The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-07-12
political annoyance and trouble. The

political annoyance and trouble. The
rther we are separated, the better for us
od for them.
| am thoroughly convinced that no line
{ railroad communication between the At
antic and the Pacific oceans will be estab-
ished in our time other than the route /
have indicated. II is the shortest route, the
freest of natural distractions, the most con-
venient to carry out our national policy, and
to ard in executing our treaty stipulations
under the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and
will distribute its commercial benefits most
equally among tha States Of the Union. 1t
establishes convenient aud rapid commu
nication between each of the original States
'aId the EXTREMIST Limits of our national do
main, and brings the wealth of Asia and the
Pacific islands, from Jesse to Australia, to
our very doors. This commerce will be
distributed through the northern portion of
Alabama, Eastern Tennessee, North Carroll
ma and Virginia, by the Alabama and
Tennessee river rail road which dIvcrges
from this line to Selma. The Mobile and
Ohio rail road ntercepts it, by crossing the
line near the eastern border of Mississippi,
and which connects the Gulf of Mexico with
the Northern lakes. The New Orleans and
northern railroad, which connects the cities
OF New Orleans and Cincinnati i, will cross
the line at Jacksou, anu pour The treasures
of our eastern world upon our western ana
extreme southern States; willie the Mi2sis-
sippi river, as if in gratitude to its tributary
waters will give to the tide Of commerce
rellux flow, and in exchange for the substan-
tial products of its valley, returns all the
conveniances, delicacies and elegant luxu-
ries which the finest civilization could de-
mand or desire.
] know, sir, that l shall be suspected of
giving preference to this route because of
sectional feeling. lfso, am unconscious of
IL, and the facts which have presented will
acquit me. The tne his been whom was
sectional; but the old trio of New England
[Messrs MACDONALD, HUBBARD, and ING Err
SOL have tavght me TO tear the word from
my political vocabulary, and insert in it's
place another which is more elevated and
patriotic, the word constitutional.
The people of my State were told, on
memorable occasion, by very high authority
there, that If one of them should be asked
if he was an American, the answer should
be "No, sir am South Carolinian." This
statement has had it's day and its votaries,
ofwhom no one was more earnestly Jealous
than myself But, sir, n recent act of this
Congress, which vindicates the great priaci-
pies of fnon-intervention, popular sovereignty
and the rights of the States, has verified the
dictum of Mr.. Jefferson that "error of opn-
ion may be tolerated when reason is left
fee to combat it" and will henc, forth cause
my heart to swell with loyalty and pride to
be called an American. No, sir, my devo-
ton TO my own State, to which my allie j.
ance is first due, desires not to he proppcd
by the cultivation of sectional sentiments;
and if it can be shown, to the satisfaction OF
through the territories, and one which can
be built upon Mt less cost to the government,
can be traced from California to the western
extremity of Lake Superior, or to the city of
st. Paul, / pledge myself to give it my coan-
tenance and support
Towards the perfection of this great en-
terprise would give literally oflands which
lie in the Territories; and to avoid the incon
yenience of a large land monopoly, would
require a certain number of sections to be
sold, at such convenient intervals of time,
as would at once conform to the interests
Of the road, and avoid emb irrassments to the
Government. Iwonld stipulate reasona-
ble time in which the work should be finish
cd, aud extend the line in which the con-
tractors should enjoy the emoluments of the
road, to a period which would indemnify
them handsomely, and beyond casualty; and
then would cause the road and its furni-
aure TO be sold to the highest bidder, and
put the money into the Federal Taeasury.
D Srx.