Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-02-17

desired communications, then / an
swer, that that is a question which
was foreclosed ten wears ago 1t was
settled and determined when the treaty
of Guadalupe Hidalgo was executed.
The United States then solemnly un-
dertook and committed itself to its
own people and to the world, to dis
charge the responsibility of establish
ing and maintaining civilization and
government across the Rocky Noun
.ains and the snowy mountains. and
the deep ravines and the sterile plains
which intervene between their sum
mits. The Government, in fact, has
never been able for moment to get
away from the sense and conviction
and pressure of that obligation. What
are all our experiences of treaties with
Great Britain and with the Central
American States, for the route across
the Isthmus of Panama, for the route
across Nicaragua, for the route through
Honduras, to say nothing of our sur
veys of ship canal across the 18TH
mus of Darien? What have all these
negotiations meant? What mean all
the conflicts and embarrassments
which attend them, and which are per-
petually increasing? What means
our controversy about the filibnster
system, about the Monroe doctrine,
about NJ. Beily's interoceanic ship ca
nal? What are all these together but
the betrayal of the conviction of the
United States of the necessity of hav-
ing routes across this continent by
which to maintain order and govern
ment within our unorganized terrific
ries, and to secure the safety end pros
perity of our new States on the Pa
cific?
For one, sir, / believe that society
will never be permanently organized
and maintained in peace in the interi-
or of the continent. | believe that au-
thority will not be maintained there
successfully, and believe even that
union will not be perfected between
the East and the West, until we shall
have completed this bond of connec-
ton, this great instrument of political
discipline, if you please SO to call it,
which it ought to have been the first
task of the Government Of the United
States to provide, on the organization
of society there under our Constitution.
SO believing, the question of $50,
900, 900, or 500, 100000 expense,
or of SO, 100000 year in maintain
ing the system. in my Judgment, sinks
into insignificance. 1t is necessary
and since it is necessary, there is an
end Of the argument. 1t stands, / re-
peat, upon the same footing as your
postal system; precisely upon the
same foundation as your navy and
your army; and if you are to dispense
with either, if you are to cut down the
expenses of either, my sober judgment
is, that retrenchment should lay its
hand upon the armed forces and the
naval establishment of the United
States, while a liberal and fostering
care should be extended to the com,
mencement and prosecution of this
great enterprise.
Mr.. President, do not know how
long we can go on houndering in the
way we have done for the last eigh,
years, disputing with the Republic oi
New Granada to-day. disputing to-
morrow with the Republic of Nicara-
qua, unable to rcpress incursions oi
our own citizens upon Central Amer.
lea. in danger perpetually of conflict
with France and England, for want oi
this great improvement; but | am sure
of one thing: that, loyal as the peo-
pie of the Pacific coast are, that 10y
ality has its limits, and it is founded
in reason, and not in blind partiality
or affection. This community, SO dis,
tant from us, so separated from us,
growing up by itself in state of iso-
lation on the Pacific coast, and as near
to-day to the great communities ol
Western Europe and to Asia, practi-
cally, as it is to us, can not be retain.
ed in political connection with us by
mere written bond, contract In
writing; but it must be maintained by
the exercise of the spirit of the Union
which is equality-equality between
the States; equality between the com
munities constituting the States; thai
political equality which, making due
allowances for physical barriers tha
can not be surmounted, yields and af
fords to agriculture, to mining, tC
manufacturers, and to commerce
throughout every part Of this great
empire, equal facilities and advanta
ges. Every Senator can answer fol
himself whether the Pacific coast en-
joys this equality of privileges and ad
vantages consistently with the obliga
tions of the Government, so long as i
is held aloof and isolated. Let us no
deceive ourselves. There is no desti
ny that secures, and will, in despite o
our own errors. vices, or crimes, per
petuate this inestimable Union. On
the other hand, the fatcs are Away
assiduously engaged in weaving al
inevitable web for indolent and i'm
provident States.
Ambition, Mr.. President, is not ex
clusively plant of Eastern growth
1t springs up and is as vigorous OF
the Pacific as upon the Atlantic; an'
our Pacific States will, if they are no
allowed to connect themselves direct,
and intimately with the Eastern States
do just exactly what the older Allan
tic States did. They will coloniz
their own coast of the continent, an
set up for themselves 1t is only
question of time, if there be no chang
Of policy. They can be no more loya