The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-09-04
ELOQUENT EXTRACT-THE UNION
OF THE ATLANTIC WITH THE PA

ELOtlUENI EA RACI-It1E UNiON
OF THE ATLANTIC WITH THE PA
CIFIC.
The magnificent project Of uniting the At
lantic Ocean with the Pacific, by railroad con-
necton, and of accomplishing in few hours
journey across the breadth of the continent
of North America, which formerly required
months to effect, and of causing the commerce
OF the East to flow through the gates OF our
principal cities, is well calculated, although a
utilitarian scheme, to give the hue of poetry
and romance to the speculations Of those who
are engaged in forwarding the great work.
The idea is so splendid-and great that even
our most sober and sedate statesmen, who in
general confine themselves to prosac facts
and figures, will insensbly, in their illusions
TO it, use the most OratOrical and splendid H.
lustrations. When we contemplate the nd.
vantages and results that would flow from it,
the changes that it would produce in all the
grea; enterprises of life, it is not remarkable
that it is fine theme for forensic displays
The classic and eloquent Keitt, u member of
Congress from South Carolina, in a late
speech at Charleston, at a railroad celebration,
handled the subject as ably and beautifully as
we have ever seen it done. He said:
"The march of the States is onward and
onward stll-nor can it pause until the sum
is right over our heads; nor will the edict of
Destiny be met until the people of these re-
gions are hidden To a marriage feast grander
than any spread upon the records of time
Inc Pacific, vexed by storms, and restless
upon his lonely, bachelor bed, for unrooted
centuries, has sobbed to the rock bound coast
the story of his baffled love; but American
genius and American energy, like carrier
pigeons, are now bearng the suitor's gentle
plea over plain and mountain, over forest and
city, and they soon will carry back the
plighted maiden's vow of the bushing At
lantic.
Much have you, of the South and West,
already done, but much still remains for you
to do. The lordly Pacific, like an awakened
giant, is stepping forth to demand and well
come the bride he has already wooed and
won, and it is for you to soemnize the mag
vi thO oOcuuo WIN u vi
iron witnesses. When you have done this,
you will have laid your hands upon the gates
of the East, and the long procession of the
trades will follow in your trackway to seize
and hold the golden keys. The splendid
commerce, which erstwhile enriched Thebes
and Palmyra, Venice, Genoa and Holland, and
which now plants the great commercial nerve
of the world on the Exchange in London,
will come to you bidden guest.
"lhe use OF tropical productions is fast
becoming test of civilization, and they are
rapidly celebrating themselves into the very |
elements of national greatness and power
Great Britain sees this, and hence she is push |
ing her conquests through ruined India, and |
treading over shattered thrones, to lay her |
hand upon the sources of tropical wealth.- |
Sol y KffIthas, 4,s her Lilies upon the
oil the same end, is marching |
over fiery deserts and through the smoke OF
burning Arab villages. Nor does this great
law of modern progress and civilization stop
with these two powers. Nicholas, of Russia,
when in his midsoar of ambition, when
stretching to the very sun, like