The Nevada journal., 1855-01-05

virtually wrested from the Union. By
rail communication between the Atlantic
and Pacific the government would have
the means to provide effetc ually against
assaults upon California, and so keep us
from being starved into subsection. The
Pacific railway is as ssary to the com
mon defense as the building of 8 fort at
New York or New Orleans.
But there is another view of this case.
If the general government throws upon
California the whole burthen of its own
defense, how long will this State retain
it's allegiance If we are to derive no ben
efts-no assistance from the Union-es-
pecially in most critical concerns-how
long will this State pay its customs to the
government? If the only effectual de-
! fense we can have is denied US, and the
weight of u war is thrown upon our shoul-
ders--a var of which there are thirty chan
! ces TO one, we can have no immediate in
te.est Uneven if we succeed in repelling
the foe, can it be expected we will longer
pay duties to distant and neglectful gov
ernment, instead of appropriating them to
our own wants, and organizing an inde
pendent government When the idea
shall have been fully impressed upon our
people that we are treated but as mere
province of a selfish empire, that hour will
the bond of Union be withered, and a
new republic be organized. Oregon
could complain of the same grievances,
with less power to help herself. This
magnificent territory on the Pacific, from
Vancouvcr's to the Gila, would organize
an Independent nation, and wrest from
the Union its choicest possessions.
The reasoning of Mr.. Pierce upon the
objection raised by this last message is
equally fallacious. 1t is the very dotage
of doubt and hesitancy, while it is involved
in the grossest inconsistencies. He cites
the cases Of roads unfinished, as disastrous,
which are so for the lack of capital, as he
says, forgetful that the government is ap-
pealed to to furnish this capital in way
that must bring to itself reflex from the
increased value of ungranted lands more
than what can be realized from all the
lands if none are donated, and that the
capital thus granted in lands will finish the
road. If the lands are granted, where is
his objection Is it expense to the gov
ernment' He admits proprietor would
gain in returns by the donation. sit be-
cause the road cannot be fnished' The
lands would build the road, and a basis
like that, if afforded by the government,
would command capital in any part of the
world. And is it any argument against
such an enterprise as the Pacific railroad
which offers renumerative boon to en-
terprise of the most unquestionable na-
tute-that roads through thinly settled
regions, with no important terminii, have
remained unfinished or unproductive Is
there Californian that would say aye to
such propositions But California has
been miserably deceived. It's interests
are bound up in this road. 1t trusted to
deceitful representations-gave its support
to Franklin Pierce-and has reaped the
reward. 1t is now as plain as day light,
what wa, attempted to be urged to Cali
fornians while it was yet time for action
that every vote for Pierce and his supper
, .rs was vote against the Pacific Rail
road
Gen. Pie. has made many mistakes.
His mind is vi,,,ertly not one of those
able to appreciate grea. issues, and seize
auspicious moments for g,of2ous fame.
The 18th Brumaire arrives and depsrts,
but he is no Napoleon! "There is tide
in the affairs of men, which, taken at the
food" sc. By overstepping the bounds
of factional prejudice, and treating this
road in the comprehensive view of a
statesman and patriot, he would have
placed laurel on his brow that no sue
cceding administration, however great and
prosperous, could render Insignificant -
By giving a cheering word, and the in
fuence of his position to the enterprise,
he could have signalized his administra-
ton, and ennobled his country. He could
have thrown into the lap of this nation the
trade of the world. Cbina and Japan
would pour into our midst untold treasure;
of wealth British India, reduced by
Britain at the cost of hundreds of millions
would be more tributary to US than to her