The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-21
SPEECH OF COLONEL BENTON.

construction of railroad the Pacific, against the
proposed south and north Of the favored by himself
and against the administration OF General Pierce SO thor
ougy has he become imbuei with the feelings of the OPP
position TO the present democratic administration Colonel
the policy Of constructing railroad between settlements
upon Pacific and upon the Mississippi without going
our Of his way to hawk at and assall it.
The bill receive the support of Colonel Benton be-
the general by It's provisions is to aid in
the construction of the Pacific railroad within the Terrific
ries through which il is pass yet every BILL and every
speech and every published letter. of Colonel Bentons,
down to period not six months distant sanctioned that
principle and made 1t qua nan No hundred-mil
lion corporations, Wall-street plunderers but the
Nation only, control the Great Highway of Nations Y
His schemes the expense Of the federal treasury
truly colossal, considered in any point Of view.
For this violent change in his opinions he assigns
reasons nor do we hear any He only exemplifs
the wisdom of the resolution of the venerable Macon
Nor do propose to ourselves inquire which Of the
two positions occupied different times by Colonel Ben
ton most nearly correct both disfgured by many
errors only Of those in his last position do
we propose to refer and that only by way of doing JUS
tce to the democratic party.
The first charge which Colonel Benton makes against
the administration of General Pierce he states thus:
prefer the central route the administration eschews
that route and lays out its strength in favor of frontier
the central but only 60 part of the way and tura
round leaving the essential section between the Little Salt
Lake and the valley of the San joaquin unexamned"
Frontier and foreign routes monopoze their Affection
enross their cares involving in my opinion at least in
nf atfop
survey of routes
There are things light for reason grave for
rdicule mischeyous for the contempt Of silence and
that category put all these xerroria roads which
seek foreign SOIL which 60 where nobody lives which would
require legonary police to protect in time of and
armies protect in time of and which would be of
United States either in Yet these
outside highways to be the cherished objects OF this adj
and all the scientific corps ALSO 1t is not
only the British BY Canada and the Mexican road by
chihuahua Sonora which they cherish but still
foreign by land and water The hnus of Tehuante
the price OF money and diplomacy at the cost OF
quarrels, and war; with Mexico for Sloo Garay
the Of double voyage and land transit under
foreign flag; the of conquering navy protect
and circuit of five thousand miles round The bare recital
OF such folly is the only chastiscmen it win endure and
that much would be ridiculous give the authors
Of such insanity not in power, welding the nu
Of legislation, diplomacy, patronage and surveys
promotion of their object Surely the tendencies of this adj
ministration most centrifugal"
Three four principal routes surveyed by order
of the administration from the Mississippi river Stesone
from Minnesota to Washington Territory, through the
North pass by Governor Stevens; one from Missouri
through Coochatopa pass Little Salt Lake by Captain
Gnnnison and passing by Fort Smith, the Arkan.
river from Memphis, and by Albuquerque the
Colorado river by Lieutenant Whipple another survey
was made from the TETON and Walkers passes in the S-
Nevada the Colorado with the surveys
of Lieutenant Whippe This last survey made by
Lieutenant Williamson.
Now mark the principal object OF these surveys to
ascertain rheter prace passes could be found through
these vast mountains the feasibility of the Plains being
known or the passes examined by these parties
out by the administration three Of them erch IN It's tr
has been pronounced by Col Benton the best and only
true pass for athe highway to India For many years he
insisted that the Of the Indies would
be aforerer'hats the word-up the Missouri river to
The Great Falls and thence through the North pass The
the majority Of present population Of this country
born and adhered late ls4e This bant-
ling OF his he nov calls when surveyed by GOV Stevens,
TIE British roats r COL Benton adopted the South
pass the acquisition Of Marposa he adopted the
delpha il 1850 And this last is the pass
surveyed by the amented Gunnson and IL known as the
Coocbaiopa pass Walkers pass, surveyed by Lieut.
Williamson is a wel-known fsvorte Of Col. Bcn,on's
THIS hres out e four the passes Of Benton and yet
the administration Is csnsnred by him FOR concuring
his view of their Importance fourth route lying be-
Coochatopa and the South pass surveyed by
Lieut. Beckwith From It's position and low posses and
from the fact that be pcrecves il Of all Others likely
any be adopted BY The NORTH Col Benton fails
notice IT, The New England and New York
roads naturally Council Bluffs and Beckwits
passes lie nearly due west Of that place If Col Fremon,
who according the National n,ellgcnce Of August 25
is now in California exploring for pass south OF San
Francisco and north Of Walkers pass shall succeed in
finding pass that shall his purposes and in the
time viii m the purposes Of theenss Of the Council
Bluffs and Beckwith route will not be difficult explain
Col Benons present silence TO foretell which
will merit advocated
The reader understand how important It is that FIRE.
shalt succeed when tell him that Captain Gunni-
sons survey was continued by Beckwiih, who found
more practicable route cas-, OF Salt Lake; and, for ne