Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-05-13


sponslbllltles III the construction ef railroads.
What forbIdS that they should be relieved in
part from the burthens of taxtation, and be
put upon an eaqHal footing with the new
States, in receiving their equal proportion of
sstfe public domain. Was Gen. Pierce opposed
ssto this policy, so Just and equitable in itself?
lie has leftps in the dark upon this subject.
4 He was sfteia'ie the grave.
A railroad toshe Pacific Mr. B. said, was
! justly regarded as one Of the most magnificent
projects of the age, and one not less important,
as measure of defence and security to our
monstrable that the coast Of e0astruefioS RGises
fall far short of the expenses of any war in
which we might be engaged for the protection
of that coast without the advantages Of such
a mode of transit between the valley of the
Mississippi and that distant frontier. In a war
with any great maratme power, in fact, all
other means of access might be impracticable
at an insupportable cost. But such work was
demanded by other considerations than such
as were NEARLY military and defensive. 1t was
important and Indispensable to the full develop
ment of the resources of the country. 1t
was work likewise of political necessity, if
we want to consolidate and perpetuate the un-
ion between the Atlantic and the growing com
munities on the Pacific. 1t was a work of
{
valley Of the Mississippi especially The en-
terprlsing young men of the country-men
with or without families-possessed Of small
means, but of the laudable ambition of improve
ing their condition, ,could not now reach Califor-
MIA but by a tedious overland journey, exposing
them to great privations, or by a voyage of
thousands of miles, at cost exceeding the
means of many, and always at the hazard Of
contracting the diseases Of tropical climes.
/ Construct this great road, and this hardy and
enterprising class of our population could reach
this new land of golden promise in eight or ten
days, and after trying their fortuAes there fill
ing their pockets, if they are Industrious, with
their fair proportion Of the pubic plunder,
now thrown open to all the world if they choose,
they could return again to their native homes
But with all the interest with which this
/ great work is invested, and even after it had
! become subject of universal attention, Gen.
Pierce thought it of too little importance to
find place in his inaugural. Some suppose
that this great road could be constructed by
| the aid of donation of the public lands alone,
/ but Mr. B thought it could never be accom-
pliShed without liberal grants of money from
the public treasury; and it was upon this point
that he regarded the silence of Gen. Pierce
upon this subject in his inaugural rs an unaas-
pici0us circumstance.
Mr.. B. said there was vet another subject
one which had excited much attention of late
but which the President had wholly overlooked
in his Inaugural. Mr. Bell alluded to the poll
+! ny af giving. -4;aavter~sectioR Of the Public
Lands to the head of every family who had the
misfortune to have no land of his own, upon
the condition that he would continue to occupy
it. 1t was the more surprising that Gen Pierce
| had failed to give his views upon this subject
/ inaSmuch as his own friends in the Northwest
were the most Jealous advocates of the policy
Mr. said that public sentiment, in large
/ portion of the Union seemed to favor it and ne
/ thought the experiment worth making, though
| he feared that many of our worthy citizens
would be deluded by the promise of increased
comfort and independence which this policy
held out to their hopes. He could imagine no
situation more helpless or desolate for poor
man, without any other means to aid him, than
to settle with his family up0n piece of inferior
! land such as the keen glance of the speculator
! has already rejected and the thrifty emisrant
! passed by in scOrn.
/ The shoals of foreigners monthly thrown
upon our shores might derive some benefit from
this homestead policy, which the citizen could
not. They might occupy exclusively whole
| district, and thus form society among them
selves, which would be selfsuStaining. Let
/ them come, and enjoy whatever advantages it
can give them. But whatever might be the
results of this homestead project, it was sub
ject not unworthy of the notice Of the Presi-
! dent.
! Mr.. B. said he had expressed a favorable
opinion of Gen. Pierce soon after his nOmna-
ton. He had CONCEDED to him a fair amount
of talents aud sound views upon all the sectional
questions; but he had expected from him more
T., e IL.
dcated. Mr.. B. thought he had shrunk from
disclosure of his views upon many interesting
| and exciting question of the times, and this he
| considered a dsparagement to his oficial1 po-
| siton.
Mr.. B. concluded by an animated appeal to
the wings not to relax their accustomed zeal
and energy in the ensuing election. There were
two causes which might endanger their Success
! One was an over confidence felt In the superior
whig strength in the State; and the other the
apathy, the relaxed energy, and dependence,
which generally succeeded an exciting canvass,
the result of which had been unEavorable. He
trusted they would not be discouraged by the
defeat in the late national election. What! said
he. when their opponents occupied the strong
| hold? When the enemy was in possession OF
the citadel-was that time to fold their arms
and retire from the conflict? That would be
contrary to every dictate of prudence, in po-
litical as in military contests. 1t was rather a
time for furnishing up their armOr, doubling
the guard, and forming a phaanx impenetrable
and irresistible. The wings Of Tennessee had
nobly maintained their ground in the late cleo
ton, in the midst of the general detection
had thus, by their devotion and courage, won
imperishable honor. Would they now descend
from their proud eminence, and suffer that ban
ner under which they had so often conquered,
to be wrested from them without united and
determined effort TO defend it? No! Nc! from
every part of the Hall.
IT, said Mr.. b, the spirit of the wings OF the
State generally, should prove responsive to the
tone of the proceedings Of the Convention, he
would desire no better guaranty of their sue
cess But they had another assurance of tri-
umph in the person of their chosen leader
GUsTAvUs A. HENRY was their CHAMPION
Guided by his clear perception of the princi-
pies of their party-strength in their con-
victlons by his able advocacy, aud cheered on
by his clarion voiee-who could doubt that
victory would once more crown their efforts.
There was a meeting yesterday at the IRE
mont Hotel, between the man who went to
Washington, "after nothing" and got it, and the
man who went there "after something ana
didn't get it. Both were apparently IN exeei-
! lent Spirits Boston Post