The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-04
ON THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
10 the EIaors Of he Union ,

10 the Editors Of he Uaion
An admirable article in the Union Of February 3D. on
the subject of Pacific railroad suggests me few ne
Elections derived from history which is said 10 be phoso
ply teaching by example Certainly that should be its
Office
The constitutional argument in favor of such road
has been exhibited Ia manner TO defy all but
that OF stubborn monosyllables
1t ought 10 be known TO calling themselves states
men that the turning point In the fortunes Rome
less her excellent roads than the yalor aud skill OF
generals and soldiers The greatest march, perhaps
made performed by Romans roads which the sys-
ternae policy of Rome had constructed at expense
and which then awaited her in the very crisis of her
mendous struggle with the dreaded Carthagens whom
her poets and historians designate dire Hannibal As
none probably, but Romas could have performed such
march as the one of which propose TO give a
brief account such march could not have been per-
formed but such roads the Romans had built with
the most considerable policy We quote from Mr. Gbbono
as follows
shall speak briefly of another kind of travelling
hs march Of troops. These marches | am inclined to
think, both by the exercises of which have made
ton and by my opinion the subect were longer
than but, previously TO making the researches
cessary for determining this matter with precision shall
cast glance the longest and bodest march which
have met with in history, either ancient modern
"Ihe fortune Of the Carthagenians sustained in
Italy by the exetions of Hannibal when Asduba
ed the Alps with numerous army. The republic
was in danger of sinking under their united efforts
Nero, the Consul, observed the motions Of Hanni-
bal, who exhausted the whole science of marching
and counterInarching The Roman general perceived
that bold stroke only could ward off the dangers which
threatened his country With chosen body Of thousand
horse and six thousand foot he marched from his camp
deceived the vigilance OF the Carhagenans, effected a
junction with his colleague in Umbra, saved the repub
lie at the battle of Mctaurus, and returned with the
celebrity announcing to Hannibal the death of his brother
and finding that general himself still astonished and in
active. He had left Hannibal in the neghborhood of
Camisiun--he found the Consul Lvius in that of Lena
Galica. This route about 270 miles. ! know not
how many days he employed in marching thither I
know that only six spent in his return Elk
petition became daily necessary and it is
not a small stain the glory of Hannibal that he
remained ignorant for twelve days of the departure OF the
Roman general Two hundred and seventy Roman miles
in six days give As Roman 40b English miles for each
daily march. The fact is scarcely credible Nero
forces indeed selected from the whole army he
marched night and day. and the zeal of the allies
operated with the attention of the general in procuring
tor them in abundance every comfort and assistance
proper for soitening their fatgues and reviyng their
strength With all these advantages it would be npos
sible for modern troops to make such march To ac-
compsh it it required Romans and Romans of the age
of Scipio
Let Congress give us a good Pacific railroad, and
century has supplied desideratum for defence unknown
even to the Romans II the world were TO combine
against U.s. would then PROSTATE them both the
Pacific and the Atlantic the fame of that :" Gate of
Greece by Iacedamon's king so well maintained, would
be thrown into the shade and should become of
the most potent richest and most popuous nations of
the earth. A.
Miscellaneous Works vol Sd, Dublin edition. 10