Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1854-08-01
nent This circumstance will not be overlooked


There is still another consideration which con-
stitutes an insurmountable argument in favor of
the northern route. 1t has for it's terminus one
of the finest harbors in the world, from which
a steamer may sail to China and the Indies in two
days less time than from San Francisco or any
other port on the Pacific. The northern route is
the only which can secure to the United States
the transportation of the British mails, and the
incalculable benefits of an unrivalled commerce
with what has hitherto been called ''the east, )"
but which will then be metamorphosed to ''the
west" No southern route whatever can secure
the eastern trade. Commerce will never adopt a
circutous course when it can as easily flow in
straight channel. The British government, sensi-
lively alive to its own interests, is now watching
our movements with the utmost jealousy and con-
Germ. The commerce of the east has been for
centuries the chief ''bone of contention'' between
the different powers of Europe. England has
thus far maintained the ascendancy, and has de-
rived no small portion of her gigantic wealth
from the teas and drugs and spices of the east.
She has confidently supposed that the sceptre OF
this commerce would never depart from her hands
"A magnificent mOnopoly-she has regarded it
as her own forever. But what do we now?
Miraculous change. Oriental China is sinking
in the east, and booming up like splendid phan-
tom in the west! Who could have foreseen so
prodgious and unexpected a catastrophe as this.
Verify, it was not provided for in the bond!-
What a marvel Of civilization, that the merchants
of Europe and Asia should at last meet upon the
continent of America to negotiate the exchange
IL I. IL. IL
of the times. But is it to be presumed that Eng
land, with her enormous wealth and pride, will
submit without last convulsive effort to the re-
linquishment of her prize? This she will never
do. Already the attention of her Statesmen is
being seriously turned to the Importance, aye, the
inevitable necessity of railroad across the con-
tnent of America through the British possessions
to the Pacific. A feasible route from Halifax to
Fuca Straits has been discovered, which would
have the same advantages over any southern
route as the one from Lake Superior to Puget's
Sound. 1t is quite certain that if the Americans
do not build northern road the English govern
ment will, and by so doing they will not only be
enabled to transport their own mails, but will in
great measure prevent us from securing the in
valuable commerce of the Indies. But we are
consuming time, and must bring our crude and
disjointed remarks to close. The west is our
motto and our creed. TO its development will
devote our life. To its advancement we have
consecrated every hope-its vastncss and gran
dcur expand the mind-its beauty paints itself in
delibly on the hcart-its wild forests and undula-
ting praries-its immense lakes and tremendous
rivers possess charm which language seems in
adequate to express. Soon its silent places will
TEEN with busy life its forests and swamps dis
appear, and in their stead the sublime monuments
of civilization will arise, while from a thousand
affairs the incense of universal gratitude and
thanksgiving will ascend perpetually to heaven
agriculture will convert the land into smiling
paradise Of fruits and fowers-mechanical inge
nuity will open the navigation of its rivers. con-
struct acqucducts and bridges and unite the dis
tant extremities of the country with a skillful
network of railways and canals manufacturers
will thrive along its countless streams and the
lively hum of wheels be heard in every glen
commerce will speak and an hundred cities will
arise at her command, each one the center Of a
system of its own--colegcs and universities will
disseminate the terminating principles of know
lcdgc-art and science will beautfy each valley
and decorate each craggy bluf-proud States will
come forth from the prairies, and great cities
emerge from the gloom of the wilderness. Such
is the destiny of the west.
TO represent man in his frcest and most civil
lied condition, and to secure to him the fairest
distribution Of the natural gifts of the Almighty,
is the sublime and benevolent mission of the
west!
There, in the valley Of the Mississippi, the pom
derous conservative balance Of commercial and
political power will soon be found.
The States of the north an SOUTH inseparably
bound by ties of mutual interest along the banks
of the grand old river, which is a common high
way for them all, will be pcrpetuated in an I'M
broken line, and not long will it be before the
eastern and western confines of America, from
the sunrise of the Atlantic to the sunset of the
Pacific will be united by magnificent arch of
iron, over whose massive slopes the commerce of
the world will roll its golden tide forever