Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-06-07
CnAs. DERRicKsoS, and many other
Col, BentOn'S Reply,

! COIs Benl0n'S kepIys
Gentlcmen:-Your very acceptable
invitation has been duly received, AMI
will be compiled with, but not at this
time. A long absence from home leaves
me no time to turn 10 the right or left, or
stop a day in this voyage to tho West,
Undertaken solely ro see a small pioneer
party set out TO explore the route TO the
Pacific. which is recommended by Ere.
mont AID Lcrouy, and which the map
shows 10 &c the shortest and mos, direct,
and most central between the U. Sl.!cs
and the Pacific ocean. Your invitation
comcs-as such a one should do-ffvm
the citizens generally; from the boly Of
the community, without regard to politi.
cal distinctions. Happily VIC have a
subject to occupy US which is indepen.
dant of party, and above party, and in
which all citizens may unite heart and
hand. and work together cordially and
zeolously, to produce grand consum.
nation which is TO rebound to the bene.
fit Of every part of the community, and
10 every section Of our country, and to
the whole Union, and even Europe and
Asia, and 10 the latest pos,crty.
1t is now thirty five years since have
been at wsrk upon this subjcct-that Of
commercial communication between the
M.,sissippi-lhe mode Of communica.
ton varied only to sui. the progress Of
events, but the objcc. always the same.
1t began with water communications on
the line nf the Missouri and Columbia
rivers, when we owned nothing but ore.
gon beyond tho Rocky Mountains, and
the steam car unknown; now, when
California is acquired, the steam cars
already run over more miles in the Uni.
ted States, (all made by States or indi,
viduals) than would make six diffcrant
roads TO the Pacific ocean from our from.
tier, | change the mode and the line,
and go for the car to San Francisco,
and that upon the route closest to the
parellel Of thirty. nine degrees which the
nature Of the ground will admit Of.
] caught the idea from Mr.. Jefferson,
who, in his message to Congress ptopo.
sing the expedition oil Lewis ana Clark,
presented the commercial communica.
'ion as the leading object, and the one
that gave Congress the constitutional ju.
ris.liction Of the case; and the extension
of geographical science as incident
TO the pursuit Of that main object. Tha,
was before we acquired Oregon, or set
up any claim to territory on tho Pacific
ocean; now we have both Oregon anil
California, and besides the commercial
object, we have another in the duty of
communicating with the citizens in these
distant possessions, ard stretching lig.
amspt Of union from tho Atlantic to the
Pacific.
When first wretc upon this subject it
was a subject Of ridicule with a great
many; but that had no effect upon me-
1t is my prerogativc to disregard unwor-
thy opposition, and to vnnguish it. 4
have continued steadily at my work for
aboyc thirty years, and now see success
in vicw.sf
Blu. | had something more than ridi.
cule 10 encounter, AMI that was the un.
wise action oftbe Federal government.
In 1918 it made treaty. Of joint occu.
patton Of the Columbia with the British
for ten years. was then in the Senate,
but denounced that treaty as unjust and
injurious, as il would postpone our set.
tlement for ten years, and give the Brit.
ish a foothoId which might require ga
vigorous effort Of policy or Of arms to re-
move" In 1923 that ire, " ofjoint oc.
cupa,ion was indefinitely renewed. 4
opposed Il 10 the uttermost in the Senate,
bpi in vain. The administration, and
be enemies to The growth Of the West,
were TOO strong for me. In. 1880. under
lhc standardization Of MI. Polk, this un.
fortunate treaty was, sffogated after It
hsd nearly ptoducei WI between Gfea,
iriitain ana The Unitsd States; ana I had
The satisfaction u give II the last lick in
Iha. year. as had given il the first in ls.
~ twenty.eight yoars before.
Ia tha year 1891. ] began another