The Placer herald., 1859-02-05
Washington CITY Correspondence.

ItCclN Gu ny tllO O'OiiohA A"e'i' AeA'o "OSN'
but too late for publication. We give il
place in our present issue.
WASHINGTON CRY, Dec. 25th, 1858.
Dear Editor:-I arrived here last We'd
nesdav from the west. find the city over
run with officers and oflice-seekers, who
always stand ready to pick up crumbs from
the public table.
Gwin and Broderick are at their posts,
also Scott, but McKibben has been absent al
most all the time since Congress assembled
Gwin is using every exertion to secure the
passage of the Pacific Railroad Bill; and if
it was not for his vigilance, the opposition to
it would ere this have defeated the fond hope
of California and the Pacific coast. He has
made an able speech upon the subject, which
has been extensively published. feel proud
to say that SO noble and manly is his course
on this question, that it should cast into the
shade any previous imperfections that may
have been in bis Legislative career. If he
secures the passage Of this bill, he will have
done more for California than all the rest; for
in this great work he stands the only cham
pion, unaided, battling nobly for our rights.
We may now hope for speedy action upon the
bill, as it will be the first question called up
in the Senate upon the re-assembling of Con-
gress after the holidays. But there is rea-
son to fear, that members are so divided in
opinion as to the location of the road, from
spirit Of sectionalism, that our high hopes
may be blasted.
find that Gwin is far more prominent
here as Senator than his colleague, and
carries much more weight in favor of the
road than Broderick. That his efforts for
this great work may be crowned with success
must be the heartfelt wish of every Califor-
nian, who will see in it the dawning of bet
ter days for our Golden State. Already we
hove partial realization of the 'good time
coming" by,means of the emigration of those
who take with them their household gods,
and 90 to make permanent homes. And
were the facilities for reaching California
such as are desired, and spirit manifested on
the part of Congress to extend aid TO that
end, the emigration would increase hun
dred fold. But so slow are the movements
of government to give these facilities by a
Pacific Railroad, that paratively few are
san uine Of living long enough to see the
consummation; yet Notwithstanding this
backwardness we see almost annually pri-
vate enterprise building railroads equal to
the entire distance to the Pacific.
Douglas has not vet arrived-havino gone
to Havana, and from thence will repair
to the Capital by way of New York. He
has been removed from the craftsmanship Of
the Committee on Territories, and at present
there appears to be no prospect Of a recon
II 10 1o tfol hat
misunderstanding should exist among the
Democracy, but | believe the only national
party of the country will weather in safety
the political storm of go. Referring to
politics-you have no doubt noticed that
Seward has raised his black FLAG of abolition
ism, and declared that call the States must
be free or all must be slave" The Presi-
dent has taken bold ground in favor of the
Pacific Railroad, and no one believes he will
secede an inch from his position. The bit
terest opposition to the measure comes from
few of the South Atlantic States Some
are such old togies that they think Califor
MIA is no benefit and only an expense to the
Union; and one Senator has gone so far as
to say that he would be willing for Cafor
MIA and the Pacific coast to secede, and would
be willing to give them twenty-five millions
of dollars and the use of the army and navy
ten years for protection-and that he is op-
posed to the further extension of this nation
in any direction. So you see what set of
men there is to deal wth-narrow- minded
and liberal to a degree that units them
for the proud position of Senators, position
where far-seeing, comprehensive and enight-
ened views are necessary qualifications.
Congress adjourned on the 23d inst, to
the 4th of January, and by that time the
new Senate Chamber will be completed, and
the Senators will occupy it. 1t is magni-
ticent hall-similar to that of the House of
Representatives, but not so large. Govern
men is prosecuting its works here in every
directlon-marble pillars and fronts are the
order of the day. | feel proud of these
fine structures, built by the nation, and hope
Government may continue to appropriate
for them. Many of the fogy legislators will
vote lavishly for such expenditures, but sug-
gest to them national aid for Pacific Rail
road, they suddenly discover the Treasury is
too poor for such an undertaking; when at
the same time it is easily demonstrable that
by its construction millions of acres Of land
would be brought into market wealth
would be added to the whole nation, and
certain protection secured to our coast.
The past season has been one of the most
unpleasant in many years. The summer was
: unusually wet, so much so, that all crops
upon low lands were materially injured The
fall and winter has been alternately cold and
wet, and at this writing mud is the ground
work of the landscape.
AS time passes away am becoming anx-
ious to get back to Old Placer as it is !
think, after all, the best country have seen
Yours, ETC., RAMBLER.