, 1860-08-24

BY THE GATHERER.
In previous chapters we have shown from
authorities not to be contradicted, that the
waters Of the Straits Of Juan de Fuca,
Hoods Canal, Possession Sound, Admiral
" Inlet, and Puget Sound, form q system
oiharbors, which for vastness, safety, depth
Of water, freedom from dangers, safe an
eborage, and safe approaches, are not equal
ed IN the world These waters are known
uhder the common name Of Puget Sound.
In the chapter commencing their descrip-
ton we alluded to the fact that il hai been
asserted, in a certain Pacific Railroad Con
yention, that There lodS no safe harbOr on
Puget Sound" We will now give some OF
the proceedings Of that convention, in order
20 show the authority upon which this state
ment was made.
In the spring Of l849, the citizens of the
city Of ST. Louis, Mo-, assembled in mass
meeting TO deliberate upon the Importance
Of opening a commercial communication be-
tween the Mississippi river and Pacific
ocean In this meeting it was resolved
that National Convention should be in
Vll6u 70 dbStluDl0 III DJ IOulS III OCAOOeI
following
The following is an extract from one Of
the resolutions adopted by that meeting:
Resolved, That the project of great line
Of railway across the American continent,
i in all respects a national project, &c.
The Mayor of the city was authorized to
sppoint General Committee, Of twenty
Eve citizens. TO prepare an address to the
people Of the United States, in order to Sc
cure full representation in the convention.
This General Committee, at its first meet
ing, constituted Eve subcommittee. Upon
one of these devolved the duty of collecting
Information, facts, and statistics, illustra-
tive of the project, routes, &c. The first
steps taken by this committee was the com
position by its chairman, John Loughbor-
lugh, Esq.,-then an eminent lawyer Of ST.
Louis, now the Surveyor General Of Illinois
and Missouri-of an elaborate essay or re-
port in favor of q railway to the Pacific,
starting at point at or near the mouth of
lhs Kansas river, crossing the Rocky noun
sains by the South Pass, and terminating
81 the bay Of San Francisco. This is the
present Central, or, as Mr. Loughborough
calls it in his report, "The New Route"
The National Convention met in the city
Of St. Louis on the 10th day Of October,
lS49, as previously determined upon, and
organized by the election of Hon. S. A
Douglas as President, with Vice Presi-
dent from each Of the States represented,
and several Secretaries.
On the second day of its session, Hon
ThOs. H. Benton being called upon, ad-
dressed the convention, giving bis views rel
alive TO a railroad to the Pacific, practca-
bility Of routes, &c. In bis remarks he al
luded to the essay or report Of Mr., Lough-
berough-as containing fundamental err
ror, in denying the existence of any practi-
cable pass south Of the South Pass, &c,
On the following morning, Mr., Loughbo-
rough addressed a communication to the
convention denying that there were any err
roneous statements in the report submitted,
and to sustain himself in this denial of the
accusations OF CNl. Benton, he says: "It is
gratifying to the author to know that the
National Convention assembled here be-
lieVed that Mr.. Benton had failed to sustain
bis assertion, that the essay was erroneous.
This is certainly proved by the facts-that
every speaker who addressed the conven.
ton at any length approved of the essay
and complimented in decided terms the au.
thor of it, &C."
He also adds: "As an additional evidence
that the convention have thought Mr. Ben
ton was in error, the following resolution,
offered by Judge Birch, of the Supreme
Court, and unanimously Resolred That the
thanks of this convention are hereby ten
dered to John LoughbOrough, Esq, for the
industry, ability, and fidelity, disclosed in
the admirable paper which be prepared for
this convention, and to which it has been
50 much indebted, as having conducted il
to the auspicious conclusion at which it hai
arrived.D
We propose to show by Mr.. Loughbor
ough's own report that Col. Benton stated
afact when be asserted in the convention
mat there were erroneous statements in tha
report
One among the many reasons which h'
gives for his new route" being preferable
70 all others is, that its western terminus
Is better, (the bay Of San Francisco.) HI
says: "The mouth Of the Columbia canno
Oe entered by large vessels, and to take tht