The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-03-07

the road through the city TO a point opposite
to an island belonging jointly 70 the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company. and the Panama
Railroad Company. This island 10 called Fl
neo, and is about 10000 feet long. and would
require stone pier Of two miles and . half
involving an additional expense Of several
millions.
Great praise is bestowed upon Col. Totem
the able Chief Engineer of this great work.
Some idea Of the grandeur of this triumph
Of American art and enterprise, may be
formed from facts set forth in the speech Of
Mr.. j. II. Sanford. The road way had to be
cut through trackless forest of dense and
gigantic trees The splendid bridge that
spans the Chagres river-6oo feet in length
was built thousand miles distant, in the
State of Georgia. and brought over sea to the
Ithmus of Panama. The wicker crib that
traverses the "Iron Mountain Swamp" is a
noble specimen of engineering skill and in
genuity. Every iron rail upon the track was
shipped to Aspinwall from England. Not
withstanding the luxuriance of the forests,
and the richness and variety of the woods,
there could not be found enough durable tim
Der to supply the cross ties, so that yellow
pine had to be brought for this purpose from
Florida. Six millions of dollars were expen.
ded in building it. Laborers were imported
from beyond the seas; Irishmen from their ma
tive island; Coolies from Asia; Africans from
jamaica and drafts were made upon the busy
laboring population of the United States
Thus, says Mr.. Sanford, have the four quar-
tiers of the globe fifty contributed the labor
and materials which have united to form this
door of the Oceans" for the passage of the
commerce of the world.
PRESIDENTIAL SPECULATI0NS.--Ihe w ASH
ington correspondents of the New York pa
pers. speak of what they call Southern
movement in Washington, looking to the
nomination of d. s. Dickinson Of New York,
for the Presidency. They mention, also, that
having this nomination in view, Southern
Presidential Democratic Convention will be
held in the latter part of July, and that VIM.
c. Rives, of Virginia, is spoken of for presi-
ding officer on that occasion. This will be
news in Virginia, we think. Mr.. Rives passes
for very good Wing in these diggings.
George Law, of New York, is mentioned
as the probable candidate of the Know Moth
ing party. The members of that party in the
Pennsylvania legislature, have led off in his
behalf, and his letter to them, which will soon
be published, is said to have caused great
sensation.
Sam. Houston is another prominent name
connected with the next Presidency. The
history of Houston reads like romance ana
under other circumstances his name could
arouse storm of popular enthusiasm, second
only to that of Jackson. But, something
more than the elements of popularity are es-
sential to success. Popularity is coquetish
Jade, and when the best man shows solicitude
for her smiles is apt to lead him fools
dance Houston has been too eager of late,
to make Northern capital. There are unchar-
table souls who believe that his late visit to
Boston, had the White House in view, and
that his recent devout professions, and strong
anxiety to retire from public life, are mere
blinds. IT'S malicious world.