Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-06-15
THE PACIFIC TELEGRAPH.



Passage Of the Bill.
The first Of the great measures before
the country for the connection of the
Atlantic States with their fair sisters
upon the Pacific, is accomplished by the
passage of the Pacific Telegraph Bill
by the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives OF the United State, on Tuesday
last.
The bill, we believe. originated in the
Senate. Going to the House it was then
amended, by providing for advertising
for sealed proposals, and letting out the
contract to the lowest bidder under Ger
tain Iestrictions-these restrictions be-
ing considered unfavorable to the prompt
and sufficient construction Of the line,
we're stricken out by the Senate, and an
merton made in its place, providing for
. contract with Zenas Barnum and 9TH
ere, insuring an early completion OF the
work.
In this amendment the House concur
red. For the telegraph line, the central
route has been selected, beginning, If we
remember right, at Lcavcnworth, Kan
sas Territory, running thence to Fort
kearney thence to Fort Laramie
thence through the celebrated South
Pass to Utah City, and thence to San
Francisco; between Utah City and San
Francisco throwing off a branch to Ore
gon.
As matter of couse, the grant of the
right Of way across the territories Of the
Y nited States is accompanied by a heavy
government subsidy in lands and mon
ey. As a general rule we are opposed
to the gift Of public lands and property,
to assist in the construction of works to
be used for purposes Of private emolu-
ment. The creation by government as
sistance ola monopoly controlled by
private persons for their individual ends,
10 dangerous precedent to establish in
Democratic country, to say nothing oil
its effect upon the finances of the gov.
ernment. In this instance, however, VIC
are inclined to believe that the grant is
judicious, and the money properly ap.
propriated. Indeed it is an expenditure
which aprivate individual placed in the
same position might have made, guided
by the strictest principles Of finance, for
the purposes Of inducing the settlemen,
Of bis lands, and bringing them early
into market.
But outside Of this somewhat picayun-
ish view of the subject, there is another
and broader principle whioh would ab.
sorb and overtop all objections to the
expenditure, even lift could not be iusti
ned upon principles of financial reason.
ing.
Our country is vide one, embracing
. vast extent Of territory and many d.
versified sections, and although the sew
eral States are bound together not only
by the glorious compact, the Constitu-
ton, bat also by ties of common blood
and common interest, yet of late it has
become painfully evident that something
more is necessary, to strengthen the
bonds Of Union among us. This can
only be accomplished by additional facil-
tiles for communication among the peo-
pie Of the several States. We therefore
hail the prospect Of the speedy compile.
ton of the Pacific Telegraph with low
as the bright omen of new union and
brotherhood.
The little wire which will form the
Geographic connection bet xeen the
States Of the Atlantic ard those Of the
Pacific, will be bead of Union strong
even As the Constitution itself.