, 1854-07-29

upon the energy and business qualifications
of Southern men. Born and bred where,
with most persons, life of toll is their in
heritance, and in many instances, with the
exception of a common school education,
the only fortune they inherit; seeing all
around them evidences which labor has
produced, and is constantly producing; i'll
terual improvement in all its forms; the op-
position of nature overcome by persever-
aGce and will; and believing too much the
silly stories told about the Incidence and
inertness of Southern men, and the be-
numbing influence of southern customs and
ideas, they are in the habit of looking up
on all the proposed plans of Southern pco-
pie as evanescent, especially such as relate
to the permanent improvement of the
country. The capitalists and the people of
the North are under delusion of this
kind in reference to the idea of Southern
Railroad TO the Pacific.
While Garrison and Wendall Philips
have been denouncing slavery, and the Bi-
bic, and the Constitution, and the South
generally while Abby Folsom has been
croaking about insane institutions, and
thereby about herself; whilst Mrs T.. Oaks
Smith, author of "Sinless Child"-the on
ly child of which such male women should
be author-has been ranting about womea's
rights, and Lucrecia Mott, Rev. Mrs
Brown, Gerritt Smith, and others women
in and out of pantaloons, have been riding
their respective hobbies and while the
North generally have been talking about
and dreaming over the idea of a Railroad
to the Pacific, the South, or portion of it
hitherto thought least likely to enter the
field of internal Improvement, Texas has
been at work, and now has altogether the
start of all the Union, and all the world,
in the construction of an iron road to The
Pacific. Her people are in earnest, and
the work will be done.
The people of the State Of Texas, alive
to the Importance Of communication be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by
means Of railroad through our own ter
ritory, have taken the initiatory and con-
sequent steps to perfect it. They have
left talking 10 Congress and politicians,
have left wrangling to the Peace Society,
and speculations to Fourierites and fools,
and have gone to work. While presses
and people, Legislatures and companies
farther north, have been discussing the
superior advantages of fayori,e routes, ma
king every thing turn upon the question Of
the peculiar institution" Texas has put
her pen to paper, her hand in her pocket,
and by enactment bestowed from her pub
lie lands for the purpose of constructing
the road through her territory, 10000
square miles, an extent of territory twice
that Of the entire State of Massachusetts,
or equal TO one half of the surface Of the
State of Maine She has thus shown some
indications Of her intelligence, as well as
of her vast resources in consequence Of her
immense extent. Covering an area Of half
q million Of square miles, she is able to give
and has set apart vast amount of public
lands embraced within fifty miles on either
side Of the line of railroad through her en-
tire extent. The road is to extend from
her eastern border to point near Ell Paso
on the Rio Grande, running in nearly q di-
rect west course. When this road shall
have reached that point it will be more
than half the distance from the Gulf Of
Mexico TO the Gulf Of California. From
FL Paso the proposed line diverges little
towards the souih, and meets the western
waters somewhere near the head Of the
Gulf of California. There are said to be
some fine harbors fit for seaports there, and
the completion of the road would ensure
great city at that point.
Mr.. A. b. Gray, now in this city, for
merly on the Boundary Commission, has
surveyed the route, and We understand, re-
ports that it is not only feasible but essen
tally adapted to the purpose Through
Texas the route runs along an almost com-
plete level. 1t will pass, il is said, through
Messila valley, and thence through other
portions Of the territory recently acquired
by the Gadsden treaty from Mexico. A
great portion Of the country through which
it runs is very fertile, and capable OF sus-
tanning large population. There are no
insuperable barriers to the construction Of
the work, and the immense amour; Of land
donated 10 construct il, has already drawn
to its support capitalists and men Of SCI
ence, and there can scarcely be doubt OF
its speedy completion.
There is but little chance that this road
will ever be extended to California. The
desolation of much of the country over
which it would have to pass, would be
great objection. But chiefly the mount
ainous character would forever bar all idea
of continuing the road. or a branch Of it,
to any port in this State. 1t might posi-
bly, reach San Diego. or San Pedro in Los
Angeles county, but nature has planted q
line of Mountains between that point
and San Francisco, which is an eter-
nal barrier 10 railroad communication. It
might, therefore, be well for the people Of
this city, who are so lukewarm upon the
subject of the overland railroad. TO reflect
upon the probable consequences to proper