The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-07-13
Senator Chase and the Pacific
ESnlErn1A


Senator Chase, OF this CITY, was recently in ST.
correspondence took place between him and the
Mayor and others, respecting his support of the
st. Louis route for the great railway to the Pacif
ic, which we copy from the Missouri Democrat:
THE CORRESPONDENCE.
St. Louis. 1llh June, 1853.
Hoy. s. P. CHAsE-Dear Sir:-The under
signeG citizens of Sr. Lnuis, learning that you
on brief visit to our city, and properly apprecia-
ting the generous support which you have gwen to
the St. Louis route for the great railr ad to the
Pac fc, would be pleased to have you address. our
cizens upou that subject at such time may
suit your convenience.
John How. Eel ward aRa,as William V N Bay
Willis E.. Wifiiams Thos. T. Gannt, Henry
Kayser, VIM Glasgow, VIM. S. Mckee, John
Doyle, John Brady Smith, S. NJ. Breckenridge,
SanI Rebor. Henry Bernstein, C. S. Raunells,
Jno. A. Goodlet, A. Feniy, Chas. II. Haven,
F. A Dick, o D. Flley, B. Farrar, N. Ran
ney, ]. B. Colt, SamI Summons, H. J. Boiley.
Saml Coop, jr., Fred. L. Billion. Sam'l III Gardi-
ner, P. Heating, Nathl Holmes. Charles G.
Ramsay, Henry Mckee. Charles II. Tiilson,
VIM. A. Linn. Thos. J. Berne, U. Wright. F.
II. Manter. L. M. Shreve, C. G. Moreau, II.
A. Clover, II. Reed, C. w. Hicks, W. C. Ken,
nett, w. B. Foster. John r. Atkinson. Lucien
Carr. james McMartin. Basi! Duke, VIM. Jno.
Roymn Mirun Leslie, W. T. Knapp.
ST. LOUIS, June 1lth, 1853.
GENTLEMEN:-It would aft ,rd me no little sat-
isfaction to address the people Of your great and
prosperous city, upon the interesting and impor-
tautiheme which you invite me to discuss, but
regret to find that the private affairs which have
brought me here, will require so large share of
my time and attention to leave opportunity
for the preparation due to the magnitude of the
subject, and TO the intelligence of a St. Louis
dltory. --s s-
Permit me- to thank you very earnestly, for the
invitation with which you have honored me, and
for the kindness of the terms in which it was con-
veyed.
1t is indeed pleasing reflection to me that al
most the first and almost thu last proposition, of
any importance, brought forward by me- in the Sem
ate of the Uniied States, were calculated to ad-
vance the growth and commercial prosperity of
your city as we'll as that in which reside myself.
The first was the erection of Public Buildings for
and other national offices at S.. Louis and Cncin-
natl, while the second was for the survey and ex
toratop of railroad routes to the Pacific, in
which, again St. Louis and Cincinnati soon
to be united in iron weduck, and not these cities
only, but the great States also. of which they
the commercial capitals, have a common interest.
That both these propositions received the sane
ton of Congress is due. however, far less to any
efforts of mine than their Intrinsic merits,
to the liberalty and justice of Senators and Rep
resentatves, and, n respect to the first of them,
the powerful support of Col. Benton, by whom
indeed, the St. Inus branch ofthe Custom House
proposition was originally drawn.
In expressing my own decided opinion, when
the subject of railrond routes to the Pacific was
under discussion last winter in favor of the COM
meucment of the National Railroad, on the west
ern borders of Missouri, at the point where your
own Pacific Railroad will terminate, l simply dis
| charged what scanned to clear public duty
Frankness requires the declaration, that should the
result of the explorations now in progress demon
strate the superiority of another route, shall not
hesitate to surrender that opinion erroneous, or
fail to give to the railway ITSELF whatever route
may be finally ascertained 10 be best. an earnest
and perseverng support. Bot anticipate such
issue. look confidently to the result Of these
plorations to sustain and fortfy my original judg-
ment. and hope to have the satisfaction, during the
next session of Congress, Of contributing my hum
BILE aid to the Inauguration of the greatest work OF
modern times, upon the most direct and practical
ble route from the termination of the Pacific Rail-
road the state line of California. or to San Fran
CISCO. -.. ~
Renewing my thanks to you, gentlemen, for
your kindness, and hoping. upon some future oc-
casion. to have the opportunity of more fully ex,
pressing my views to The citizens of St. Louis,
beg leave to subscribe myself, . 81; ,
Your obliged friend and fellow citizen. a
-,g - - ii. S. P. CHASE
Hon. John How, Mayor Of St, Louis. Hon. Ed.
ward Bates, Hon. VIM. w N. Bay, Willie L
Williams, Esq.. and others. FL.