Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-12-19
TEXAS PACIFIC RAILROAD.


The move made in the Senate, to
secure government aid for the compile
ton ofthe Texas Pacific Railroad, is one
which the whole South should second.
1t is one of those invaluable improve
ments which is beyond the ability of
one, or two States to consummate, and
this fact brings it within the scope of
Federal authority. But our advocacy
of the project, is not based, alone,
upon its value IN the extension Of
commerce throughout the entire coun-
try, and in developing the mineral and
agricultural resources of a vast terri
tory the life-giving power of skill and
industry. We ask it as an act of JUS
tice-of compensation-due to the
South for losses sustained and advanJ
ages taken Of it. by the strong arm of
sectional domination.
The Northern Pacific road and its
brauches were built, as every one un-
derstands. with an eye tothe exclusive
interests of the North-the increase
of its commerce and the multiplied
ton of its wealth--not as a co-equal
section of the federal Union, but as
sovereign of the whole. 1t is equally
well known by all who took note fthe
Credit Mobillier developments, notyet
completed, that money enough was en-
bezzled by contractors and layished
upon favorite partizans-to say moth
ing of the millions of acres of land
handed over to Specializing rings, TO
build two such roads as the Texas Pa
cifc. And whilst the northern road
was obviously built as sectional en-
terprise, it should not be forgotten
that the South is required to pay its
quota of the revenue necessary to meet
the payment of principal, interest and
stealage which make up the sum total
of that tremendous swindle.
Butapart from the argument of COM
pensative justice, the terrors of snow
hlockades, the accidents and delays of
the bleak northern route, so clearly
indicate the necessity for a southern
road, that far-seeing capital is locating
and building branches to tap the
southern artery and transfuse its life
blood into northern veins. This ne
cessity, so promptly and practically re-
cognized by the vigilance Of avarice, is
destined to impress itself upon the
broader views of enlightened states
manship, and address itself to those
who prefer justice to party and can
look beyond sectional boundaries for
the greatest good to the greatest num-
Der. The narrow selfishness which
would restrict the operations of gov
eminent, designed for the common
good of all, to the views and interests
of a grasping section, has had its day,
and, as Radicalism recedes from power,
wisdom and patriotism will come to
the front, and see TO it, that every Sec
ton has its proportion of the material
benefits within the bestowal of wise
administration of the government.
To say nothing of the South. which is
AS vet voiceless and powerless ia the
councils Of the Federal government,
no section has a greater interest in the
Texas Pacific road, than the upper val
eyofthe Mississippi and especially that
portion already tributary to st. Louis.
This great commercial centre already
grasps, with one arm, the northern route
to the Pacific and has the other ex-
tended to embrace the southern, thus
laying the foundation for future of
wealth and greatness unsurpassed by
any locality on the continent. With
cheaper and safer route to the Pacific
and the mouth of the Mississippi per-
manently deepened, opening up cheap
transportation for the products of the
northwest, this great valley will real
re the greatness of which il is suscep-
tible and, then, St. Louis may claim,
as It's due, the location of the Federal
Capitol within Its corporate limits.
How far New England influence over
its northwestern colonies, may have
power to defeat, what would seem to
be, the destiny of the Mississippi val
ley, we are not prepared to say, but it
Is clear that the interests Of the South
and West are too closely Unidentified.
not to induce hearty cooperation for
the grand future of both, depending
upon the completion ofthe Texas Pa
cifc, the deepening of the mouth of
the Mississippi and removing the OBJ
structions from its tributaries.