The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-27
their profession. The whipping post would 1
|aspef the aspiring impulses which would
#lift them upwards to this bad eminence.
.The Texas-p aciac Railway.

II Congress would pass the Texas-P Pacific
Railway charter Il would add fmmeasurably
to the means FOR reriving public energy and
public hope. We can conceive Of nothing
else that would do so much for the nation.
b W hen California was acquired there was
a very imperfect knowledge Of Its wealth,
aud no one dreamed OF the immense addi-
ton 1t would give to the national power.
MIR. WEBSTER ridiculed the idea that had.
been advanced By some persons Of the Inn
mensity Of the wealth that the United States
had acquired with California. he pointed
to Illinois as n source OF agricultural
wealth that could never be rivalled by
the State Of California; and yet she
has excelled Illinois in her crop OF wheat
and in the wonderful exhibition OF the
f!ocks and herds that cover her vast fields.
And besides these proofs Of California's
vast agricultural wealth there are the mil.
lions upon millions that have come from her
mines OF precious metals. How far below
her productive riches did Mr.. WEBSTER
place her
Now the country that will be brought
within the power of the skill and energy OF
the nation by the Texas-Pacitic railway Is
more extensive than California, and we be-
lieve will prove to be more vast and as fruit
full in its mineral riches and agricultural
resources as California. Therefore this rail-
way when completed will open second
chapter Of national wealth that will exceed
in volume and substance the golden record
of California.
Such a development at this time, when
we are suffering the extreme depression
that followed the most destructive civil war
OF the present age, would be an event most
timely, most happy. Besides this develop
ment the practical circumstances attending
the construction of this great trans-conti-
mental way will impart immense activity TO
the whole country and inspire the people
with renewed hope-hope that the heaven
descended gifts to this vast country will IN
a few years wipe out the last traces OF the
fratricida war and fill the land with the
reioicings OF once more happy people.
We exaggerate not at all the wealth OF the
country traversed by the line OF the Texas
Pacific railway. Our anticipations will be
more than borne out by the realization.
What was formerly New Spai1 was pro-
nounced By HUMBOLDT to be the richest
part of the globe we inhablt. California
was a small part of it, and California he but
partially examined. The Texas Pacific
passes through its centre, and we have no
doubt that the judgment Of the great tray
eller will be fully sustained.
But in chartering the highway that is TO
bring forward the great development let it
be borne in mind that the TeXas-Pacific
railway shall be kept separate from any
other Iine-that it shall be maintained as
competing line-that there shall be no alli-
ance between it and the great monopoly OF
the Union and Central Pacific. which seeks
now to invade public liberty by getting con-
troll OF the entire railway travel and transpor-
tation between the Atlantic and the Pacific.
The Texas-Pacitc must be maintained intact
and independent. To do anything to sacri-
fee this independence will be to barter
away the rights and liberties Of the nation.