The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-08-25

Oregon and Washington, or if they prefer q
Pacific railroad on q line from the Rio Grande,
rather than from st. Louis to San Francisco,
or from St Paul to Puget Sound, it is no mat
ter of complaint that they endeavor to give o
direction to public affairs, conformable to their
own judgment of their own interests. But while
they may properly pursue their own policy, it
eminently concerns other interests and other
sections of the country, to understand precisely
what that policy is, and what its probable effects
upon themselves win be.
What is desirable for the West and North
west is, for the present, not the acquisition of
Mexico, bat such a development of the posses
sions we already have upon the Pacific, as will
cause the construction of railroads across the
breadth of the continent, connecting the Bay of
San Francisco and Puget's Sound with the
Missouri, the Upper Mississippi, and Lake SUI
perior. If California and Oregon and Washing
ton were without the Anglo-Saxon population
which they contain, the idea of spanning the
continent in the temperate ATTITUDES with rail
roads, would not be entertained, and the idea
becomes commercially feasible, just in proper
ton as that population is augmented. 1t is the
good fortune of the West and Northwest, in this
particular, that an American population was
first planted where it is upon the Pacific, in
their own ATTITUDES. That was good fortune,
and it will now be good conduct for them to
make the most Of this advantage of first occu-
patton. Undoubtedly, in due time, the race
now inhabiting the United States will spread
over, not all the present Territories of the
Union, but the whole of Mexico. That final
result is certain, but the order and succession
in which it is to be reached is not certain, but
may be modified and controlled by political
foresight; and this order and succession is of
the first moment, time in this case, as ordina-
rily in human affairs, being an essential element
in determining results. The tendency of the
condition of things which will exist so long as
an enlargement of the limits of the Union is
postponed, is to build up cities upon the Bay
of San Francisco, Columbia river, and Puget
Sound, of such population wealth, and business
connections as viii give them prodigious ad-
vantages as against any competition which may
arise hereafter. They have the first possession
of the field, and every year which is added to
their exclusive possession augments by so much
their strength to resist future rivalry. This is
the actual position Of things, not unnaturally
deprecated by the South, but most fortunate
for the West and Northwest, and which, if they
are wise, they will not permit to be changed. 1t
is said to be right to be taught by our enemies.
The South is not he enemy of the West in the
sense of luminosity, but it is so in the sense
of opposing interests; and when the South is
seen to pursue persistent policy of resist
ance to every measure calculated to accelerate
the growth of California, Oregon, and Washing
ton, the fact is one to be noted. The fact itself
is unmistakable, and the exploitation of it is not
matter of long drawn or doubtful deduction.
The South will do nothing to develop Pa
cifc Coast with which it has no permanent ties
of political sympathy, and to which it cannot
look for commercial outlets. The South means,
in short, to have new Pacific Coast of its own
and if it retain control of the Government at
Washington, it will, at some opportune moment,
accomplish the object.