The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-11-30
INFLUENCE OF RAILROADS

The following sensible article IN reference
to the bearing which railroad enterprises are
to have upon the integrity and permaneney OF
the Union, sppears in the New York Herald.
We commend It TO the readers attention:
Railroads are the triumph of peace, the
emblems ofnternal confidence and prosperity,
the bonds Of union between the States. They
are essentially democratic institutions-they
bring tile refnements of the city and the
products Of the country toge.her-they give
impetus TO the mind, aruteness to the taste,
sensibility to the heart and humanity TO the
soul. by mingng all classes aud conditions
of men, by which the self coneeited are en-
lightened, the modest encouraged and the
ignorant exposed.
Mr.HamiiOn called the Bank of the United
States political machine" because he fore
saw that its stockholders would be Of the
weallhiest class, and their money once invest
ed and its value wholly dependent upon a
prudent aud peaceful administration of the
government they would be found the inter-
ested advocates of order and the strenuous
defenders Of public justice and morality. 1t
is undoubtedly true that capital, in anvcoun-
try, is i conservative element, and although
it may not be entrusted with the control Of
the government, nor with the direction Of its
economical policy, on account of its selfish
tendencies, it is nevertheless a most health
full ingredient in the general administra-
ton.
To far greater extent, and with vastly
more power, and equally strong motives for
securing The permanent peace and concord OF
the States OF the Union, are our railroads
political machines. They spring from the
local soyereigntes, deriving their corporate
franchises and privileges from local legislation,
but do the business Of the whole country, to
which they look for the return of the capital
invested.
Though the railway enterprises Of this
country are of recent origin, it is doubtful
indeed if they are not already the most pow
erfu ana efficient of all the branches of in
dustry in sustaining and upholding the fed
eral system. To say nothing of their effects
in producing a rapid interchange Of thoughts
and of products between the various sections
of the Union-to say nothing of the closer
social relations thereby secured, and OF the
more intimate dependence of one upon anoth'
err, their interests, homegrown to be enormous,
and resting solely upon the perpetuity of the
existing governments, are enough to insure
their hearty support for the Union and their
equally earnest condemnation of its enemies,
in whatever guse.
The political objections which so long ex-
isted in this country against great central
mOnied corporation, established avOwedly for
the purpose of operating upon federal politics,
do not apply to the State railroad corpora
tons. The difference between the two inter
ests is obvious-the latter being simply ad-
juncts of trade, instruments of social and
political union. Their favors are extended
upon definite principles, are limited to specific
objects, subjected 30 State laws, and find
their interests in the harmonious and peace
full operations of the system of constitutional
free trade, which is the corner stone and iOun-
dalton Of the public prosperity. These roads
are vet in their infancy, many scarcely in OPP
Grafton, and few of them wholly perfected
They have not yet come fully to appreciate
the important Offices which self-preseryation
may call upon them to perform in the pOliti-
cal concerns of the country. They are es-
sentillly the offspring of the federal Union,
begottcn by its free trade and sustained by
its free intercourse; and should the time
arrive when our institutions shall be menaced
by faction, they will be found true to their
instincts, and ready to do battle for the cause
of the constitution. Powerful for good,
harmless for evil, in their own interests, the
railroads of the United States may soon be
counted to exert most efficient influence
against Northern agitatOrs and disunionists.
1t is one of the strongest guarantees of the
existing order of things; because self.preser-
walton demands its fealty TO the constitution,
and its very extension over the whole coun-
try, like net, drawing into common interests
and sympathies,and pointing to all common
destiny, assure US of its ready cooperation
with the patriotism Of all good citizens in
preserving us from the endless evils of sep
aratiOn.