Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1858-12-22

lasl aunu, messaeo, 10 whlth J beg lcav,
. ttspcrlmlt 40 folor.
lth nety WlmittCi That IA would bc IN
cNrpdieM ~ This government 10 exercise
tho poWef NJ constructing The Pacific Rail
road Wy W. own immediate agents. Such d
B policy would Increase the patronage OF IA,
Executive 10 dangerous extent, and I'm.
troducc o. ysie.n or iobbing and cornip.
uon which no vigilance on thopa Of Fed.
eral officials could either preventor detect
This can only be done by the keen eye
and active aud careful supervision, of indi-
: vidual and private interest. Theconslruc-
ton of tho road ought, therefore TO be
committed TO companies Incorporated by
the states, or other agencies whose pecn-
mary interests would be directly involved.
Congress must assist them in the work by
grants OF land or money, or both, under
/ such conditions and restrictions as would
secure the transportation of troops and
munitions of war free of any charge, and
that of the United States mail e fair and
reasonable prices.
\ Iheprogress oroventS since the commence.
ment OF your last session has shown how
soon difficulties disappear before firm
and determined resolution. At that time
such road was deemed by wise and pat
riotio men to he visionary project. The
great distance to be overcome, the inter-
yening mountains and deserts in the way,
were objects which in the opirion of ma,
ny, could not be surmounted. Now, after
the lapse of but single year, these obsta-
cles, it has been discovered, are far less
formidable than they were supposed 10 be;
and mail stages with passengers now pass
and repass twice in each week, by n COM
mon wagon road, between San Francisco
and st. Louis and Memphis, in less than
twenty five days. The service has been as
regularly performed rs it was in former
years between New Yorl; and this city
While disclaiming all authority to APP
Ipropria!o money for the construction of
this road, except that derived from the
war making power of the Constitution,
there are important collateral eonsidera.
tions urging us to undertake the work as
speedily as possible.
The first and most momcntous of these
is that such road would be q powerful
bond ofuuion between the States east and
west of the Rocky Mountains. This is so
self evident as to require no illustration.
But again, in n commercial point of
view, consider this the great question of
the day. With the eastern frontier of our
republic stretching along the Atlantic,
and its western front along the Pacific, if
all the parts should be united by q safe, ea-
sy and rapid communication, we must ne
cessarily command very large proportion
of the trade both of Europe and of Asia.
Our recent treaties with China and Japan,
will open these rich and populous empires
TO our commerce: and the history of the
word proves that the nation which has
gained possession of the trade with cas-
tern Asia has always become wealthy and
powerful. The peculiar geographical con-
dition ofCalfornia and our Pacific posses
sions invites American capital and enter
prise into this fruitful field. To reap the
rich harvest, however, it is an indispensa=
bleprerequisite that we shall first have
railroad to convey and circulate its pro-
ducts through every portion of the Union.
Besides such railroad through our tenn
perate latitude, which would not be i'm
peded 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 2ll nations passing between Eu-
rope and Asia.
On the 2lst of August last, Lieut.. J n.
Mafiit, of the United States brig Dolphin,
captured the SLAYER Eche, formerly the
Pudam of n. Orleans near Kay Verde on
the coast of Cuba, with more than three
hundred African negroes on board. The
prize, under the command of Lieutenant
Bradford of the United States Navy, arri-
.al or ba In ,Nf
when the negroes, SOC in number, were
delivered into the custody of the United
States Marshal for the District of South
Carolina. They were first placed in Cas-
tie Pinckney, and afterwards in Fort
Sumpter for safe keeping, and were re-
tanned there till the 10Th of September
when the survivors, 27l in number were
delivered on board the L. States Steamer
Niagara to be transported to the coast of
Africa, under the charge of the agent of
the United States, pursuant to the provi-
sions of the act of the Sd of March, 1919,
in addition to the acts prohibiting the
slave trade Under the second section of
.his act, the President is authorised to
make such regulations und arrangements
rs he may deem eXredient, for the safe
obpl'Olb diib bClOllNl tllt
limits of the United States, of all such ne
groes, mulattoes, or persons of color cap
tured by vessels of the United States, as
may be delivered to the Marshal of the
District into which they are brought, and
TO appoint proper person or persons re-
siding upon the coast of Africa as agent or
agents for receiving the negroes, mula;-
toes, or persons of color delivered from
on board vessels seized in the prosecution
of the slave trade by commanders of the
United States vessels
a doubt Immediately arose as to the
true construction of this act. 1t is quite
clear from its terms that the President
was authorised to provide for the safe kee-
ping, support, and removal of these ne
groes up till the time of the delivery to
the agent on the coatt of Africa but no
express provision was made for their pro,
lection and support after they had reach
ell the place of their destination. Still an
agent was to be appointed TO receive them
in Africa and it could not have been sup