The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-15

tion Of independence and the adoption OF the constitution
that policy has prevailed in every step have taken
The first 10 obtain the free navigation OF the Mis-
sspp river and extend the boundaries OF tho rePuic 10
the Gulf Of Mexico and hence Louisiana and Florida
purchased and 1cxas annexed The nsxt step was
to extend western boundary 10 the Pacific ocean,
As early as January 1903 Mr. Jefferson the greatest
Of the great statesmen who favored this policy called
the attention Of Congress to the expedency OF examn
Ing the vast country west of the Mssssippi and fronting
the Pacific Congress gave It's approval by
thozng the expedition Of Lewis and Clark to explore
regions where had territorial rights but which the
statesmen OF that day psrcsvc must necessarily belong
to ia the future In 1888, General Jackson offered
Mexico s. 900 900 for line Of boundary between the
two republics that would embrace the bay of San Fran
cisco within our limits; and In 1874, Mr. Calhoun
then Secretary of State, removed the Offer increasing
the to $40 0O0, 600 There was one question du
ring the Mexican war upon which all parties agreed
and that that it should not close without she session
Of California the United States. Indeed have little
hesitation In saying that administration would have
dared to make treaty Of peace without incorporating
California into the Union. What gold could not pnr
chase we acquired by the sword The Russans lnye
proverb that the road from st. Pcersbugh to Paris is by
the way OF C0nstantnoplc Our road to California was
by the city of Mexico, and impatient in sccu-
ring that great prize that spent but brief space OF
time way When sgain (if ever we shall reach
the halls of the Montezumas I'm Of empire we
may tarry there for a longer period
Thus Mr.. President in the fifty ninth year after the
adoption of the constitution reached the second great
era In the development OF country 1t has taken us
bound republic eastward and westward and who
tell where the fight of eagles shall be stayed to-
wards the Arctic and Antarctic before the close of the yet
unconsumed century
that might derive all the advantages that would re-
suit from unriyalled geographical position. They
have passed away, and We succeeding generation find
ourselves IN the possession OF the vast empire which they
projected but enjoyed What shall we do with it!
We the of the great statesmen and
founders Of the Republic, who nauguracd the policy
which has enlarged boundaries and made us one Of
the most prosperous and powerful nations on the globe
In order TO be level with great responsibility to
the past to the present and to the future must place
ourselves far above the ephemer questions of the day.
petty local and sectional peudces and enteebng alb
stractons that would favor that gave us an empire
and lose that empire under the deusion that giving 1t
military protection and promoting its prosperity would
impair the fair fabric of our government
Our first and great duty is by providing the most
rapid means Of INSTRUMENTATION between Its extremes
to consolidate tho republic. We know not when
country may be precipatcd into a foreign war and
If with great naval power the result must be
disastrous, and the prze--the only material result
of the expenditure of $500, 900, 900 in the Mexican
warnow in peaceful possession be exposed to fear
full peril How could keep open communication with
California in OF such war; The transit routes of
Panama. Nicaragua, and Tehuantcpec and every Ameri-
port the Pacific coast if the nation with which
were at war had more powerful and efficient navy than
ours, would be blockaded. All present overland
routes Insecure and IL but the other day that
one of our own Territories through which the most tray
ced of the routes passes in open revolt against the
government.
When take into consideration the political CONNER
cal and agricultural interest of the whole country that will
be benefited by the building of this road it is manifest
and rank injustice to treat it merely California ques
ton State exporting annual average OF 500, ,OOO
900 of gold year is second to In this Union in the
advantages it gives nation in the commerce and
exchanges of the world
In proof of the assertion that California burden upon
the public treasury frequent reference is made to the aS
for what is styled her benefit compared with the
cepts of her custom houses The alIacy of the argu
mont is demonstrated by the statement of the fact
that the great States Of the interior Kentucky Tenncs
see, Ohio, Indiana Illinois, and Missouri, collect but
little from customs, while two-thirds OF the
whole from this source is collected of the
city of New York The exports from the cotton growing
States is the chief foundation upon which rely for for
cign mporations and from which the derived
from custems is collected and whilst these duties
collected in those States they claimed TINT they
tribute at least their full proportion to the support of
the government The gold-exporng State Of California
can, with equal justice, make the claim. You inn
port $50 900 Of foreign goods than you export
of your products exclusive Of the precious metals
and how do you pay for themf In gold California
gold Withdraw it from your exports and if you did
not diminish the extent your imports you would
become national bankrupt.
During the fiscal year that ended the 30th of june
1887, imports amounted to 1851 900 00j and
exports about s363 900 O00 of which s6O 900 900
in gold coin and bullion In this way California
abled you to pay for one-sxth Of the whole imports of
the country, and consequently you indebted to
her for the of bringing into the treasury onesixt
of the from customs independent OF her paying
directly at the custom house in San Francisco upwards
of one million dollars Thus, through the Instrumental
ity Of California alone, the government received from
customs during that fiscal year upwards of twelve and
half millions of dollars and the pro rata will be
hbited by the imports and exports of the last any
other fiscal year.
This is looking at the question in fiscal point of view
al but her e6ti
tion with every national interest leaving out of view the
government revenues, it is impossible to estimate it.
You it everywhere in the progress and improvement
of the country California has graded the tracks Of your
railroads she has tunneIed your mountains; she has
developed your coal and iron mines she has enabled
your merchants to build palaces in your cities and has
made your shipyards and machine shops rosound with
the busy hum of occupation. Her trade has brought
into existence the magnificent fleet Of clipper ships which
bear the moral prestige of your triumphant skill
upon every and the rising rounda of this Capitol is
fit type, in its splendid proportions and unfinished state
Of the uncompeted prosperity which she will yet pour
into the lap of our common country.
Irrespective of the incaouabe benefits to the people of
the United States to their commerce. agriculture, mines
manutactures and navigation 1t be demonstrated
that as a mere financial question, the of the
government would be augmented hundreds of millions of
dollars beyond the contribution proposed in this bill by
the construction of the road The would be in
creased In four different ways:
L. From increased sale of public lands
2. From the augmented revenue from Imports
s. From the diminished expenses of the War Depart
ment and,
A. BY the increased revenues and diminished expcnd
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