The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-25
CON G r ESSI0N Al.
SPEECH OF HON. MILTON 8. LATHAM,

On the bin establish line OF mail steamships between
San Francisco and shanghae, China touching at the
Sandwich islands and Japan delivered ia the House o
Representatives, January o. 1855.
The House being in the Committee Of the Whole on the
state OF the unonMr oRa, Of South Carolina, in the
chair
Mr. LATHAM obtained the floor and said
Mr CHAIRMAN rise to say a few words upon subject
OF interest not only my constituents but believe to the
whole country in favor Of the bill establishing line Of
mail steamships between San Francisco and Shanghae in
China touching at the Sandwich islands and at Japan
am aware that the State which have the honor part
represent has been looked upon in the House and in the
Senate as constant applicant for legislative avors and
tax upon the United States treasury
California has been represented swallowing up large
amount OF our national resources but the question: how
much the wealth and enterprise Of California has added
our national prosperity and power which is essential TO
proper appreciation of the subjects often lost sight of
or treated merely as incidental to the problem of finance
and craftsmanship.
Sir, do not speak boasully when venture to assert
that the achievements of California though they may
history Of the world The settlement the Pacific coast
by our race tho discovery and exploration of the precious
metals the rapidly ncreasng ntercommunication between
the eastern and western shores of this continent the
opening OF Eastern Asia to commerce, the emgran
trade from China the conclusion Of commercial treaty
with Japan the gravitaon Of islands towards
our con.cderacy and the life springing up in
Australia and the Oceanic islands mark distinct
in the human race and must lead complete revolu
ton in the moral, religious and political condition of man
kind produced four centuries ago by the discovery
and colonization of this continent 1t the discovery
of America and Of the capes which transferred the
trade from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic States of E
rope swallowed up the Italian republics and gave first to
Spain and Portugal and subsequently to Holland and
England the wealth and power resulting from navigation
and commerce
The discovery Of America not only transferred poseer
from one European State to another but also changed
the relative condition of the people Wealth. which that
time almost entirely consisted Of lands the exclusive pos
session Of which by few mobiles furnished the basis Of
feudal tenres and euda aristocracy found an equally
potent factor in the accumulation of the precious metals
and the vast exchange Of products travelling from hand
hand, which made their independent rich and pow
erfu without the possession of lands and teneents di
minishng in the ratio, the power and influence of
the mobiles gave birth to class of wealthy merchants
navgator and traders, to which, subsequently, add
ed manufacturers and handicrafsnen who struggled
for, and obtained political power.
The soalled "mddle classes OF Europe owe their ORR
gin almost entirely to the New World with which history
by single leap passed from feudal arsocracy and slavery
to the emancipation OF the aborers The conquest of In
dia might have given Europe oriental CASTE still further
subdviding classes the discovery of America, and its
gigantic colonization opened TO all classes field of hardy
enterprise which invgorated both the old and the new
continents The New World gave to the Old World, first
wealth and prosperity, then political regeneration, and
finally new social development improving the condition
of individuals.
Now, maintain Mr.. Chairman, that the occupation and
settlement OF California by hardy pioneers is des
tined to have the influence ASIA and all the people
bordering the broad Pacific which the discovery
tement of the eastern shore Of America had Europe
1t will produce entire revolution in the commerce trade
with whom shall exchange pr0dUct3 our wealth.
and ideas The changes in Europe have been the work
of eight ten generations but in view OF the as
founding development of California within less than de-
cae we have every hope that with the progress
of science and the employment OF such powerful agents ms
and electricity the changes produced in the East will
be so rapid and so marked by their consequences to
to the advantage Of the living For the first time in the
history of the world does people OF European origin
not handful of adventures, but whole State, mbody
ing all the Of civilized life and partakng of the high
the shores OF the
Pacific for the first time does great nation trade from
shore to shore that ocean, The road to India which
Columbus and his followers sought when they discovered
America is found 1t continents it is ours
from to subject to our laws and open to our
enterprise.
Never in the history Of the world there greater
mission intrusted to youthful and energetic people,
combining in eminent degree the patience and en-
duance of the agrcuurst with the venuesome spirit OF
the merchant and the martial daring of the soldier Unity
of race language and organization, give momentum to
will and effect and consequence to our acts In less
than century we have risen from handful OF coloHss
to great independent nation taking rank with the proud
est on earth showing law of progress and series OF
improvements the ultimate term of which dazzles the inn
agnation In this lao of progress in this series OF I'M
provemens have reached, settled and fructifed Cali
orna have with its treasures animated the commerce
of the world stimulated enterprise and given fresh inn
peus and new direction to the stream OF European n-
migration this country. If the growth OF Europe has
asonshed and supefed Europe the unprecedented de-
veopment of the wealth and magnifcence of California
has surprized and dazled even the United States Ae
customed, are to view with comparative in
difference the unexampled history of our eastern and
western States still lack the standard OF compare
son the quickening process OF wealth and
power exhibited in empire on the Pacific. If
was the most daring and enterprsng Europeans who
came to settle Atlantic shores those who now cmi-
crate from the Atlantic the Pacific seacoas certainly
not among the most sluggish Of our race, unw-
ling obligations, growing out OF new and
heahl condition of private and public life As all Eu-
rope contributed to settle our Atlantic borders so every
State of the Union contributes now its quoum OF nte
gence enterprise and daring give vitality and strength
to our splendid domain beyond the Rocky mountains If
the old Atlantic States Of this glorious coniederacy under
stand the process of crowng the events of centuries into
the short space Of decades of the extreme West adj
vance with the speed of the sum- and fulfil the mission Of
decade within the annual return of the seasons.
At this rate only add most substantially to the
power and influence OF the confederacy, but promise
quick and ample for every legislative favor that
Congress may think fit to bestow believe Mr.. Chair
man. that California and Oregon destined to re-enact
on large and magnificent scale the part which Egypt
PLAYED in the history and civilization of the Old World
and that San Francisco is to he the modern Alexandria
through which the wealth of India is to be poured into our
lap As the Old World received its civilization from
Egypt win civilization science and the doctrine
the living God he carried from the western shores OF this
continent to reanae the stagnant races OF Japan China
and the Indian Archipelago Commerce is greater ferl
izer of the human intellect than and better messen-
ger Of the religion of peace than the cang of swords or The
roar of artillery.
This bill sir if il pass this House will 60 far in aiding
as fulfil great mission and will do that for the ad
vancement of the whole country which other iegsla
tive act involving greater appropriation of money
likely accomplish in short time We ask for moth
ing that win not through benefit every other State IN
the Union no commercial advantages that shall not
equally promote the trade and traffic of the Atlantic sea-