The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-08-07

have the identity of interest as to their railroad
connections and both have gone far enough beyond
the pupilage of villages to overlook the petty compe-
on Of their early days. to consider their paramount
interests and to work together in aid of them They
are embryo cities now, with sufficient back country
each to develop uto cities like Memphis if they make
wise use of their positions and their power. Their
united aim should be to develop the natural
of this supporting back country And to concentrate
and ocalise their aims and efforts the attention the
influences and resources Of both should be directed
at once to the construction of railroads. with proper
connections.
The completion of the routes under charter towit
the Southern Pacific and the Memphis and Ell Paso road
projected years ago, is matter of primary and
preme importance. Indeed, their completion, to q
point of convenient intersection within the limits of
northern Texas, with branch from Jefferson to Mar
SHALL and another from Jefferson to Jonesyle, would
supply the absolute present needs Of this large section
We do not wish to intimate, however, that the impor-
tance of the Houston Central should be overlooked
but simply to state conviction, that proper
munlcatlons with natural outlets should be first
garded After this is accomplished the best possible
connection for both roads would be intersection of
the Houston road with both lines. This road should
the other two at the point Of their intersections
aud should be exercised that this should be an
available location for another Atlanta, for it would
become the largest Interior town west of the Missis
sipp, and the capital Of State. The point of
this grand junction. in our opinion should be estab
llSed without reference TO routes already surveyed
but with distinct view to that political future when.
there shall be subdivision of Texas and to its con-
venience as the capital of State The other
roads connected with the E Paso route that is to say
its own extension eastward to Memphis, and the con-
necton with St. Louis by OF the south branch
with Cairo and central Illinois by the Cairo and Full
ton road will certainly be built in time and without any
expense to Texas. 1t will be done the expense Of
the commercial emporiums engineering for the trade
OF that fertile region, and while they would add to its
resources, they not absolutely necessary, like the
State roads, for the development of that portion of
the State. But by all Odds the most valuable road to
Texas to the country west of the Mississippi to the
commerce of the United States and to its military de-
fenses is the Southern Pacific proper that is the ex
tension of the road from its proper initial the point of
intersection Of the Shreveport and Marshall and JEFF
ferson and FL Paso roads, by consolidation westward
via Ell Paso the Pacific coast. This is the shortest
and most practicable route to Pacific possessions
and though oversloughed by the temporary triumph
of sectonasm, and by the irresponsible management
of the Southern Pacific company will, when the pas
sons OF the day have subsidized, go before Congress
with claims to national support that no other route
can bring. For under the influences of St. Louis,
Cairo and Memphis, connected with the North Texas
road OF Nicksburg and its eastern connections, of
Houston and New Orleans, greater breadth Of coun-
try would be interested than any other route. Be-
sides these Influences the natural advantages of this
route and the necessity of great military road
the continent, will recommend it to Congress the
score Of economy and patriotism.
We recur to these general views of the Texas Pa
cic and eastern railroad connections familiar to all
entcrprisng railroad before the war, in order to
bring them to the consideration of large class of
citizens who emigrated to Texas during the cx-
istence OF hostilities and since their cessation.
TREATY OF Observation-Disclosures FOR AND OBJECTIONS
TO DIVISION OF THE STATE.
BY the treaty of annexation the territory of the
State of Texas may be subdivided The statesmen of
the two republics who accomplished the annexation
were smen of sagacity and forecaste, and provided
for inevitable necessity by convention in
advance, designed to effect that amcably and by
agreement, which, otherwise might have occurred
by force fraud. They knew that the limits
of the then State of Texas exceeded the convenient
or the permanent limits OF any State for all State pur
poses They knew full we'll, what experience has
shown, that for all purposes of internal Improvement
the larger the of territory the difficult it is
to secure that union, which is strength, and that har
mony of action which utiIises all expediency. They
knew full well that experience has shown that how
municent the land donations for the great cause
of education, that Ovcr large extended with
sparse population that no system Of education could
be practicalsed that meeting the wants of all classes
should rise from the humble log cabin to the walls of
State university. They knew, what experience
has shown that the very dimensions of State its diff
ercnt Soils its diverse productions and its diversified
population, would add to its political weakness instead
of its political strength and that far from pEomot
ing unity Of character and interest, it would intensity
sectional differences and iname sectional animosNcs
They knew there could be common legislation
suited to the interest," because there sympathy
of pursuits between the wealthy sugar planter of Buff
falo bayou and the primitive hcrdsman watering his
cattle Oh the Wichita river; or between the sturdy
farmer raising lis grain in Lamar or Fannin and the
halt-breed ranchero grazing his sheep west OF the
Guadalupe and hence they provided in the treaty
of annexation for such subdivisions of territory the
future wants and local interests of the population
would to require. The rapid influx of a various
population since the annexation not bound together
by the revolutionary ties of the old Texans, has but
increased the differences then existing, and expedited
the necessity then tOreseen and provided for. 1t is
vulgar error to suppose that the here given
were not the principal reasons for the proposed div
sion Of the State that the only for this pro-
vision the political necessity of increasing the po
litical power of the South in the United States Senate
Although it cannot be denied that this increase of
power was reason for the subdivision. Then, the
existence and perpeuation Of slavery entered into the
question, but that institution having been abrogatcd
the division OF the State is but simple question
of policy, Of interest and convenience. If these ends
require it, then such objections founded upon
State pride must be entirely overlooked and those
who oppose it seek in the future for reasons
furnished by the present time and the present cond
ton of affairs For certainly the experience of the
past, both with regard to internal improvement, to
general education, to harmonious legislation and to
sectional conVeulcnccS den0nraeS the disadvantages
Of so large territory. This being true, overlooking
all considerations Of State PRIDE what objections
there to division of the State? We do not mean
what objections could be devised, but what real OBJ
jections exist. The time is unproptious it may be
urged. To divide before acting upon under the
reconstruction bills would be unpropitious. 1t is bet
ter for the State to return to the Union it left it,
and better for the people. But after reconstruction,
and thereafter possible think it is to the
interest of eastern and northern Texas to set up bu
sincss on tier account" asking simply the 32d
degree Of latitude as its southern boundary, and all
the territory lying north Of it, There is to-day less
unity of character less sympathy of pursuits and less
identity of interests i'll the present population Texas
than were to be found in the population of 1845. Nor
will the future improve it in these particulars.
But again, it may be urged that neither the polt
cal nor the financial condition of the proposed new
State would justify its creation now. This, if true
ought to postpone any attempt to do so; but is it
true? So far as political operate i'll the matter,
we have already declared conviction, that step
should be taken until reconstruction is effected under
the military bills. But when this is accomplished
valid objection will ie account of national politics.
to immediate action, while the chances largely in
favor Of securing better constitution than those So
called military bills absolutely prescribe And for
this ceason-that the large emigration to this section
is confined the whites who will continue to acquire
E,1, ~, R1t1y