The national Republican., 1861-01-31
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.

Yesterday will be remembered as white day |
in the history of the Republic. The President
signed the bill for the admission of Kansas, ,the
thrty.fourth State in our glorious and perpetual
Union and the Senate, by the imposing ma
iority of thirty.seven to fourteen, passed the
Pacific railroad bill sent up from the House,
but amended, so as to provide for three roads,
instead of two, from the valley Of the Missis.
sippi to the Pacific ocean. The bill, as passed
by the Senate, was amended in many Of its de.
tails but under the pressure of the great pub.
lie necessities which call for its passage, the
disagreeng votes of the two branches Of Con-
gress will be brought into accord by commit
tees Of conference, or in some other Of the par.
liamentary modes. 1t is impossible that a
measure should fail, which is urged forward
by such an overwhelming public sentiment
and which is enforced by such pressing mo-
tives Of national policy.
The progress of this discussion has, we be-
lieve, satisfied the country, that the idea of a
single road to the Pacific is inadequate and
imperfect. Our coast upon that ocean is so
long, and we are so advancing upon it, not in
column, but by our whole lattudinal line of
empire, that one road must be partial and
unsatisfactory. The true idea is, not that of
bridge to the Pacific, but Of a complete occu.
patton, from the North to the South, Of the
whole territory which separates us from it.
The two.road bill of the House was good
one, but the three.road bill of the Senate is
better still. The magnitude Of the measure,
instead Of being an objection to it, is, at this
juncture, its best recommendation. 1t is just
what is needed to steady mems minds and at
tach them to the Government by stroke of
energy and vigor, at a great crisis. 1t illus.
trates and enforces, to the dullest apprehension,
the beneficial power of united national Gov
ernment, in contrast with the feebleness of
separated and petty States. 1t invigorates the
sentiment of American nationality, inspires
pride in the resources Of the country, and
diverts the public attention from baleful dis.
cords, by the contemplation Of great achieve.
ments Of peace and civilization, which better
bc6t this new continent and this new age.
But while in this sense, and for such pur.
poses, the bill as passed by the Senate is a
large one, it is not Of magnitude which need
inspire alarm. The total maximum money ap.
preparation of the bill is only one hundred and
twenty-one millions of dollars, mere baga.
telle, when it is considered that it is to be
spread over term of fifteen years, at the least,
and that it is not gift, but 10 N, or an in.
vestment, paying abundantly in direct postal
and military services to the Governme mt, in
addition to its indirect development Of national
resources. 1t is not quite the fourth part OF
the sum expended by the English in the Cti'
mean war, to avert danger to their East In
dian possessions, which was con ingent, and
at all events, remote. 1t does not compare
with the sum paid for Louisiana, making al
lowance for our increase of wealth within sixt,
years. 1t is less than the sum which its con
spicuous opposers have repeatedly Offered
within the last thirteen years to pay for Cuba
which was only desired for sectional aggrand
izement, but which would be for the nation al
apple of discord, and a source Of weakness
rather than of strength. 1t is not quite doubl
the amount which has been invested in raj
roads by the single State of Massachusetts,.
is only an eighth part of what the whole countr
has already invested in this greatest Of moder
Improvements.
The final passage of this bill will be halle
with acclamation. 1t will stimulate business
, by making a market for iron, for machlner.
, for labor, and for the food and clothing {
laborers. 1t will restore confidence and reviv
the dropping industrial energies of the countr.
The scheme Of development which it effectuate
= has been long matured in the public mind, an
, has been adopted in the platforms of all tn
, national parties. 1t is now the fulness Of tim
3 for its realization.