, 1862-09-27

Russia, TO traverse her commons, IN hgn nortn-
ern latitude, to their eastern extremity, at the
mouth of the Amoor river, cross the sea from
Kamschatka or Behring's Straits, and, descending
the northwest coast of America, come down upon
the river which must head opposite the head Of
the Missour-ascend it to its source in the Rocky
mountains, and then follow the Missouri to the
French settlements on the Upper Missouri, and
thence home. 1t was a magnificent, daring pro-
jec Of discovery and for this very reason the more
captivating to the ardent spirit of Ledyard. He
undertook it, went to St Petersburg received the
permission of the Empress. Ohen in the Crimea, }
and had arrived in Siberia, when he was overta-
ken by revocation of the permission and con-
Quoted, by an order from the Empress as a spy,
out Of the country. He then returned to Paris
and resumed his original design of the explora-
ton of the Nile to its sources, which terminated
in his premature DEATH and deprived the world of
a young and adventurous explorer, from whose
ardor, courage, perseverance and genius great
and useful results were to have been expected.
Mr.. Jefferson was baked in this, his first at
tempt to establish the existence of the Columbia
river. But time was coming for him to under
take it under better auspices. He became P resi-
dent of the United States, and in that position
projected the expedition of Lewis and Clark, OBJ
taned the sanction of Congress, and sent them
forth to discover the head and course of the river
whose mouth had been so recently discovered, tor
the double purpose of opening an inland CONNER
cial communication with Asia and enlarging the
boundaries of geographical science. The com
mercia object was placed first in his message, and
as the object to legitimate the expedition.
Thus Mr. Jefferson was the first to propose the
North American road to India, overland from the
Missouri river to the Columbia, and the introduc-
ton of Asiatic trade on that road and all that
myself have either said or written that subject
from the year 1919, when l first took it up, down
to the present day, when still contend for it, is
nothing but the fruit of seed planted in my mind
by the philosophc hand of Jefferson. Honor to
all those who shall assist in accomplishing his
grand idee"
Thus wrote Mr.. Benton, a man who for half
century took an active, leading part in mould
| ing the affairs of our nation, and whose sympa-
thies were ever enlisted in those grand projects
which looked towards the opening of our great
western domain. How prophetic the words and
views of such men Could they to-day arise from
their tombs and see the attempt that is now being
made by Perry Nc D. Collins, to encircle with the
electric wire, not one continent alone, but Europe
Asia and America-coud they see the line of
telegraph, as it brings to us on the Pacific its
lightning wings, the intelligence from crowded
marts and bloody fields of war in the east-could
they the enterprise to connect our land locked
havens of Puget Sound with the magnificent har-
bors of the Amoor river-could they see the pla-
;eauS of old ocean lending themselves, as beds
wherewth to hold fast the lightning's speech
and the Ishmus of Suez and Behring's Straits
each and both the scenes to-day of projects sue h
as the world has never before witnessed-truly,
they would exelaim that the gift of prophecy had
been theirs in pointing out the present pages of
the worlds history, enterprise and industry
daily recording them
Would that the mantle of these noble spirits
had fallen, untarnished, upon the shoulders ofour
present national Legislators. Would that another
Jefferson could arise to guide the helm of our
noble Ship of State, now fast vending towards the
strands of disunion, and with his full knowledge
of the shoals and depths of our political chart and
the directions taken by the fanatical storms
which so often beset us, might pilot US into the
haven of sympathy of sentiment and harmony of
action.
1t is gratifying to the lovers of the liberal, the
noble and national, to read at the present day the
record of our statesmen of half century since,
when this exploration was had. No geographical
or sectional lines then divided in twain either their
legislation or its spirit; but we find Virginia's
Jefferson at the head and front, to explore and
make known to US a broad expanse of northern
territory, which time should carve into new States
to be added to our confederacy not for the
strength of the North, not for the strength Of the
South, but for our Nations advancement, pros
perity and unity. 1t was in this spirit that this
work was initiated carried on, and brought to a
successful completion. 1t was in this spirit that
the Louisiana purchase was bargained for and eff
fected, and to which our right was to be after
wards asserted and maintained. 1t was this spirit
which proclaimed the impossibity of their raising
the fratricidal hand against structure as won
derful in its formation as it has proved in its
workings.
But let us hope that the great spirit of forbear-
ance is not yet extinct among our relatives and
kinsmen on the borders of yonder distant ocean,
where our friends and brothers dwell. Let the
next intelligence from the East gladden. our hearts
with the news that the spectre of dsunion has
been banished to the cells of hell, from whence it
came, and that, in the spirit of a generous, ma
tional legislation, the people have determined by
their acts that Christian tolerance is not yet ex
hausted, but that the American Nation should be
once more united, and that our Pacific posses
sons should assume the importance to which their
position, commercially and geographically, entite
them.
Let us not, in the spirit and mood of the vision
ary, but in the manner of men, who, before build
ing their houses, sit down to count the cost there
Of enter upon the practical solution of that prob
! lem which is destined to connect us with the set
Elements of the Mississippi, now fast extending
westwardly. Let US, not as theorists, but as men
of practical determination, initiate the work of
the iron rail that is to start from the very thres
hold of our habitations here, and, retracing the
! L OIL nnrnr- ..n,ln. l..oI