The Empire County argus., 1856-11-01
From the Fillmore Ranger.
Mr.. Fillmore and the Pacific Railroad.


Which of the three Presidential candidates is the
most sound on the Railroad question? Mr. Buchan-
ans friends claim this position for him. But, Mr. j.
L.. Brent delegate from California, tells us that the
co idon OF his nomination was, that there should be
no railroad plank in the Democratic platform.
Mr.. Fremont claims it under the Republican plat
form, and moreover, writes late letter in which he
asserts that he has considered his life conseclated to
the construction of the Pacific Railroad from the
day his connection with the army was dissolved. But
we have no evidence of this consecration" during the
term of his service in the United States Senate when
he was in position at least to introduce the measure
to the consideration of Congress.
These are but the professions of bidders for the
vote OF California.
Now, look at Mr.. Fillmore's acts Tn the first
place, the Wing party OF which he was member,
always favored and sustained railroads and internal
improvements, for national purposes His acts and
his life have been devoted to that system of politics
which requires the general government to build just
such u national internal improvement enterprise as
the Pacific Railroad In the second place, read his
messages to Congress, while President of the United
States.
President Taylor, in his message of December 4,
l049, wrote as follows; and his Secretary of the In
terror, MIR. Ewing, urged the matter at length upon
the attention of Congress:
1.-The great mineral wealth of California and the
advantages which its ports and harbors and those of
Oregon, afford to commerce, especially with the
islands of the Pacific and Indian oceans and the
populous regions of Eastern ASIA make it certain
that there will arise in few years, large and pros
porous communities on our western coast 1t, there
fore, becomes important that line of communication
the best and most expeditions which the nature of the
country will admit, should be opened within the ter
ritory of the United States from the navgabe waters
of the Atlantic on the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific
Opinions elected and expressed by two large con-
ventions, lately assembled at ST. Louis and Memphis
points to a RAILROAD, as that which, if practicable
will best meet the wishes and wants of the country
Mr.. Fillmore, i'll his message of December 2, 1850
said:
The unprecedented growth of our territories on
the Pacific in wealth and population, and the conse-
quent increase of their social and commercial rela-
tions with the Atlantic States seem to render it the
duty OF the government to use all its constitutional
power to improve the means Of intercourse with them
The Importance of opening "a line of communications
the best and most expeditions of which the nature of
the country will admit between the valley of the
Mississippi and the Pacific, was brought to your
notice by my predecessor, in his annual message ;
and, as the reasons which he presented in favor of
the measure still exist in full force beg leave to
call your attention to them, and to repeat the recon-
mendatons then made by him."
And in his message of December, 1852, he again
repeated the recommendation, as follows:
"ln former messages, l have among other things,
respectfully recommended to the consideration of Con
gress the proprety and necessity of further legislation
for the establishment OF land offices for
the sale of the public lands in California and the Ter
ritory of Oregon for the construction of road from
the Mississippi valley to the Pacific ocean, etc.
without repeating the reasons for legislation on
these subjects which have been assigned in my form
er messages | respectfully recommend them again to
your favorable consideration"