Weekly Trinity journal., 1865-01-28

We cannot develop the times without population
we cannot have that population there without
the Pacific Railroad. 1t is an expense of time
and money to reach our mineral lands which abb
solutely forbids any rapid emigration. Consid-
ering the attractions of that golden soil, 1t is
marvel that only COO, 900 people have found their
way from all nations to California in the last ff-
teen years, and sc, 900 to Oregon. We must not
compel our enterprisng citizens to go round the
Horn or over the plains by three or four months
passage or by the Isthmus at a cost of $3.50 in
gald. We must create a cheap, swift, attractive
way to get them to the place where they can, in
the soonest time, dig out for us the national
wealth essential to save us from bankruptcy.
But there is another reason for hurrying up
the Pacific Railroad. Our great army, when it
is disbanded will find its veteran soldiers,
through their long habits of dependence on mil
itary orders and supervision very much untitled
to contend with civilians in the old trades or
occupations to which they were bred. They
will, too have acquired rowing habits, love of
danger, excitement and enterprise, very fatal to
their return to the sober drudgery of ordinary
life and business, in old and fixed communities.
A good many will remain in the country they
have so long fought over, and drive the plough
where they pulled the cannon, or carried the
musket But, at first, there will be an immense
proclivty to emigration. The plains will be
covered with bands of old soldiers, going to in
wade the region of gold and silver, and to sub
stitute for the risks and comradeship of war, the
good-telowship and the possible prizes of the
mining region. But all the emigration that will
reach the Pacific Coast in this laborious way is
small, compared with what might be secured,
were the road to the Pacific built while this
taste for emigration is alive among the disband-
ed soldiers. 1t will die out in FIVE years.
Another reason for starting the Pacific Rail
road at once, with the largest governmental sub
sides, is, that the people are now in the mood
of great enterprises, and that this mood is a rare
one in all peoples, and is likely to die out in
very short time With our treasury, of late,
disbnrsing hundreds of millions every year for
military purposes, we are not frightened at eX
pensive civil undertakings. We ought not to be
frightened at any time, for our are fully
equal to them. But in ordinary times, the cry
of economy in the pnbic expenditures, meaning
n parsimonious policy that denies governmental
support to any internal improvements is so
easy road to vulgar popularity, that it is sure
to lie raised by those who have no other means
of gaining distinction.
Now we are above such misery prciudiccs.
and shall continue so for short time. Patriots
should seize the occasion to devise and execute
. liberal things - and among them the Pacific
Railroad should receive their first attention.
rejoice to be able to bear testimony to the
strong feeling of nationality that sways your hearts
towards your whole country. | sincerely think
you love US better than love you. Simply
because you have the graves and affairs, and
hearth stones of your parents on our soil. But
we are not half important to you, as you are
to US You have got all our best in your blood,
antecedent history, memories, and procliyities,
derived from US. Wewant your commerce, your
metallic resources, your climate and your coast
Our nation will be paralytic, and hobble on
one limb dragging the other after her, until she
establishes that true circulation from the common
heart to both sides of her frame, which will first
show itself when the Pacific Railroad has made
the Western slope of this Continent as popuous
and as fully developed the Eastern slope