The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-06-16
For the Union
PROTECTION TO THE OVERLAND MAIL

afforded the overland mail 70 California lew addition,
considerations suggest themselves which it may be as
well to state.
In the frst place it may be assumed as true that tb
overland route win have fulfilled all the conditions
for which it was established until it viii be not only the
means OF transporting the mails but the means Of trans
porting the treasure OF the mines Of California and t
mines Of the interior Of the continent which are now IN
the process Of development.
In the second place think It may also be assumed &c
true that successful carriage way is necessary ante
dent of a railway.
In reference the first proposition have only to r.
fleet what would be the consequences of with Great
Britain or France upon commerce. external and In
teral and upon the metallic currency Of the country
We should at be stopped in semi-monthly re-
eeipt Of two millions Of gold dust from California The
effect Of this alone would be sufficiently disastrous anda
mere reference this fact renders the further pursuit Of
this branch Of the inquiry unnecessary. We should have
this line Of communication interrupted IL we had gun far
gun to the British navy. But with our present small
navy no one doubts that would in time of war lose
this gold dust
To argue the suppostion, and base legislation on
the idea that such is not TO exist is invite war,
and no man with sound head national heart woula
resort to this line OF argument for defeating project r
developing the resources Of the interior OF the country
and guarding against the assaults Of its enemies
Should our line Of communication by any misfor
tune be INSTRUCTED internal commence would eceiy
blow which years would not obliteate In the event
Of interruption We could build up in day line Of
overland TO supply this oceanic mode Of commupi
ton
1t is a work of time and forethought The main fs,.
lures Of the country have been ably reconnoitre y o
officers Of the army, under the orders Of the late distn
gushed head Of the War Department But the partcp.
lar of this mail yet to be selected Water tanks
are to be opened stations be built for the prot
ton OF the men, and stables for the animals These st
lions are be supplied with subsistence for the men ord
forage for the animals for it be denied that
whatever route be taken, than one-half these s
tons win be in desolate regions which win prorc.
nothing and must be supplied from distance An This
the work of Time and requires an outlay Of money
time, and brains. Under judicious management AMI
plenty OF money it could be done In year But W =,
would the end Of one year bring to pass with ,iq
England or Fanoci II would show this e. dan strs.n,
from California equivalent 70 an annu, tribute 10 US Of
$50 600 900 diverted from aud prDes mon M rc
ern shores OF Europe san anesoo herself possibly pay
ing tribute % the my to avoid being burned down
and the WeseEp States aifOFnia Oregon and Wash.
a'enated and Disguised with the country which
had Ied not only to give them the Necessary protection
but failed open the natural line Of communication with
them within their territory upon which they could
fall back and resist their enemies by sea- and keep up
their social and commercial intercourse with the centre
Now, fur the accomplishment If this overland route
what is the appropriated This great object Of i'm
mediate necessity and tangible utility one affecting the
very integrity Of the empire is the sum that Con-
gress has voted Not more than Is voted for single
gate lineofba ship sometimes left to rot at her
moorings
II is not generally known but Is nevertheless true
that the Spanish government ia its days OF power pre-
vious 10 the revolution OF her colonies in America hada
line Of military posts extending the continent from
San antonio dc Bexas Texas to Pctic in sonora and
the remains ef these posts sl in existence Many
Of these ruins have BEEN visited by the writer Of this art
Gle and it happenod HIN also d have been shown
manuscript by General .then cooell Iangbsr Of the
Mexican army which manuscript it is believed is still in
his possession being the Official report Il Spanish mar
qus name forgottenl who then In SIDE command of
that extended frontier and responsible to none but
the Vioeroy Of Spain. then resident in the city Of Mexico
That report gave the locality Of the stations the amount
and description OF force al each pac and the periods
marking the circulation Of troops from pest to post
II appeared that semi-weekly excursions were made
from post 10 post, and the communication from San
Antonio to Pictic completed in every four or
six weeks This chAin Of post was alone for defence
and 50 complete ID that in the year 1891, when
AiAaS tA4S NS1tEaA commanding an
nounoed tle entire and absolute tranquility Of this
frontier.
These the Talmy days Of the interior az the cont
nent when single hsciendas some Of which are now with
in the limits az the United States ard deserted numbered
teir 20 600 bead Of horses and so coo head Of cattle
Compared with the necessities Of the spanish mopar
chy at that time how great are the necessities Of this
country for such line oE interior communication The
question with then which wAs purely one Of aence is
with Us not only one Of defense equally binding out in
wolves great considerations Of commerce AMI what has
twice before been stated probably the tegrity of the
Union itself
II six millions Of dollars hai bSr ,,td instead Of six
hundred thousand 20 opsn this seat line 81 interior com,
muniCation it woud not haze hen enc cent above the
magnitude at the Interest," involved or the expectations
q those who eok 70 ne day when Ne the white people
ana not the naste mongrcl races the interior shall
oe nos only ie ruling power Of the continent but the
possessorS Of IL
Tie subject Is too grave TO he intrusted exclusively
% the charge al private companies and individuals and
its pTctetiOA should be ntnsted TO regularly
corps of the army; whih in truth are but the repre-
sntaiives al the whole country and not the exponen
Of the win Of any pticnlAr fAcsion locality corpora
ton
But we have bsSre exrVeszi the belief derived from
an extensive knowledge az the wants q the country that
the cavalry Forte IS inadequate IN numbers to supply the
present dsmAs its services It's believed that in no
other Arny in the world Is nc cavalry arm called into
such frcqpeas. distant zna fasSuin service In fact