Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1855-12-17
SKETCH OF THE
speech of Mr.. Meek, of Jefferson.

: ohI1 VI VI IN
speech OF Mr.. Meek, of Jefferson.
Delivered IN the House of Representatives., December
/ ION 1855, on the bill 10 guarantee the payment
| BIZ tie Siate of tie Bonds of tie City Of Memphis,
ISSUED and 10 be issued to tie Memphis and Little
Rock Railroad Company
Mr.. MEEK, said, that originally he had not in
tended to submit any remarks to the House upon
the bill now under consideration, but he had lis
tened TO the discussion until he satisfied that,
as State, We now hal the opportunity of securing
the passage through our territory, Of the most
magnificent enterprise Of the age. What is it
Nothing more Or less than the passage of the Pa.
ciGc Railroad from the Western TO the Eastern Dor.
der of our State. Located on the bank of the ma.
estc Mississippi whose moving, restless waves bear
TO the markets of the world the commerce of the
great valley which bears its name, with its teeming
millions of population is the city of Memphis the
Antilles OF Tennessee. Occupying an advantage
Gus position with a wise aud sagacious policy looks
ing TO the future, she has secured the location of
Railroad which j. to connect her with Little Rock,
the capital of the rich and growing State of Arkan-
sas, and which, il built within reasonable time, is
destined to be lirk in the great highway of the
world passing through our continent from ocean to
ocean. Towards the construction of this link in the
Pacific Railroad, the State OF Arkansas, with
praiseworthy libcraty, has appropriated nearly
halt million of acres of her public lands, which
will yield almost enough to build the road, but
these lands are not available until the first section
is completed and the cars running upon it; hence
Memphis asks the State to endorse her bonds that
she may complete this section. and thus this
important neutrality-suspicious. not only to her.
self but the whole State.
What is the history of this national enterprise,
the Pacific railroad? The war with Mexico result
ed in our acquisition of California. Our Govern
ment had not only by the valor displayed by her
troops upon every field, won the admiration of the
world but had added to her borders the shores that
are washed by the cain and placid waters of the
Pacific. Was the territory thus acquired rich
Was it inexhaustible in treasure? Let her San
Francisco, her population, her mountains and val
ley of gold answer. Let the pusaton, the pride,
the pomp and speculation of New York, which has
monopolized her trade and commerce, answer. 1t
ran like an electric shock through the Union. The
civilization, the intelligence, the Atlantic energy of
ourcountry must reach thelPacifc. A State springs
up like magic upon the golden shores of that mighty
ocean, and is admitted into the Federal Compact.
The present mode of reaching this new Ell Dorado
is too slow and uncertain, aud railroad is demand
ed Northern, Middle and Southern route is
each claimed the most practicable. The Hon.
Thomas Hart Benton, in his place IN the Congress
of the Urted States declared that the middle route
is the only practicable one, and as evidence OF
its practcabity said the buffalo, as he roamcd the
wds between the Rocky Mountains and the Mis-.
sssippi valley instnctivey took his from the
lowest gorges in the mountains and over the even
and level plains and that the buffalo trail ad locat-
ed the Pacific Railroad through Missouri. An ac'
tual survey had dissipated this hypothesis The
Northern route was also found impractclble from
the and ice that blocks up its passage through
the Rocky Mountains. In the distance, the South.
route doomed up. President Pierce, with
wise anu enlightened forecast, set on foot and
ried ont TO consummation, the purchase Of the Me-
silla Valley, aud they secured the Southern route.
Although friend OF President Pierce politically,
he admired the nationality and sound policy of that
measure.
Texas, though young in her history, still no lag
gard TO her interest, has donated seven millions of
acres of her public lands, valued over forty mil
lions Of dollars, to aid in constructing that portion
Of the Pacific Railroad which lies within her terri
tory and at the head Of that enterprise is Robert
Walker, the Secretary of the Treasury under Presi
dent Polk. Another link ia this road is located from
Little Rock to Memphis, and the moment for deci
sive action on the part Of Tennessee has arrived.
Will take the initiatives viii we have the Pa.
cifc Railroad-the highway Of the word-tO pass,
in its pride, its giant proportions and its untold mu
Iihc nee, over the soil of Tennessee: Will we per.
init the roads we are building for ourselves and for
our future citizens, to take their iron foundations
! proportion of the wealth, travel trade and CON
merce of Europe aud Asiag Shall the subjects of
Kings and Despots, in wonder and admiration trav-
erse the Western continent from ocean to ocean,
on road which will be a monument worthy free
Anglo Saxon race? This road would enter our Dor
ders at Memphis, and sweeping by Nashville within
bearing Of the Halls Of Legislation, doing homage
60 the wisdom that 'Ostered and established il, pay
I tbute 70 our Capitol, aud move on the exodus OF
trade and travel 10y Chattanooga and Knoxville.
When, again, he asked, Il we neglect this oppOr.
tunity, will it present itself? Two years may locate
and establish the Pacific Railroad beyond our con-
troll. Two wears NAV place beyond our era. p that
which we now have the power to move and mould
to our pleasure. There are auspicious hours in the
history Of States, and If he OWNED Alright this is
one.
Gentlemen on this floor could not accuse him Of
interested motives sectional feelings. He repre-.
scented county In the Eastern Division of the
STATE, and in casting his vote for the bill he was
looking 60 the future. In the first place he believed
the measure right ia principle aud policy, and N
the second place, he believed the generous heart
and noble impulses Of East Tennessee would resposd
in the affirmative TO the proposition. Eas, Tcnues
see is national in her resources. Her copper, zinc
lead, marble, non ore and coal, ineIhauslible
To day her copper ore Is in the markets Of the
world, and one huudr,d Wagons are daily employed
in bsaring away the ore from one SET Of mines
Oar splendid Capitol HvalIing the South and
South west II rot he whole Union, in the splendor
OF lie conception, the magni6ccnce Of its execution
and the beauty OF is architecture, is 0rnamented
with East Tennessee marble SEEK out the crown
ig beauty that the hand Of taste and genius has
placed on your Capitol and Il is constructed Of the
beautitn! marble Of East Tennessee. East Tennes
see, heRimed IN from time INN emoral by noun
tAins, had within the last two years sundered hei
letters, and now she brealhes ireer and IS looking
to the future. Already, within the iwo months o.
October and November. had abe shipped fron
lieW counties four hundred thousand bushels o.
wheat sor foreign trade. In view Of all the clrcnm
stances that surrounded the proposition lin yiew
Of the growihg wealth Of Memphis and her ability
TO meet her bonds, with hes Navy Yard, worth hal