True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1858-12-15

necessary Tor this single purpose, without
recurring it to be transported in post coach>
es or carriages Ofauy particular description.
Under the present system, the expense 10
the government is greatly increased, Sy
requiring that the mail shall be carry in
such vehicles as will accommodate passeu~
gers. This will be done without pay from
the department, over all roads where the
travel will rem1nerate the contractors.
These recommendations deserve the grave
consideration of Congress.
Iwould again call your attention to the
nstruo ion of Pacific railroad. Time and
reflection have but served to confirm me in
the truth and justice of the observations
which 1 made on this subject in my last
annual message, to which beg leave re
spoctfully to refer.
1t is freely admitted that it would be in
expedient for this government to exercise
the power of constructing the Pacific rail
road by lis own immediate agents, Such
policy would increase the patronage Of
the executive toa dangerous extent, and
introduce a system of jobbing and corrup'
tion which no vigilance on the part Of fed
eral officials could either prevent or detect.
This can only be done by the keen eye,
and active and careful supervision, ofindi-
vidual and private interest. The construc'
tion of this road ought, therefore, to be
committed to companies incorporated by the
States, or other agencies whose pecuuiary
interests would be directly involved. Con
gress might then assist them in the work
by grants of land or of money, or both, un.
der such conditions and restrictions as
would secure the transportation of troops
and munitions Of war free from any charge,
and that of the United States mail at a
fair and reasonable price,
The progress of events since the COM
mencement of your last session has shown
how soon difficulties disappear before a firm
and determined resolution. At that time
such road was deemed by wise and patri-
otic men to be a visionary project. The
great distance to be overcome, and the in
tervening mountains and deserts in the
way, were obstacles which, in the opinion
of many, could not be surmounted. Now,
after the lapse of but aSSingle year, these
obstacles, it has been discovered, are far
less formidable than they were supposed
to be-; and mail stages, with passengers,
now pass and repass regularly twice lii each
week, by common wagon road between
San Francisco and st. Louis and Memphis,
| in less than twenty-five days. The service
has been as regularly performed as it was
in former years years between New York
and this city.
Whilst Gisclaiming all authority to ap-
| nropriate money for the construction of this
road, except that derived from the war ma
king power of the constitution, there are
important collateral considerations urging
US to undertake the work as speedily as
possible. :
The first and most raomentous OF these IS
that such road would be powerful bG.na
of union between the States east and west
Of the Rocky Mountains. This IS SO SELF
evident as to require no illustration: ,
But again, in commercial point Of
view, I consider this the great question of
the day. With the eastern front of our
republic stretching along the Atlantic and
its western front along the Pacific, if all
the parts should be united by safe, easy,
and rapid communication, we must ueces'
sarily command very large portion of the
trade both of Europe and Asia. Our re-
cent treaties with China and Japan will
open these rich and populous empires to
our commerce, and the history ofthC world
proves that the nation which has gained
possession of the trade with Eastern Asia
has always become wealthy and powerful.
The peculiar geographical position of Cali
fornia and our Pacific possessions invites
American capital and enterprise into this
fruitful field. To reap the rich harvest
however, it is an indispensable prerequi-
site, that we shall first have railroad, to
! convey and circulate its products through
out every portion of the Union. Besides,
such a railroad through our temperate lat
ltude, which would not be impeded by the
frosts and SHOWS of winter, nor by the
tropical heats of summer, would attract to
itself much Of the travel and the trade OF
all nations passing between Europe and
Asia.
On the 21st Of August last, Lieut.. J.
| N. Mafit, of the United States brig Dol
phin, captured the SLAYER Echo, Qormerly
the Putnam, Of New OrleansD near Kay
Verde, on the cost Of Cuba, with more
{ than three hundred African negroes on
board. The prize, under the command OF
Lieut.. Bradford, Of the United States Ma
, Wy, arrived at Charleston on the 9th Of
August when the negroes, three hundred
and sixty in number, were delivered into
, the custody of the Uuited States Marsha
! for the district Of South Carolina. They
, were first placed in Castle Pinckney, aic
Q afterwards in Fort Sumpter, for safe keep
' ing, and were detained there until the l9tt
of September, when the survivors, tw'
' hundred and seventy one in number, wer'
! delivered on board the United States steam
. er Niagara, to be transported to the coas
, Of Africa, under the charge Of the agen
t of the United States, pursuant to the pro
, visions of the act of the Sd Of March
= 1919, "in addition to the acts prohibitin!
/ the slave trade" Under the second section
Of this act, the President is "authorize'
Q to make such regulations and arrangement
j. as he may deem ezpedient, for tho sat
It keeping, support and removal beyond tn.
limits of the United States, of all sucl
!. negroes, mulattoes or persons Of color,
If captured by vessels Of the United States, a
n NAV be delivered to the Marshal of tn