National Republican., 1878-05-21


of craftsmanship The reasons are too
obvious why all the public works should be
prosecuted with the utmost vigor ut the
present time:
ALErTER FROM THE HON. WILLIAM II. SEWARD
To THE EXECUTIVE CIMMIrrEE AT ST.
LOUIS.
FLORIDA, y. Y. October ?, 1919.
GENTLEMES Your letter Of the 2Sth of
August, inviting mo to attend the National
Convention, to be held at St. Louis to dclibcr-
| ate on the Importance of communications across
| the continent by railroad and telegraph, aud
rendering to me the hospitaitics of the city On
| that interesting OCCASION has been received
When we contemplate, for only moment,
| our expansive Territories on the Pacific coast,
and the almost magical development of moral,
social, and political elements in the colonies
pInntcd there, We sec. at once, that they cannot
be left to remain rs they are, separated from
| us by mountain barriers, desert wastes, and
stormy seas. When we look upon the full
tide of European Immigration beating upon
our Eastern shores, and consider the volume
| that is ready to break upon the Pacific coast,
| the ultimate unity of tho races of men reveals
itself 10 Us, aud we arc irrcsistibly impressed
with Il conviction that that unity Is to be per-
fcctcd in our own country, under our own
Democratic institutions.
While we are yet bcwldcrcd In endeavorng
to obtain II full conception Of the ultimate in
| ilucHcc of railroads and magnetic teicgraphs
upon civilization and empire, we sec that they
are Indispensable agencies in periccting the
integrity of the nation and IN attaining its
destiny. All previous enterprises OF internal
Improvement have involved preliminary ques.
tons Of practcIbiity, aud of necessity, or ut
| least, of cNpcUicncy which perpluXrd the pop
uiar mind, and hindcrcd, dcIuycd, or altogether
defeated the action Of the Government But
i'm mfr IA,
Immediate consequence Of progress already
made which cannot be retracvd. The banks
OF the mississippi, 50 long, and until SO recent
a period the barrier between EurOpean Powers
whose dominion on this continent has passed
away forever are fitting place for cOnsulta
ton: and ! should deem it among the most
gratifying incidents Of my life, if could con-
trol circumstances around me- 50 AS to avail my
self of the instructions which the convention
will afford. But this will be impossible pray
you to accept my grateful acknowledg gments
for the respect implied by your invitation, and
my sincere assurance that the most dsinter-
cStcd aud diligent efforts shall be put forth, on
my part, in support OF such II system, for per-
lccting the proposed enterprises as shall seem
most likely 10 gain the favor Of the National
Legislature.
| speak OF Congress, because I deem il right
and necessary to demand, not merely the tulcr-
alton or consent 0fthut body, but its direct aud
effective action. Undoubtedly railroad to the
Pacific Ocean would ultimately be constructed
by means OF the enterprise Of citizens and
OF States, a. other national works Of internal
improvement have been built. But the inter
rsts Of this generation, and even the security
Of the nation, cannot abide such delays The
action of our GDycrnmCut concerning intcrunl
improvements hitncriu, has not cUnlurmud to
the plainly expressed antCpatiOus OF its found
crs. 1t was universally and cunlidcntially
supposed when the Constitution was adopted
that all works essential to the public defense
ami to the improvement OF internal commerce.
would be constructed with the national arm
and with the national treasures. But the
Government has hitherto rcnIuinCd, IUT the
most part, inactive aud quiet, by reason Of
s.utvs about the relative utility Of such tn-
lcrprs. -, aud real and affected dpprchcnsiuns Of
| mprOyidCucC aud dcmOralIEti0n consequent
! Oh the exercise Of Federal power in that dirrC-
tiOn. This inaCtiOn has rcsUl cd in deep aud
tiOual power Of Congress h. construct am
works oI internal improvement. The first and
most Important step toward the fUliilmcnt of
the wishc, Of the people IL the removal OF these
doubts: and this can he done only by full cX-
POSITIONS u every, popular form, Of the mdls-
pcHsahIU necessity aud vast utility of the en-
To- pr,,o winch will engage the attention Of
the convention. This must he done, or it will
be lett Tor states yet 10 he organized. and oven
yet 10 be- rc"plrd. to construct Ink by link
the cHain wulch the Federal power ought to
forge at Il single blow. | AIN, gentlemen, with
great respect and esteem, your hunlbu servant
WILLIAM II. SEWARD.