, 1858-10-08
Northern Pacific Railroad.

DC lound the resolutions adopted at a meet
ing Of the citizens of this county on the
29th ult., on the subject Of the Northern
Pacific Railroad, in connection with the
protection Of that route, by the military
arm Of the government, to insure safety to
the overland immigration to this Territory,
&c. The preamble and resolutions are
couched in strong, bold and respectful
language, and each one conveys truthfully
and distinctly the subject matter sought to
be embodied in it; and we hope ere long to
see the whole, universal american north and
west thoroughly aroused to the Importance
of this stupendOus national railroad enter
prise. Should it be possible for Congress,
at the approaching session, to get rid Of
that incubus-that cancer upon the body
polite - the Kansas difficulty, with the
irritable and Improbable debates to which
it gives rise, there is not at the present
time matter of higher Importance that
can come before that body, for practical
legislation, than that of railroad TO the
Pacific.
Never since the period that the project
of national Pacific railroad was conceived,
has there been a time when the action Of
Congress has been so loudly demanded in
the premises as at present, and unless Con-
gress and the government make speedy
and decisive move in the matter, present
indicate conclusively that it
will be recorded to the everlasting shame
Of progressive America that we have been
in this great enterprise by old
fogy" England, and our northern Canadian
neighbors. Evidence has been accumula-
ting for the last year, and more, that Great
Britain designs to connect her American
possessions from ocean to ocean by rail
way, and of late the most powerful of all
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS given an impetus
to the project before unfelt and undreamed
Of The British ministry and Parliament
are now oil attention to the interests of the
crown upon this portion Of the continent.
The Frazer river district of country and
Vancouver's Island is receiving extraordi-
nary attention. A railroad route over
British soil is now being surveyed from
Canada to the Pacific, under the authority
of government. A bill for coonizing Brit
ish Columbia has been approved by the
authorities Of the mother country, and in
the foreshadowing of British policy in this
the construction Of British rail
road is most prominently presented in the
1t is simply a question for
Congress to determine whether they will
permit British capital and enterprise to
anticipate an American movement in this
enterprise or not. ....
Let matters at present eventuate as they
may, we feel fully satisfied that both q
British and American Northern Pacific
Railroad will be constructed at no very
distant day, unless the Canadas are absorb
ed by the U. S. government. In recent
speech in Parliament, during the debate
on the New Colony British. Columbia
bill, the Colonial Secretary. Sir E. BULwER
LYrToN, used the following language:
al do believe that the day will come, and that
many now present will live to see it, when portion
at least Of the lands on the other side OF the Rocky
Mountains being also brought into colonization and
guarded by free institutions, direct line OF railway
communication will unite the Pacific to the Atlantic"
The government Of the United States
wants sure overland communication with
the Pacific as soon as possible, and the ad-
vantages presented by the Northern route
are so great, and the inducements so many,
that there should be no hesitation on the
part of Congress in making such provision
for its construction as asked for in the reso-
luton to which we have referred. Great
political as well as commercial considera-
tions are imperatively demanding its con
struction. 1t is wanted for the facility Of
reaching the possessions Of the United
States on the Pacifc-for promoting the
growth of the interior Territories con-
soldating the interests and feelings Of our
extended country by closer intercommuni-
cation; and we want it for purposes of les
sening our dependence on the lsthpus
routes of travel, which have been constantly
involving us in conflicts of State necessity
abroad, which are greatly embarrassing to
the peaceful workings of our system at
home. More than twenty States have al
ready passed resolutions in favor Of a rail
road connecting the Mississippi with the
Pacific. For years it was but a disidera-
tum; it has now become thing of prime
necessity. The population of the Pacific
coast has now increased until it exceeds
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