Year: 1859

THE RAILROAD CONVENTION. = Concurrent
Resolutions passed the last Legislature, April
5th, 1859, requesting the people of the several
counties of this State to choose delegates to
form State Convention, which shall convene
at San Francisco and be composed of dele
gates from Oregon, Washington and Arizona,
rs we'll as California, for the purpose of set
Ting upon plan, the most expedient, for the
speedy construction of the long talked of At
lantc and Pacific Railroad. 1t is recommen-
ded in those resolutions, that the numerical
basis of representation in the Convention,
from this State, be the same throughout the
different counties, as our Legislative represen-
tation. This would give to Amador and Call
averas seven delegates. No plan for choosing
them was suggested by the Legislature, which
is very much to be regretted. In San Fran
cisco, Sacramento and Yuba Counties, where
the voting population is c,ose and compact,
Mass Meetings will furnish the readiest and
best means for the election of delegates; but
in the mountain counties this plan, from the
scattering character of our population, will
not answer so well, yet, in consideration of
the brief time allowed for preparation, it is,
perhaps the only chance left US. The Secre-
tary of State recommends that {" the Sheriffs
of the several counties in the State notify the
people to convene at the County Seat of their
respective counties for the purpose of appoint
ing delegates, and suggests, where several
counties compose Senatorial District, that
the delegates appointed by the counties ap-
point the Senatorial delegates


The time fixed in the resolutions for the as
sembling of the Convention is the goth OF
September next. Its objects are most vital to
the interests of the whole Pacific coast, and
the great interior lying west of the Mississippi
river. There is no man of reflection but has
long since looked upon the Railroad across the
continent, as the surest means to hasten the
settlement and prosperity of the Great West
to saw nothing about it as a necessity in time
of war Yet Congress has looked upon our
favorite with cold, calculating eye, and con-
tinued strangely apathetic to the interests OF
safety of the people on the Pacific. We have
been time and again pleading before the Fed
eral tribunal for means of Overland commu-
nication with the East, and have most elo-
quently set forth the mutual dement's thai
must accrue therefrom; we have enlisted the
most eminent men in the Nation in our cause
we have forced a powerful political party tc
declare against its ancient policy and give
such latitude to construction as will bring the
building of the Railroad by the Government
within the scope of its Constitutional powers
all National parties have been hasty to adopt
the measure, claim its paternity, engraft it in
their Platform of Principles, and make big
fuss about it generally Yet whenever it was
come to the test in either branch of Congress
the favorite of everybody has been set aside
at the dctation of anybody. Wecannot help
thinking, in common with many wiser and
shrewder people, that the Railroad has been
used as the football Of the demagogues and
scallawags of all parties. 1t must be rescued
/ from their hands by the people themselves
This proposed Convention in which the whole
Pacific coast will be represented, strikes US as
most excellent method of accomplishing oul
purposes The powers at Washington will
thus be made aware of the fact that the Rail-
road is earnestly desired at least, if nothing
more.