The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-25


bition in the Patrick-county cases. Read it.
FLOR the Dispatch.
The New Orleans Convention and the
Texas-Paciflc Railway!
When Ben. johnson wrote OF William
Shakespeare
Sweet swan of Avon, what Il sight 1t were
To see thee in our water yet appear,
And make those sights unon the banks or Thames
That so did take Eliza and our james,
he probably had 70 reference to any one oil
the Dispatch, because at that time be had
not read the many good things "Jeems
River7' has been so pleasantly saying in re-
cent issues or that paper about the Father
of Waters-the mighty Mississippi.
The articles referred to, so full OF might,
mirth, and melody, were OF Importance, be-
cause they directed the attention OF south.
ern people to the Convention recently held
in New Orleans, whose principal aim was
to promote their best interests. That body
OF representative men chiefly considered
these great subjects:
LIST. The placing southern cities by lines
Of steamers in direct communication with
foreign ports. al
Cd. To preserve, protect, aud increase the
carrying trade of the Mississippi river.
Sd. 10 connect southern Atlantic ports
with the Pacific Ocean by means Of o rail-
road running through southern States and
southern Territories. ..s... ~. IA.
In this paper. I shall invite attention to
this last object. To-day there is but one
transcontinental road spanning this great
country. It is called the Union and Central
Pacific, and its terminal points are Omaha
aud San Francisco. ~
During the war, as supposed military
necessity, the work upon this road began.
Eight years ago it was completed, having
received the 'most magnificent subsidy,
both in lands and bonds, ever granted by
the American Congress-. the total to main
line and branches being about 100000.
Let it remain forever to enrich with ten
fold blessings the East, North, and North
west; but it must not remain as monopoly.
The growing South, while contributing her
share towards its construction, from its geo.
graphical location reaps no practical benefit
from that line. In July, 1864, Congress in
corporated the Northern Pacific railroad,
whose eastern terminus is at Duluth, and
endowed it with land grant Of 100000
acres-magnlicent wheat lands-worth over
500, 600. This road is now in process
of construction but, being still farther
north. is still more out of reach Of southern
trade and travel. at last, in 1871, Congress
recognized the necessity for southern line,
and incorporated the Texas aud Pacific
Railway Company, giving 1t land grant Of
less than 1S,0O0,000 acres, but not dollar
in bonds or money. This line is located on
the thirty-second parallel, running, when
completed, through Texas, New Mexico,
and Arizona, to San Diego, California. The
company charged with its construction has
expended over $20,000,000 OF its pri-
vate capital, and have nearly five hun
dred miles now Of its road constructed.
The eastern terminus, about which the
southern States were so much divided, is to
be established on the east bank Of the Mis-
sissippi-the exact point TO be determined
by five dsnterested persons, to be ap.
pointed by the President Of the United
States, three of whom shall be officers OF
the highest rank Of the Engineer Corps,
United States army-With the sole condi-
ton: said point shall not be further north
than Memphis. All conflicting views are
thus happily harmoniZed; for terminus
thus located will be within easy reach Of the
great network Of southern railroads from
Virginia to Florida. The trade reaching
such point will flow eastwardly through
the South over the lines offering the
greatest inducements. and for it they
have equal privileges i'll bidding. But
such an immense inter-oceanic national
road cannot be wholly constructed by pri-
yate corporations, and the Texas and Pacific
Company asks Congress to lend its guaran-
tee for the payment OF the annual interest
on its bonds to enable them to sell at par.
The Government is not asked to be liable
for the principal, and it is protected from
loss by first mortgage son all property
created by the proceeds OF the bonds" on
the lands held by it, and on it's net earn
ings from year to year. In addition, all
moneys due to it by the Government
for mail service, transportation OF troops
or stores, must remain in the Treasury
and be devoted to the payment OF interest.
To the Union and Central Pacific the
Government loaned its bonds, and is reSpon-
sible for principal and interest, being Sc.
cured bya second mortgage, not first.
The New Orleans Convention endorsed and
recommended governmental aid to be given
as above to the Texas and Pacific Company |;
and so the cry is raised by northern papers
and northern writers Of subsidy!
II subsidies are wrong in one respect,
they are wrong in ali; and the cry should
at least not come from that section OF COM
mon country which has grown great and
prosperous from the bounty CT the Govern
ment, distributed over it with most lavish
hand. An examination Of this question OF
subsidy or aid shows startling difference,
SO far as different sections are the recipients
OF the national assistance. From 1889 TO
1878, for instance, the United States has
given in money and bonds 10 help to build
railroads, canals, and wagon.roads, Slo4,-
705, 163. 43; Of that amount the States OF West
Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, and the ten other southern states
received only $5,a80,172.94-the northern
States and Territories getting $99,224, 990.4S
OF ii. Is that an equitable distribution
Governor Brown, Of Tennessee, well re.
marks that these fourteen southern States
comprise an area Of sS2, G03 square miles as
against COG, $50 square miles in all the other
1twenty-six States. And OF the small amount
Tin comparison) given them, neither West
Virginia or Texas or Georgia received one
dollar: South Carolina only S9, 961 80; Ten.
nessec only S5,000-and that for the con.
struction OF a military road 10 make Jack
sons march to New Orleans possible. AND
this, too. in face Of the startling fact that
Georgia gave the principal partof the do
main out OF which were erected the States
tof Nj Mississippi aud Alabama, aud from which
the Government has realized $40, 100000 in
cash while Virginia, although donating to
the Government the States now comprising
the greater part OF ohio, Kentucky, India
ma, and Illinois, containing, 81, $50 square
miles, and haysnga operty OF ssl0, 1923, $685..