The Washington union., 1857-06-12
For the Union.
PROTECTION TO THE OVERLAND MAIL.

pressing his opinion military chieftain that the Brit
ish government should never attempt to carry an aggres
siye TO distances remote from the sea-coast When
this maxim has been departed rom the British have met
with disaster, in the of Braddock, of Sir John
Moore who cut loose from his communication with the
sea- and attempted to penetrate the interior OF Spain with
his army and in the and familiar disaster
which the British encountered in the invasion Of Afghan
istan and the retreat from Cabu
The great Duke well knew the nsuar character of his
countTymen, their habits of dependence the
a means Of transportation their ignorance of the
chinery by which large moved with effect in
extensive overland operations We have inherited many
of the habits and preudices of our ancestors and while
have expended millions upon millions in keeping open
communications with the States ON the Pacific coast
by the crcuitous se-roue through the possessions of
foreign country it is only lately that any significant step
has been taken towards opening the overland route to
these states4zthe only route which can be considered
national and which in time of would be secure from
instant possession by the enemy speak, OF course, OF
war with the powers OF Western Europe-the only war
we are ever likely to have worth talking about.
During the Mexican war and in several Indian cam
paigns, army officers have shown brilliant examples
of the facility with which the military dogmas of our in
sulatcd could be set aside and have dealt the
enemies of the country very hard blows at distances
thousands of miles from navigabe water But these ex
rise to them and the country has relapsed into the
mode of thinking and acting derived from our island
forefathers.
The West embraced in the States watered 10y the Mis-
sisspp and its tributaries longer in fact the West of
the days of jackson and Clay but the central States Of
the union-have outlved the traditions Of their
maritime ancestors and begin to realize for the first time
that they longer worhippers at the shrine Of salt
water politics, but the occupants of great continent,
which cannot be fully developed except by the adoption
OF the means Of communication successfully pracsed by
the continental powers Of the Old World Of which Russia
may be considered the type and the example of modern
times whose inland extends from the Gulf Of
Finland through continents to the very shores Of the
Pacific and which commerce all the ships ahoat
could not accommodate IF by any circumstance they
could navigate what is the dry land-and yet so
strong within herself that the combined powers Of Europe
have not been able penetrate twenty miles into her ter
ritory, or to weaken her resources.
1t is by no means intended deprecate the policy of
extending the maritime communications and defences oi
the country or undervaue their Importance the
ary their Importance and utility will increase with the
development Of the interior of the continent and the
Enlistment by the government Of lines of overland COM
munication which, up to very recent period have been
so signally overlooked.
Heretofore lines Of communication in the interior,
mail facilities have only extended par pGssa with the set
Elements, and they have mostly sustained themselves
whilst seaward magnificent annually appropria
ted to keep mp and protect lines Of communication with
foreign countries and possessions upon the Pacific
coast.
The first in the right direction that looked like
Justice to the interior and central States the eXpo
ons by government of routes for railway the Pacific
which have been achieved with signal ability by the Off
GERS of the army But the first done in earnest is the
I,yt nf HE
overland semi-weekly mails to California. 1t is not pro-
posed to discuss present the question of which is the
best route for this mail to take; whatever route is taken
the difficulties be encountered with the Indians
very great Recent explorations have shown the fact that
at least twofths Of the vast territory of the United
States and that of the very territory by this
mail route whatever dreconit takes, does not contain
within its limits single river navgable FOR steamers
which be made use Of means of transportation
for persons freight This region is also trayersed
through its whole extent by ranges of parallel mountains
and long stretches Of desert country which have but
limited supply of either vegetation water The whole
of these regions infested by bands of nomadc Indians
hostile by nature and whose savage character only
to be increased by contact with white men,
These important facts to be well understood
by the various competitors for the contract for carrying
this overland mail.
These competitors embrace companies of of char
acter and energy such probably have before
competed for contract under the government and this
may be considered evidence of the opinion which
the public entertain of the magnitude and importance of
this great undertaking Indeed it second TO none and
its depends the union Of the Atlantic and Pacific
States-indeed, the integrity Of the empire.
The first question which arises in the minds of all these
competitors however, Is will the government give ade-
auate military protection to the contractors against In
dams and band include banith because it is well
known TO those who have travcrsed the interior of the
attacks upon commercial travellers in the interior have
been instigated and led by white men, whose crimes
have made il convenient for them to leave the settle
ments
1t is understood that the present enlightened head of
the War Department has expressed the determination
to give this protection far The of the depart
ment will permit And why should not the government
give this protection as well ON this line Of communica
ton as on the line by way of Panama, where there
two fects-one at Panama the other at Aspinwal ~ to
protect railway twenty-five miles in extent 1t may
be assumed the imperative duty Of the government to
give protection in both cases
But the question arises what the of protec
ton in the hands of the government Our gallant little
army has not been increased in ratio commensurate
with the country or Its wants. II has more to
do than it possibly accomplish and such is the
verify the duty the constant change from post 10 post
that time has not been allowed to prepare and instruct
for their duties and the consequence is the men