, 1854-06-17
Letter of Gov. stevens.

find in the New Bedford Mercury of Il late
date:
The energy, enthusiasm and devotion cX-
hbited by Governor !. l. STEVENS, of this
territory, in every thing calculated to ad-
vance this extreme northwest corner of
the United States possessions, onward to
the manifest destiny within the vale, and
to be developed by coming events-the
shadows of which are already discernable
upon the disc of its rising greatness-should
be q matter, Of hearty congratulation with
every eitizen-honcst pride with all, in the
evidenced assurance of being provided with
an executive, who, from the moment Of his
appointment, has devoted himself untiring-
" and almost exclusively in the furthcrance
of objects, closely, indispehsably connected
with the position. it is anticipated our ter
ritory is destined to occupy.
The practicability of the northern rail-
road route, from the head waters of the
upper Mississippi to the shores of Puget
Sound, having been established beyond
controversy, and through peril and expos
ure, explored and concluded under his di-
rection by an eminently qualified scientific
corps, with necessary and faithful auXilia-
ries, is fast attracting the attention of ad-
vocates of rival routes, and opening wide
spread discussion through the press-in
monetary circles, and which cannot fail to
extend to congress, and elicit the serious
consideration of the coordinate branches
Of government.
In following out the recommendation Of
our legislature, that he repair to Washing
ton city, to set forth in detail, to congress,
the result, rracticability, and advantages
Of the route which has been surveyed so ex-
teusively and infinitely by the various par
ties connected with the expedition, Govern
or Stevens, whilst detained at San Fran
cisco, for want Of transportation, on his
way thithsr, was solicited by the most
prominent residents of that city, to deliver
an address on the subject of the northern
exploration, which, as we stated some weeks
ago, was complied with, and reported at
length in the Herald of that city.
The audience was very large, and con-
sisted Of the most intelligent and influential
citizens of the city and state, and the fa-
vorable reception Of his address demonstra-
ted not only the deep interest felt by the
people Of California in the Pacific railroad,
but that the claims of the northern route
cannot, with justice or propriety be disre-
garded in any future arrangements.
The San Francisco Herald and ChrOni-
de, particularly, appear to be fully and favor
ably impressed with the important position
which Puget Sound would occupy as a ter
minus, and are disposed to regard our mag
nifcent harbor Of two hundred miles in ex-
tent as rival Of the most formidable pre-
tentions, the value, extent and safety of
which, until recently, has never been duly
known or appreciated by our southern
heighbOrs +; but resting in supposed and ac-
knowledged security in the delusiye con-
clusion that the harbor of San Francisco
was, for capacity and safety, without a
counterpart on the Pacific, have, within a
few months, been aroused to the startling
reality, that our territority is, in possession
of o harbor in which the combined navies
Of the world might safely enter and ride its
placid bosom-that communication by rail
road, could be opened with our Atlantic
cities over a route affording abundance Of
wood, water, coal and other mineral re-
sources es-much Of the country too, admira-
bly, adapted for agricultural pursuits, stock
raising, &C., and the length and cost Of
construction by northern route, much less
than that object could be accomplished by
any other, and that we are nearer to Chi
no, Japan and the Indies, by many days
sailing, than any harbOr in California.
But it is not the subject of the Pacific
rail road alone, or the particular route over
which it may be constructed, that has en-
crossed the attention of Gov. Stevens
His extended line of exploration has ena-
bled him to determine upon the practicable.
ty of the construction of one or more i'm.
migrant trails, from the Great Falls of the
Missouri, Ito which point, according to
Lieut.. Grover, that river seems to be navi-
gable for certain draught steamers and
the Columbia, at or near the mouth ol
Spake river, through the Black Foot OF
IToIi n - ,,o,,o, of .bo D,oI-,, ..,,. 4. . =