The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-12

route by the northern seas 10 avoid collision but finally
towards the close of the sixteenth century they entered
the Indian seas and laid the foundation OF their COM
mercal power in the East by settlement at Java, and on
the islands OF Nangasaek, which they hold 10 this day
having driven the Portuguese from the Moluecas JAPAN
Malaeca, and Ceylon France aud England also became
competitors for this trade the latter, aIousing from the
domestic dseord and lassitude in which the contest be-
tween the house, OF York and Lancaster had left her, be-
gan commercial career al The commencement OF the
seventeenth century, when Queen Elizabeth conferred
Tor limited PERIOD upon association OF merchants 10
London the exclusive right OF the commerce OF India
WIN The usual energy OF that extraordinary naoh DOW
our great commercial rival, her, upon her ca
trance into this field of trade and wealth. founding
settlements upon the coasts OF Maa6al and Cofomahusi'
forming Establishments the mouth OF the Persian gull
and obtaining the control OF the commerce IN gold stufs
carpets and silks Great Britain pursued her conquesis
down TO modern tmesi when political tempesls shook
to it's foundation the colonial system OF Europe, and
brought within her capacous sweep nearly
the whole oil the commercial establishments OF the
East There she stands now, in all the plenltuds
OF her power ruling, directly indirectly IN The East
one hundred and tweny-seven millions OF people lhe
wealth which she has poured IN upon The BRUSH isles
OF her power city OF palaces, and adorned It's nhab-
itants with profuson OF wealth and luxury TO which
there is no parallel in the history OF the world L has
covered the ocean with her heets-consolidated the ma
tional power that whilst she deed the continent oil
Europe in arms II has given that strength by which she
has hitherto been able 10 keep unbroken The chain tina,
binds her colonies, dotted around the great cir
Gle OF the earth, and which the never SETS II has
given her by which representatives OF her strength
placed assert ner power ana deienu
her interests. Not only but she has done all that
nation could do TO bring herself in the most direct com
muncaon with the great bulk OF her Asiac possessions
AS shown by in discussing this subject at the last SEES
sion of Congressman It's importance justifes repeti-
ton--she has established less than three overland
routes to India one from SOUTHAMPTON down the English
channel the bay OF Bscay along the coast OF Por
tuga and SPAIN TO Gbratar thence through the Meder
ranean, along the northern coast OF Africa, 10 Agers
Malta, and Alexandria, Cairo and across the lshmus OF
Suez from which, descending the Red and through its
straits al the southern extremity the route lies across the
Indian ocean, to Pointde Gale Ion; and from thence
branching across the Bay Of Bengal; down the straits Of
Kong. From the same point in Ceyon there are steam
communications on the western side oil Hindosian, and
along the Maabar coast to Bombay; Wills, the east
side there is like communication to Madras and
Calcutta.
There is then another route connecting with this, from
London by the way OF Folkstone Boulogne, Paris, Mar
settles, and Malta, Alexandria Then they have
German overland route connecting with the first by way
of the Elbe, Lepsic, Dresden. Vienna Trieste, and down
the Adratic, by the onlan Islands, 10 Alexandra There
is another and s shorter route which has engaged at
enon, and is proposed, being the same by which the
troops OF Alexander the Great returned from the Ddles
by the Persian gulf and river Euphraes 10 Bassorah, al
the head of the Persian gulf, and upon which the pas
sage from Bombay to the Mediterranean be made in
twelve days. She also proposes TO connect the British
East India possessions by steam navigation from Ceylon
Singapore TO the Australian settlements
But, if not content with all these facilities, another
stupendous scheme OF direct and speedy commu-
nication with the East by railway hls been conempla
ted, by which London and Calcutta the capitals OF the
western and eastern worlds, will be brought within a
weeks journey Of each other The proposed route is
from Calais TO Ostend thence to Cologne through Augs
burg Lombardy, 10 Trieste the Adriac thence along
the valleys of European Turkey to Bassorah on the Per-
sian gull passing along the northern shores OF that gulf
through Persia and Beoochstan TO the Indus and thence
to Calcutta, on the eastern coast OF Hndostan. Their
proposed route from London 10 the capital OF The Bengal
presidency would be about five thousand six hundred
miles, which, 1t IS supposed can be constructed IN four
teen years.
Look the before the Senate in contrast with
Lnr1
ests and will any say that government is not
capable OF extending equal benefits TO people Great
Britain is 10 hers' The beauty and perfection of
institutions consist in their eminent capacity for good and
lis general diffusion and, under enlightened popular
troll this government cannot long be mstirected,
main qnescent or inactive when the public interest de-
mands its inlerpositon.
No senator say that TIE is not one OF the
highest concern to our present interests and our future
pTosreryi indeed, IL Is not indispensable 10 prevent
territorial dismembement
Have the people OF the United States no claims upon
their government Shall sit here stessy with
folded, virtually denying theml Or shall sectional leal-
ousy, that destructive canker OF national happiness be
suffered parayze and destroy energies and useful.
ness, wire-dawn political theories OF power defeat
this important oblectl
There is point OF time in the dealings OF men with
each other when "forbearance to be virtue ::
so with the public mind aroused on question OF mo-
mentous Importance when every public man is held 10
just responsibility. Recognising that responsibility, how
will we stand justified before our constituents ii, by a
failure in The discharge OF duty, permit coninu-
OF the trade of the world through foreign channels
when is power 10 bring under the control OF
people whose industry and enterprise have set aoat
apon waters and the ocean more Than eighteen
thousand vessels, with nearly half million OF tonnage
We ask in the OF our trade domestic and foreign,
that direct means of communication be given out
let through our own territory The geographical centre
OF the republic is almost unoccuped and uncuvaed for
want OF The road seek. lntersect it speedily
you please BY indefinite number OF highways when
the public interest and business OF the country require
them, but give railroad as practical
ure TO begin WITH and the settlement OF the country will
speedily be accomplished the foundation laid for the
building of many roads connecting thus with all parts OF
the Union For all postal, military and commercial pur-
poses the intervening territory between the Mississippi
and Pacific presents impassable barrier forcing
all intercourse through foreign territory and placing
California al distance of thousand miles from
New Yorkthe time occupied IN making the transit be.
ing more than double that required Tor European commu
nicalion; whilst Egypt and Turkey may be reached
sooner Than our Pacific possessions. There too
go by an uninterrupted voyage under own national
indebted 10 the courtesy OF foreign powers for the
privilege OF passage, unless undertake the voyage
by Cape Horn, which we might be fortunate enough TO
accomplish IN between two and three months by steam,
from four 10 six months in the ordinary sail naviga-
ton,
That such state OF things can long continue either
in peace war; is impossible.
California points you the way 10 the commerce OF
ASIA and 10 secure she asks continental railroad not
only for her sake, but for the benefit OF ALL yet sp
pealng 10 IN virtue OF the high claims she has upon
you. Already she has more than doubled your metallic
capital, in pouring her golden into the lap Of
the Union Hold back for single quarter Of year her
returns the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico and another
Commercial l manic will involve YOU in speedy