Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-11-06
SOUTHERN ,lJlu PACIFIC RAILROAD.

SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.
The New York Bulletin invites our
attention to the st. Louis Convention,
called to consider the plan and FEAST
biIity of constructing the above named
road. To define our position on this
subject, tits proper TO state that, at an
early date after the wal, We repeatedly
condemed the policy Of the South as
indicated in its efforts to construct
roads with an eye to the nearest routes
to the Northern seaboard, instead OF
projecting them to its own seaboard
cities = the former policy fostering
Northern trade and wealth at the ex-
pense of Southern commerce and
prosperity. Nothing has transpired
since, to alter our views on this point.
When the Southern Pacific was first
presented for public consideration, for
the reasons just assigned. we cautioned
the South against the probable scheme
of Tom Scott, so TO manipulate the
enterprise as to make it tributary to
his ambition by making it mere pro-
longation of his Pennsylvania road.
At the same time we advocated the
construction Of the line, not only upon
its intrinsic merits. but as an act of
simple Justice to the South. The
Union Pacific had been built by lavish
appropriations andits subsequent man.
agement had squandered millions upon
millions of the peoples money, and to
make good this tremendous waste OF
public lands and moneys, the South is,
and was, held to as strict an account
as the more favored section which, IN
the unrestrained exercise of sectional
power, gave the North whatever itwant-
ed looking to Southern staples for the
reparation of its wasteful extravaganza.
This, in our opinion, makes it the duty
ofthe government. asasimple act ofjus-
tice, to lend liberal aid to the construe-
ton ofthe Southern Pacific. We build
no plea upon the assumption of the
Bulletin that the Northern friends of
the South desire, in this way, to place
our section again upon its feet-we as
sumo the higher ground, that the gov
crnment has no legitimate authority to
to lavish benefits upon one section and
withhold the same from another section
of one and the same country; that it
it had the constitutional right to build
the Union Pacific, it has the same au-
thority for helping to build the South
ern Pacific. Nor do we endorse the
position of some that the road, as
great national highway, ought to be
built without reference to the mango
ment under which it may fall or what
may be its Eastern terminus, not nom
inally, but in fact If the government
lend its aid. the South will be bound
for Its proportion of whatever taxation
may grow out of it, The same is true
of the Union Pacific which, if il 6en-
eft the South at all, it is too remotely
10 be felt in any sensible degree. But
the North may argue and truly that it
must bear its proportion of the South
ern Pacific, if built by government aid /;
still it will have this marked advant-
age, that the road now built is exclu-
sIyely its own, whilst in the other it
will have more than a half interest be-
cause it is intended merely to touch
the South, and will be entitled to the
name of " Southern" only because
south Of the Union Pacific. 1t will
play the part Of coasters along the sea :
board-picking up freight here and
there to concentrate it at some favored
Northern port. taking from, rather
than adding to, the life blood ofSouth
ern, internal commerce. The South
ern delegate to the St. Louis Conven-
ton ought, in our judgment, TO endorse
no proposition looking to a terminus
proper on the eastearn seaboard, with
branches on the Mississippi. Such
branches may may or not be built, and il
builtmay be in such mannerand under
such restrictions as to make the whole
greatvalley tributary to Northern rail-
road magnates and the greed of eastern
cities. Capitol is already omnipo-
tent. and the credulOus and impOver
ished South may be too easily led IS.
tray by fair promises, made with a
mental reservation. Tom Scott is am
bilious to extend his road to the Pa.
cihc; he wants Philadelphia to be
the overshadowing rival of New York
aud he wants a road TO compete with
the Union Pacific, possessing all the
advantages of a superior climate, q
better grade and shorter distance, and
cares nothing for the South beyond it,
ability TO advance his schemes. i
branches are equivalent to the mair
trunk a. channels Of trade, the Nortl
already has these running from every
quarter But the proposition TO Civ,
us the branches and the North the
trunk, is conclusive Of intended ad
vantages over the South in the con
struction Of the road. If the Couven
ton fail TO give due consideration e
the subject, il is to be hoped the South
err delegation 10 Congress will guarC
well the interest Of the South, resolved
10 favor 10 road which is not Southern
IN Its leading propositions, anC
thoroughly guarded against subsequent
frauds Of Interpretation.
THE purchase Of the Richmond Eu
quirer by Northern men Is said TO be
trick Of the Democratic hard money
ring Of New York to convert Virgin;
aud the South TO the Tilden fuaucia