The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-12

their Own independence in their own way and in
their own time. He has found out at last that
they will have nothing more to do with ilibuster-
ing and, in fact, are heartily tired of them, Mr.
Thrasher, General Goicouria and ALL If Cuba
most probably be through honorable negotiation
with Spain and OFT own government, or with the
unanimous consent of her own people when they
shall have achieved their independence.
The Pacific Raa,ro~a-sIr. Buch~nan's Course
"A Wagon Road hest.
The letter of Mr.. Buchanan to his democratic
friends in California, in which he admitted the
necessity of railway to the Pacific, and gave
an opinion as to the power Of Congress to con-
struct it as a military road, took many of the
Southern politicians by surprise. The strict con-
structionists, the men who think more Of an omis-
sion in the constitution than they do of its most
admirable clauses, have more than insnuated
many Southern votes as he did, if the letter had
been in the Atlantic States on the day of the
date, instead of the day of its return. But we
undertake to say that Mr. Buchanan has impOr-
tant views on the subject, founded on long and
intimate knowledge Of the policy which has pre-.
vailed in our government with regard 70 the
maritime States and our western Territories he
knows the secret movements which led the GO
vernment away from the continental policy of
the sages Of the Revolution-a Deep great and
a splendid policy, which we can trace up to and
through the administration of Jefferson, but
which was abandoned during the eras of Madi-
son, Monroe and Adams, to be re-attempted, but
only in part accomplished, by General Jackson
We say, then, that Mr. Buchanan must know
that it has for years been the understood design
of the leaders of all parties in the maritime or
Atlantic States to preserve the power of the
country in their own hands, Most of its great
offices have been, from time to time, at
their disposal; the embassies, the Cabinet
appointments, the army, with West Point
to give it direction, and the navy,
have been the heritage of the great politicians
of the Atlantic coast. The policy of the govern
ment in accordance with this seems TO have been
to detain and keep back the march of territorial
population. The public domain so vast, and at
that time so valueless, might have been given to
actual settlers for their labor alone The Indians
removed from the Southern and North western
frontiers need not have been placed as a Gordon
round our new settlements to brighten away the
pioneers Of civilization nor our little army post
ed as policemen TO arrest the man who dared
enter the plains for the purposes of settlement 1t
was deep rooted opinion Of Gen. Jackson that |
The political leaders in the maritime States agreed
in this that the legislation of the country should
in all cases have reference to the permanence
and power Of their constituencies, and that the
seat of power should not 60 hey oud the valley Of
the Mississippi, if il ever went even far as that
He considered the United States Bank the details
of the public land system, the increase Of the
army, the navy the bounties granted the fisheries
and other similar acts, as being managed chiefly
to sustain and enrich the Atlantic and maritime
States. 1t is believed that Mr. Calhoun under
stood this intention, and that he was understand
ingly one of the parties to this political league in
favor Of the policy Gen. Jackson left his un-
finished plans in this direction to the judgment of
his successors.
The discovery Of the gold mines Of California
inaugurated an entire new policy in this country.
peal TO the cupidity OF men. A new empire ha.
risen the shores Of the Pacific where before We
had doubtful settlement in Oregon, a doubtful
boundary, and most slender connections with it,
sparse population. This new empire demands
closer relations with us than now exist by pas
sage round Cape HON, or the transit of an uu-
friendly country Thousands upon thousands |
have preferred an overland journey, in which |
they could take their cattle and household goods |
with them, and procure subsistence Oh the way, |
and il il now admitted that an inlapd road and a |
railway system must finally Sipersede the prese |
circuitous routes. In consequence surveys have |
lately been made in every direction by officers of |
the government and by individuals on their own |
responsibility. The county is thoroughly ex-
plored, but the whole truth about il is concealed.
Our maps are not accurate in their topography. |
and some Of them we're never intended to TO-. |
Not one half the mountains between Mexico aul |
California are delineated, although they arc abs
lutely full Of gold, and in mas-iveness equal all |
the mountains Of Europe and Asia pat together |
The character Of the soil and climate of the great |
plateaus between the Sierra Madre and |
The sierra Nevada have not been fairly given /
Nor has the fertility Of the plains. irrigated 10y
he waters that flow from the mountain bases,
Decn properly commented upon. The people are
lstonished, even now, 10 find that Kansas and Ne
,raska, which were once thought az distant and as
I'D as Siberia, are countries unsurpassed 10y |
my other on the globe.
Unfortunately, too the interests which have
prung up during the prosecution Of these SUI
'eys and the increasing prosperity OF California,
We been divided fatally in reference to the
ute Of tbc Pacific Railroads. mere bubble in
tscli, tor good wagon road is only prac,icabn
or certain. The Northern, the Southern, and Il @
Central interests have been at variance over this