The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-04-14
The WAR steamers.

The War Steamers.
The action of the United States House of Rep
resentatives, on Friday last, in favor oil the con
struction of the six steam-irigates recommended
| by Hon. J. G. Dobbn the Secretary OF the Navy
in his annual report, (says the Washington Union
is faithful reflection Of that powerful public
opinion which demands large additions to our
steam marine. The heavy vote by which the
! main proposition was carried shows the necessity
!, and the proprety Of the recommendation of Inc
! energetic Secretary. Great credit is generally
| and Justly awarded to the chairman OF the com.
m,ttee on Naval Affairs Mr.. Bocock] for the skill
and ability with which he delendsd the report oi
| his committee, and for the promptltude and cor
| RICHNESS he displayed in answering the various
| questions raised during the debate. He had
studied his subject well, and we congratulate him
on The favorable impressios he has made.
The present condition of the governments OF the
Old World is full Of interest TO the people o! this
country. Exactly in proportion as our own COM
merce has extended and is extending, it is our du-
" to increase the means OF protecting the COM
merce, and of viudicaling all the rights guaranteed
under the American Hag-always the symbol In
foreign lands and often The pioneer Of the Ameri.
can constitution. Apart from other considerations,
MISUNDERSTANDING possibly more weighlIy,
but not more closely Unidentified with practical re-
sults-the necessity Of being ready and able, al
all times to project citizens and our commerce
in distant seas, is primary and inevitable Let US
be fully prepared for this duty, and We cannot be
taken unawares should we be called to play in the
great drama upon which the curtain IS soon to
rise in Europe-a drama in which Kings will be
the actors and empires the scenes-a drama which
may end in the overthrow of all those painted
foes and hollow mockeries which faunt and
tester under the names Of prerogative and power.
THE EFFECT OF RA1LRoADs.-The agricultural
interests Of the whole country IS benefited by rail-
roads. We can recollect the time (says the Pitts
burg Post) when corn sold in Ohio for twelve. and
a-hali cents per bushel, while at the same time it
was worth seven time that much in Boston. 1t
cost nearly all il worth to carry it 10 markets
from OHIO Now the farmer in Iowa send
his wheat and corn all the way TO New York and
Boston by railroads and get the full eastern price
for it, except the low cost Of speedy transmit by
the rails. All over the broad land the railroads
are stretching in every direction, and the price of
farm lands Is rapidly rising and the products of
those lands have immediate access TO all the best
markets in the world. The railroads also develop
the mineral wealth of the country. Many a coal
bed and iron has lain vaIueless for centuries, until
some railroad has brought them within reach of
the markets. The whole country, and its wealth
too, are doubled by steam and The rail. Steam and
the rail make neIghbors OF the most distant COM
munities. Washington city will be accessible
from California in ten years, from Ohio twenty
years ago. And from San Francisco 10 London
or Paris the journey may yet be made in fifteen
days; and Pittshurger may travel TO Constants.
nople 10 twelve days. With such facilities for
travelling, men will and do ego to and fro in the
earth, and knowledge increases" And as know-
edge increases, The preudces of nations give way;
the human becomes more assimulated and
friendly, and knowledge more universally diff
fused. Steam and the rail are revoIutionizing the
world.