The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-11

ter, as consistent men and good Christians sci
our minds fesolutely to work to discover plan
for the abolition Of pauperism, and the educa
ton of toundlings and orphans without break
ing their spirit, than waste breath and time in
abusing the institutions Of the South.
SENATOR OWNS SPEECH ON THE PACIFIC
RAnRoAD.-We received yesterday printed
copy Of Mr.. Senator OWNS great speech on
the Pacific railroad. Want of space has COM
PEELED us to cut it down to about one-fifth Of
its original dimensions: tut as thus raced, we
have, we think. preserved the cream of the ar
gument And we must say that even apart
from the Pacific railroad, the facts and the sta
tistics which we retain din our abridgement Of
this speech are very interesting.
As for the project Of railroad from the Mis-
sissippi over the Rocky Mountains, or through
them, or around them we regard it as a mere
specializing scheme, all bosh, humbug and
moonsbine. The subject is splendid one to
| California Senator, a rousing speech for Bun
combe, and DR.. Gwin has made the most of Il.
! He has spread himself on the Pacific rail
road, and has run his steam engine all round
the world. But does he, can he, or any other
rational man, believe that there is any proba-
blity that this bill, or any other bill, will give
Us railroad from the Mississippi to the Pacific
Ocean inside Of the next fifty years. No.
Two thousand miles Of railroad, and fifteen
| hundred miles of this distance through con-
| tinuous desert Of barren plains and volcanic
| mountains; without inhabitants except Indians:
without timber, except stunted thorns and de-
sert chapparal; and, to great extent, without
even water! Suppose that over such route
| the first five hundred miles of railroad, single
| track, were constructed from the Mississippi riv-
er-what, from the said river, would be the cost
for the transportation Of the timber, iron and
other materials, men and provisions, required for
the next five hundred miles? The truth is, this
project Of Pacific railroad is all humbug
for the next half century. Fast as the age is, il
cannot remove the Asatic deserts which lie be-
| tween the Mississippi and the Pacific. And are
! the gold mines Of California inexhaustible?
Not bit Of it.
Ii Senator Gwin and all other Senators and
members Of Congress would apply themselves
| TO the practical measures before them in a
practical way, they would be doing vastly more
service to the public than in making long ro-
mantle speeches on Pacific railroads. The re-
iniorcing of the army, the strengthening Of the
navy. the policy Of some modern system of
coast and harbor defences, the improve
ment Of the working machinery of the Post
Office Department, and a variety Of other
practical things might well engage the
| at IF h0f
or two. But these Buncombe speeches on
the Pacific railroad, when that road is all gam
mon-and these speeches for Buncombe on the
Nebraska bill, when there is no such bill be-
fore the House, are all waste Of the public
time and the public money upon false pre-
fences. When will our great men at Washing
ton learn something Of the principles Of plain
common sense? Doubtless almost every MEM
her Of Congress is seized, at some time or
other. with a prodigous ct OF patriotsm-of
| splendid discoveries brilliant ideas, and ire
mendous conceptions Of public policy-but,
like the raw materials of potatoes and cab
bages, these magnificent inspirations and fun
merry require dressing and boiling to proper
consistency before they are palatable or fit
" useslion. AUNT that tne acme railroad
is a practical thing, and Mr. OWNS speech is
in order; but, maintaining as We are, that this
road is slice of green cheese from the moon,
Mr. Gwin has only given us rousing speech
for Buncombe. Who comes next?
PARSONS AND PoILrICs-DEFEXcE OF JUDGE
DoUGLAs.-We published yesterday synopsis
Of the elaborate letter Of Judge Douglas, in de-
fence Of himself and other Senators against the
high-handed anti-Nebrasha manifestoes Of GER
tain combinations Of political parsons in New