The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-25
ExpEpIEscy.


the western verge of the North American continent he,
separation from her sister States by dreary deserts
mountains and large territories inhabited by untamed In
dias her natural resources and the adventurous spirit
her people leave but little doubt Ia the minds OF rejecting
men that she must be brought into direct and imme
diae communion with the heart of the confecrncy or u
hniaely dissolve her connexions with it, This separation
would entail the loss Of every foot of American terri
tory west of the Rocky mountains together with all
The property OF the government found there al the
time. A railroad communication between the At
1 lantc and Pacific would secure that entire
region to forever together with its untold mineral
wealth. and which is valuable STILL pioneer breth-
rem who are illustrating to the world American sereli-
ance and American enterprise 1t would scatter broadcast
IN our midst the treasures of Asia and Oceanica give
TO ms commercial power which would make this govern
lnent the umpire of every nation upon earth Its COM
merclal advantages incalcuable and its political et-
ecs strain the imagination San Francisco would become
the commercial emporium OF the eastern world and with
lavish hand pour ont the wealth of the parts of
globe on every section Of country upon which Heaven
has bcniRnanty and continually smiled. A continuous
line Of railroads between the great oceans would be-
come the highway of the nations of the earth Our carry
ing-traden the Pacific amounting to about three hum
aed thousand toms and employing upwards Of hundred
millions OF dollars would be augmented by the operation
OF this road mmesuraby beyond the proportional increase
resulting from the mineral wealth Of California and Aus
traa combined and the whistle of locomotive heard
the shore OF the Pacific would do towards opening
the ports of China and Japan than and squadrons
These results nearly certain may be approached
by ordinary human reasoning. But there are other con-
sderaons and advantages of domestic character which
need no speculation theory to recommend the establish
Territory Of New Mexico which regard including such
other territory has already been will be- secured
der the Gadsden treaty casa a"s Hs. tsh ftE&4 53E
The rapid transmission of the nails for which SER
vice the government is paying annually 81 O0O
will bring distant friends into close association with
our government and ourselves and thus dfuse in those
rof regions social and political sympathy, and
panded intelligence which the chief elements of nation
al strength and national prosperity The prompt
national dences and give confidence and security
to the western pioneers whose cottages will flank either
side of the road and constitute them its efficient guards
while they may derive present support from the employ
ments would offer for their honest labor The dmntion
OF the number of government officials the reduction of
the number Of troops necessary to protect prop
ert and possessions the greater security and rapdty
conveying government stores and munitions of war, to-
gehcr with the saving of time and of expenses incident
the extension Of civil and military orders and the greater
eelery given to their execution make il of
questionable economy. The contemplated increase of the
army by the organization of three additional regiments and
which the wants OF the country will otherwise require win
thus be dispensed with
My friend from California, Mr. McDouGALI, who seems
to have examined this branch of the subject with unusual
care estimates the the government of military
transportation to New Mexico and the Pacific 81 7390l4
and the cost OF keeping ap its whole naval communca
ton with the PACING by Cape Horn and the Cape Of Good
Hope Of Quitting, dscharging and supplying thing
required for that service and the loss d service 10 the gov
eminent during these long voyages at another million of
dollars per annum Wege we to become involved in war
with England California the exposed the most
denceles and the richest portion Of country would
be the first attacked Such portions of her standing army
as service in India could be transferred our Pa
cihc shore while we ensting defend It, She
has 66T warvesscls carrying 1890 guns while have
but 60 and 202a guns all told Should she
form an alliance with France, with view to prevent the
acquisition OF Cat by the United States France could
bring bear upon la guns which carried by 32s
yes-els-ofwar Gould in honor in law stand aloof
and California the ares and youngest of the sister
States paged and ruined, without effort herr
And what would IL cost to march transport by sea-
adequate army for her reeff
But sir, ii in the of humanity that this enter
| III
avoids the pers oi the and makes that appeal eio
quent by suggesting an example Of its dangers, What
worldly consideration compensate for all the agony
dnred by those who appalled, and who died board
the Inflated San Francisco Tho heart sickens and bleeds
when contemplating the mscries which encompassed the
who encountered them by order of government and
the who shared them by the commands of affection
And sir IL by robbng the exchequer of every dollar in
It's vaults could have prevented their suerings and pre-
served their lives my vote should have prevented
their salvation
TRIMS AND CONDITIONS
Having satisfied myself that Congress has the constt
tona power make donations of lands which lie in the
Territories and that in the under consideration ii is
expedient to make them the remaining considerations
have reference to the terms and conditions of the eln
quishment The bill provides as follows;
That FOR the purpose Of aiding and securing the
tion Of railroad and teegrnpbic line from tho Mississippi
river point north OF the thrtysoventh parallel
north latitude TO the city OF San Francisco, in the State Of
apart quantity OF land equal TO the alternate sections TO the
width of fifteen miles each side OF such road from the term
sixth degree Of longitude from Greenwich and
thence westerly 10 the eastern line OF the State of California
alternate sections to the width OF twenty miles each side
OF such road and from thence through the said State of Gal
ornis TO the western terminus OF such road alternate
tons the width OF fifteen miles each side thereof such
Lands be selected from the sections which shall be desg
mated in the public OF said land (whon msde by odd
numbers and to be held and conveyed herein provided
Now sir my principal objections TO the bill to be
found in The passage of IL which have read though there
minor points in Its details which my could
yield
Ny first objection then Is that reasonable conjecture
approximate the actual location Of the road.
would not individual and ! cannot agent,
make any bargain loose and indefinite. have said |
take rs granted that the direct practicable route
would be pursued but by the terms OF the BILL there Is
nothing prevent this road making civzing sprawl
from the mouth Of the Ohio river via the great American
desert down the Cumanche settlement and from thence
back that point In tho Rocky mountains where the
nior member from Missouri [Nir. BKSros1 insists that
Colonel Frtmonts mule died but not his and not Of
coIdn
Francisco and the point where the Ohio empcs into the
Mississippi river be the termn Of the road should IL
be built under this bill Now sir IL happens that
line from San Francisco 10 the mouth OF the Ohio
river Is the very longest airline which be from the
city Of San Francisco 10 the Mississippi river snywhere
from st Paul in the Territory OF Minnesota, TO Baton
Rouge in the State OF Louisiana What viii justify me
one of the of the public interests in granting
alternate sections OF land upon this very long line estima-
ted to be at least two thousand miles in length when by
giving the road different location, reduce its
length and hasten the completion OF the work,
route which s comparatively unobstructed-
by ice and snow-and at infinitely less cost of govern
lands than To be transferred and relnquished by
this bin hold that in so great an enterprise
l.to Tho Ia frpp