Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-09-27

we can no. conceive Of opposition to
the Central Route.
But there is another consideration
why Missouri should contain the East.
tern Terminus and Depot: If circle
be described SO as to embrace the mouth
of tho Columbia, Puget's Sound, Cape
Churchill! (on Hudson's Bay). Cape
Jones, the mouth Of the Black
river (on the river St. Luwrence) Bay
of Fundy, San Salvador (of the Ba.
hama s), touching Cuba in longitude II
degrees west, latitude 81 degrees north,
west enl of Honduras Bay, nothern
part Of Guatemala, stretching along the
Mexican seaboarl, the California coast
to San Francisco, and up to the mouth
Of the Columbia river in Oregon, the
stationary leg Of our calipcls will rest
in plain west of the Ozark mountains,
on Usage river, an in region note
for health and scenery. This spot, then
is the geographical center Of the nation;
for, notwithstanding we have embraced
a part Of the british possessions, the
West Indies, and Mexico, we imagine
that t woull not require much argu.
meht 70 satisfy any one that all these
must finally be incorporated in The circle
ofour limits.
II is useless to talk about the center
ofpopula,ion, because that center is
constantly changing, and approaching
the geographic center. To the center.
thus designated, Washington City, the
Seat OF Government, should be removed
The people Of Florida, Maine, Mineso.
ia, Cali(orni a,and Texas are alike int.
terested in the location Of the Federal
Capital, and have a right to demand
that it should be the center Of the ma.
ton.
The mere cost Of building now gov.
eminent structures is matter Of small
moment Indeed the people west of he
Ohio river would, no doubt, be willing
to advance the necessary funds. The
Buildings at washington City arc al.
together inadequate to the uses for which
they are intended, and are not worthy
Of the nation, the archives of which
they contain More than this, it is an
unhealthy stuat on-having already
poisoned two presidents, besides mum.
berless statesman, by the miasma of Po.
tomac bottoms.
In this age Of steam, navigable rivers
are of but small moment-indeed are
impeliments to locomotion and the
transmission Of troops than otherwise.
The Capital is now on a margin Of
the nation and while one part Of the
nation can reach it in few hours, an.
other must travel many days, and, bu.
for steam, many months. The Navy
Yard, and such public works, might
still be continued where they are; but
ifeven they were dispensed with, there
would be little loss TO the nation, for
the washington City Navy Yard is un. |
important. While the people of the
East might regret the removal OF the
Capital, they would be willing to do
their Western brethren justice. Wash.
lnston has been chokcd to death, COM
mercally, by Baltimore, Norfolk, anil |
Richmond. and must finally sranglc un.
der the disorder. Gratitude to the foun.
der is the only consideration that could
induce US to oppose the removal of The
Federal Capital. But could he rise
from the depths of the tomb, with his
heart full Of justice, (as it ever was ,)he I
would, no doubt, sanction a movement
so polite and just.
Then, build the Capital at the point
we have designated, and from it start
the Great Central Road; and in a very
few years we should havc,a new civ
sprnging up in the wilderness rivaIng
even Cincinnati, or St Louis, or Balti.
more, or Philadelphia, or olhcr large
cities. We do hope that "Old Bullion"
will consider this point, and urge the
location of the Eastern terminus where
we have indicated.
We agree with Col. Benton, in urr.
ing the Government to take charge Of the
grea, Central or Pacific Road. We be.
lieve it should be pushed right through,
and not suffer it to be the work of an
age. Let the road be made in three or
iour years at most. as it can be, so that
we may all view the vast Pacific from
the peaks of the Sierra Navada, or the
Coast Mountains, where we may offer
such oblations as did Balboa, its dis.
cover.
Let the press Of the nation take hold
OF this subject, and push on the work.
arouse the people TO sense of its i'm.
portance; the road will be made, and
the Capital removed.
True Philosophy.
lsaw pale mourner standing bending