--
The wealth and luxuries Of the Indies, the
manufactures of the United States and of
Europe, the substantial agriculture of the
entire continent of America and the gold Of
California and Australia will assemble and
crown it with THE regal command of com
merce.
But this is not ALL The advantages 10 ac-
crue to the whole American people in peace
and in war, cannot be estimated. In peace,
il will be the means of our land flowing
with wealth and prosperity and in war
the same army may fight to-day on the from
tier Of Maine, and next week confront the
enemy on the shores Of the Straits of Fuca.
We agree with The writer, that, {" by
building the Pacific rail road, Young Ameri-
ca would do thing greater, noblsr, more
original, and more effective than war: a
Thing sublimer than Austerlitz or Waterloo"
but we differ widely with him when he
says, abe il where it will, be it long or
steep, be il a track through the deserts and
mOuntaiu SHOWS, or be it a phlrgmatic canal
across Paaama or Tehuantepec. This mat
iers but little" This is an argument und,r
cover in favor of the termination OF the
road in California, Notwithstanding the al
most utter impracticabiliIy of the route
thilher, aud its many well known monstrous
obstacles. The writer points with accuracy
and significance TO that route, and hints at
dissolving the insolublc, and removing the
immoyable when he refers 10 the route from
the Western States to California as " long
and steep, through deserts and mountain
SHOWS" He is, no doubt, a good general
writer: but the extract W. give proves him
N he very indifferent advocate, though to