Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-05-21
WARRINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP


construction, by the General Government, of
military road that will serve the purposes
Of the overland emigration to the Pacific re-
gion of the United States, and we recur to the
subject to-day, as being one Of more import
ance to the future of our whole country than
any other at present before Congress When
ayouth, we resided some years in Texas, in
the days Of its independence, and know we'll
that even at that comparatively short distance
from the centre of the North American con-
federacy, if the Americans settled there could
have seen their way clear without annexation,
they would not have dreamed of uniting their
fortunes with ours. The same longings for a
separate nationality that pervaded the breasts
of the bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh
there, must, to greater or less degree, actu-
ate those of our brethren in California even
now; because those who have, so far, left
older States to make their homes in California,
are, for the most part, types of the same classes
that iOcked to Texas in the days of her sepa-
rate condition.
So far Of as California is, and with the SUI
premacy over the Pacific and its magnificent
Islands and coasts that is SO rapidly opening
upon her, it would be contrary to human ma
ture, as history for centuries on centuries
proves human nature to be, if its inhabitants
failed to hold their political allegiance to the
rest Of the Union very lightly indeed. We
may talk over the glory of the stars and stipes
ad tnfnftur1, and human nature will remain
human nature. We may not calculate on re.
tanning California and Oregon and Washington
Territories very long after it becomes their in.
tsrest to separate from US Were they by
concerted movement seriously to demand
severance of the political bonds that unite them
to rs, there can be no question that they would
be allowed to so of peaceably. Such is the
spirit Of our institutions and laws, one and all;
and all well-informed persons know that we
write but the truth in saying that however
great the sacrifice might be in losing them, no
objection worth mentioning would be made in
such case to such change in their relation,
70 US Of the Atlantic slope.
To the oceanward commerce Of the Atlantic
and Gulf States, as well as to the hardy in.
habitants of the interior, always 30 anxious to
better their condition by availing themselves
of the riches that the earth contains-agricuI
tural, mineral, and industrial generally-our
Pacific slope has already become invaluable.
That the Pacific region of our country en-
braces facilities for the immense increase Of
the substantial wealth of those inhabiting the
Atlantic slope Of the United States is fixed
fact, cOmprehended by every reading and
thinking man, woman, aud child in the Union
The question is-Shall we throw it away1
shall we fail to assure it to us by link of
hourly overland travel there and back, when
for mere song in comparison to its annual
valne TO us, such link can be speedily
forged?
The present state of the routes to that quar-
ter Of the United States by the Isthmus is
such as to greatly weaken its dependence on
Us; while tho opening prospects Of its Pacific
ocean commerce are such as greatly to in
crease the apparent advantages Of its separa-
tion from the rest Of the Union. A war with
any great European power would, at least for
the time being. cause its inhabitants, as the
Isthmus and overland routes now stand, to
feel that their connection with the rest of the
Union is simply greivous burden to them,
TO be shaken of on the first opportunity; for
they would suffer all its horrors without the
possibility Of efficient suecOr until they had
been made to pay every possible penalty of
their political connection with US. With
substantial and safe overland road construct
ed, the Atlantic slope would pour into that
quarter annually hundreds of thousands Of
the very best material (human) for assuring
the continuance of the existing political con-
nection between the two so remote sections of
the Union. The mere commercial adventur-
srs and gold hunters are not the people to ae-
complish that so desirable end; but rather the
hardy agricultural and pastoral sons and
daughters of the interior, who are so pecu.
iarly typical Of our country, its nationalcha
acteristics, institutions and associations. Up
to this time comparatively few of them have
vended their way to Califsrnia, for want of
the facility Of passing to and from there best
suited to their habits of life.
The demand Of California for the cons.ruc-
ton Of such a road as will accommodate this
description Of emigration is not only reasona.
DE- ou' II involves Tin the treatment II may
receive from COngrsss) the solution of the
question, whether the connection between on,
Pacific country 50 full Of promise to the future
of us on the Atlantic side, Is to be tenn pora,x
or permanent. Under such circumstances. i,
surely behoves Congress to let as little time A.
possible pass between the presentation Of tn,
great petition from California expected her,
in few days, and the enactment of bill il
compliance with its reasonable prayer.
Kansas The majority of the House Com
mittae Of Investigation in Kansas are busil
engaged in encouraging by all the means q
their command, resistance, rot only to tn
laws and funehenaries created by the terrific
rial legislature, bat also to the United State