The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-09
TIRE PACIFIC RAIIRoAD-GovERNo BIGLER's
spEtNjH


1'tiH PACIFIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BIGtER's
Wefurnish our readers today with very full
report OF Mr. Senator Bigler's speech on the bill
Before the Senate proposing the construction of
Pacific railroad ID is due no less TO the import
ance of the subject discussed than to the admirable
ability displayed by Gov Bigler that should re-
to the project as 1t has been presented to the
country, aud say a word about it. Nobody doubts
the utility of railways They have added largely to
the wealth and resources of our country They have
rendered all the western States not only valuable
but powerful. They have exercised direct and
beneficial influence upon the whole Atlantic coast
by drawing to it the products of distant agriculture
They have equalzed the value of real estate through
out q vast extent of country They have operated
upon public sentiment so as to consolidate opinions
and render them harmonious They have removed
preiudices by drawing into active intercourse mil
lions of our people who would without them have
remained in ignorance of each other. These views
ARE largely accented by the country. and in this
LIGHT il is proposed to construct a great irfter-
continental railway to Unite The Atlantic and
Pacific states, Nobody, we presumc, should such
road he made, can doubt It's utility even as a com.
,oercial avenue That Il would increase the value Of
t,,, ,,n,Io aora;n tbat a ,voaId onen tho great IN
,or;ar - sstneuont and ,an;dlv Gil Il with individual
,,ro,r;o,or. hat = would IN dis way obviate the
nac.ss,,, which, now e,sts far maintaining an army
!, hoId tia ,v;tes IN ,bock aud th,is constitute a
49,. soe,,oo l. oonall ,nn,rant Evary consider
o,;o Zoo tbat randers The Istbman MESSAGES val,a-
No ,,d nooss,r - tbe noon,e of the Atlantic and
p,o;6c sta,as NAV he ur,,ed IN behalf Of the construc
t;or sc co,t;nentoI railway We oupbt 10 he able
o. oo ,h,t Tho ltter have already crown 70
- e oa, ,,,,r,,;,,,do not all, IL material
Inf ,,ol,;c,I sanse and that n necessity ex
-. g.. ,r;n,;no 40 two ,e,,ons nearer a.
,,o,hor This uecess;tv il The more ohv;ous he
,o,,o.nr,ont one of ,;mited nowers and
80 orl;ar o,ov We maintain no army no navy
no ar;stocracv of pervadnc influence. Our strength
= ,,oot n,,rolv i, our domestic industry Our arms
.re short hut muscular we are powerful at home.
T. ud belnloss abroad Opr military force is 40 limit
'1t - no. on,, 70 demand constant movement hut all
o., ~, ,,h;o, onr country 10 canable of afford;np il
In tbis nont of view tho construction of a railway
% tbe p,c;6c is demanded bv every consideration of
on,,rhtorod ,,ol;c, and wise forecast we hare no
reason 70 onn,ebend a war with any Of the great
mowers of the world but it would be unsafe to
Mace absolute reliance upon continued peace Our
interests ON rhe Pacific have grown so great and are
i, tho very nature of things so utterly helpless and
inaccessible that in the event of war with maritime
mower. they would inevitably suffer the severest
blows from the enemy. These suggestions 60 far to
iust;rv the proposed aid to an interconnenta rail-
way They are fortified too by many economical
considerations connected with the public domain,
and the facility and cheapness of military trans
portation which railroad would assure to the fed
eral government
But we have selected the admirable argument Of
Gov. Bigler in behalf of the project now before
the Senate as one of the best presentations of the
case we have seen. 1t will abundantly repay an at
tent;ve perusal The subject is of great practical in
forest II addresses itself to the whole country ;
and bovever gentlemen may differ about the policy
and coustutionality Of lending TO the work the d.
aid of the federal none can doubt the
uo,...aoa 40 a nil;,arv commercial or nolticaI
.e 80. o,,.,,,,on.e on, ;mnort.