Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1854-02-25

NATIONAL AID TO NEW ORLEANS RAILROAD
I'm the proceedings Of the Senate, of the 8tl
instant, we notice that bill granting to the
Strife Of Louisiana, the right of way and do
nation of public land for the purpose of loca
ting and constructing Railroad from Algier.
to the Sabine River, after having been amended
by the Committee on Public Lands, which
amendment was concurred in, was read the thire
time and passed. The title of the bill reads as
follows: ''An act making grant of land tt
the State of Louisiana to aid in the construc
ton of q certain Railroad in said State"
| We have not seen the original bill, nor do We
know anything about it further than what il
above given. But judging from hecharacter Of
our Senators, we are inclined to ne belief tina,
it must necessarily be favorable ia a high degree
in its provisions. Men like Benjamin an Sill
! dell, would not fail to watch the progress Of
| such an important Railroad bill-as important
| as any that can be brought before the Senate
SO far as Louisiana is consumed, for the future
prosperity of both city and State depend, to a
material extent, upon the speedy construction
| Of the Railroads now under way-and see that
it subserved the interests of their constituents
| as greatly as was practicable.
The railroad, starting from Algiers, to which
this aid is given, is, as matter of course, the
Opelousas and Great Western road-destined al
no distant day to be one Of the main branches,
if not the main branch, of the great trunk Pacific
Ocean railway. Congress could not bestow a
donation OF public lands upon q more praise
worthy enterprise, or one frought with greater
benefits, immediate and prospective, to New Or
leans, Louisiana Texas-in fact, the whole of
the vast and exhaustless Southwest. To look
at the Opelousas road as it now stands, see what
has been done, and what is sure to be done, es-
al ~
are certain to be provided as soon as needed,
glance at the country that is to be traversed,
with an eye to its typographical conformation
and the astonishing richness of its agricultural
productions, think of the incalculable develop
ment OF which it is susceptible, reflect upon the
munifclent offer that Texas has made to build
road through her vast territory with which
this road will undoubtedly connect and consti-
tute its main stem and FEEDER and the propo-
sltlon at once becomes as clear as sunbeam
that IT even road deserved the encouragement
and patronage of the Federal Government, the
Opelonsas undoubtedly does.
There is little doubt but that the present
Congress will be more liberal than any of its
predecessors in donating public lands in aid of
great and desirable works Of internal improve
ment. The principal fear to be apprehended in
that President Pierce will veto the bills We
hope ne will not !; but are constrained to say
that there are well founded reasons for such
apprehensions. As Representative and Senator
ne was inexorably opposed to internal improve
ments. He opposed and voted against meas
sures that received the support and vote of Mr..
Calhoun, and the signature. of Gen jackson.
We trust the lessons of experience have wrought
change in his opinions. If not, assistance
may be looked for in vain from the Government
A Presidential veto would blast every thing, at
least during discrepancy Of the chair of State.
Bulietin.s