, 1858-07-30


cation 70 through American or British
territory2 propose 10 give some figures
relative to the question. have put them
in round numbers; but they are very near
The mark. The distance from Puget Sound
or Vancouver, on the Columbia, to St.
Paul, or the western end Of Lake Superior,
il eighteen hundred miles; from Benicia to
Rock Island 10 the Mississippi, by the route
Of the South Pass twenly-three hundred
miles; from Sau Francisco to Memphis, by
thsroute oflhe thirty.fifth parallel, twenty
three hundred miles; from San Francisco
TO Gaines, by the route Of the thirty Sc
co1d parallel, twenty-five hundred miles
And the distance from Benicia, via the val
leys q the Saeremeuto and Willamette,
Vancouter, add the northern route, to St.
Paul, Is twenty-five hundred miles. II we
take the equatic distance, allowing for
grade, which, though not important as rec
gards passengers, Is an indispensable ele-
ment as regards freight, we fnd that the
distance from Benicia to St. Paul and the
western end OF Lake Superior by the north
cru route, Is tWenty-nine hundred and Fifty
miles; from San Francisco to Gaines, by
the route Of the thirty-second parallel, three
thousand miles; from San Francisco to
Memphis BY the route Of the thirty.6fth
parallel, thirty-three hundred miles; and
from Benicia to Rock Island, by the South
Pass route, twentyeight hundred and fifty
miles. I have made the comparison to the
Mississippi river, because this river win be-
the great artery on which to distribute
freights coming from the ports Of the Pa
cihc BY rail throughout the Mississippi
valley.
Thus you see, that looking to the present
great commercial depot on the Pacific, San
Francisco, the northern route gives her the
shortest and best connection with the
Northwest and the country lying upon the
great lakes, and that this connection is alb
soluiely shorter than her connection with
the Mississippi, BY the routes Of the thirty
9Th and thirty-second parallels. Looking
however 10 Puget Sound, aud taking the
equatic distances, yon end that the equatic
distance from the Sound to the Upper
Mississippi and the great lakes is two
thousand two hundred; whereas, from San
Francisco to the Mississippi it is twot
eight hundred and Fifty, three
three hundred, and three thous-
and miles, By the routes respectively Of the
South Pass, the thirty-ffth, and the thirty
second parallels.
But besides the other advantages Of the
route, Puget Sound Is nearest to Asia.
The mouth Of the straits leading to Puget
Sound is on the line Of sailing vessels from
San Francisco to the Ports Of China, Japan
md Russia, on the Pacific, and therefore
Puget Sonnd is as much nearer to those
as is the distance from the en-
rance Of the Straits de Fnca to San Fran
sisco. some seven or eight hundred miles.
Considering, therefore, the greater short
ness Of the northern route, aud It's nearer
connections with both Asia and Europe,
L must become the great route Of freight
and passengers from Asia to Europe, and
even Of freight from Asia to the whole val
lev OF the Mississippi .'t 'iDi l" ".
Il have adrsrted to the views Of the En-
glish Government In regard to an overland
communication through its own possessions.
We are contiguous on the forty-ninth par
allel 70 that powerful foreign sovereignty.
Which viii give rs the most strenthl which
win most add 70 our defensel which will
most stimulate our ewn genius and forcei
which viii most spread population through
or borders and best evoke the resources
Of our country which viii give US the best
footing IN The Northwest, and enable US
best to hold IL our hands the key Of the
Paeiici railroad On our own soil, and a
great port on our own ocean coast, or al
road passing over the soil Of that power
fal foreign sovereignty, and great port
ou iis ocean coastg Tho question Of the
control Of tie commerce Of the Pacific, and
Of the ascendancy Of American genius and
enterprise there, Is involved in the solution
Of this question; and therefore l claim for
the northern route the friendly considera-
ton of gentlemen from al quarters Of the
Union, as not q sectional, but as pre-emin-
entity q national route.
i am Of opinion there will be great
freight business on al the routes Of Asiatic
suppliea By the time the roads are com
ploisd, there viii be, unquestionably, pO-
pulatioh Of nearly one million Of souls on
the line ofeach route, furnishing the basis
Of way business, in addition to q vastly
larger population resting on the present
western line Of States and in the general
vicinity Of the eastern termini. which win
receive their supplies Of Asiatie goods by
the rail On the Pacific railroads a great
variety Of Asintic products viii be distri-
buied 70 ell quarters Of the countFy, aud
even on these roads pass 10 Europe No
costly or perishable article, or article which
deteriorntes by crossing the tropics, will
reach our Atlantic ports or the ports Of
Earope BY either cape Silks, spices, and
teas, viii 20 to our depots in the Pacific,
and viii Be taken over the great overland
routes to al the States Of the Union, TO
the Canada, and to Europe.
Tbe Imagination Of man can scarcely
set bounds to the future grandeur Of our
Pacific empire, and the magnitude Of our
interests throughout that great sea Al
ready a commerce is springing up between