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^^ '■^' 
 
 PLAN FOR SHORTENING THE TRANSIT BETWEEN NEW YORK AND LONDON- 
 EUROPEAN AND NORTH AMERICAN RAILWAY— PUBLIC LANDS. 
 
 *r 
 
 ■t; 
 
 SPEECH 
 
 # 
 
 9r 
 
 HON. I. vV^ASHBURN. JR., OF MAINE, 
 
 IN THE HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES, MARCH 10, 1852. 
 
 The Honse betng In the Committee of the Whole on tlie 
 n«rtc of the Union, on the hill for the cncouragemtmt of 
 «gTiciill«re, maniinicturc8,an(l other branches of industry, 
 f>y granting to actual settlers hnmesteadu out of the public 
 4ona>n, lie. — 
 
 Mr. WASHBURN said: 
 
 Mr. Chairman: I will so far depart from the 
 line of debate which liaa been taken by gentlemen 
 who have preceded me, as to abstain from the dis- 
 cussion of the claims and qualifications of candi- 
 dates for the Pi^sidency. The party with which 
 I act will, in due time, place in nomination for 
 ihat olRce a gentleman whose ability, fitness, and 
 patriotism will need no advocacy on this floor, 
 aad whose cause is safe in the hearts and hands 
 of the American people. I propose to submit at 
 this time a few observations upon the matters em- 
 braced in a memorial which I had the honor to 
 present to the House sometime p.go, in which ap- 
 plication is made for a grant of land to the State 
 of Maine, in aid of an important and truly national 
 work — the European and North American rail- 
 way, — and to state some of the reasons why, in 
 my judgment, the aid should be granted which has 
 been prayed for. Th* memorial also asks for the 
 passage of a law authorizing a permanent contract 
 for carrying the mails betv/een New York and 
 Galway, and over this railroad. 
 
 In stating the grounds upon which the memo- 
 rialists rely, it will be necessary for me to refer to 
 Bome facta and statistics. Prom Halifax, Nova 
 Scotia, to Galway in Ireland, the distance is two 
 thousand otie hundred and thirty miles. Prom the 
 nearest available harbor to Cape Cunso on the most 
 eastern point of Nova Scotia — that of Whiteha- 
 ▼en — in latitude 45° 10' north and in longitude61o 
 3' west, to Galway, in latl'.udc 53° 13* north and 
 in longitude 90 and 13* west, the distance is about 
 two thousand miles. Whitehaven, according to 
 a report made by Admiral Owen to Sir John Har- 
 vey in 18M, " is a moat splendid and commodious 
 port, at the nearest available point of North Amer- 
 ica to Irelrjid." And Qalway harbor is well 
 known to b« one of th« firest in the world, pos- 
 
 sessing great advantages over Bristol or Liverpool 
 as a stenm-ship terminus. 
 
 From Galway to Dublin, a distance of one hun- 
 dred and twenty-six miles, u line of railway is in 
 progress of construction, if, indeed, it is not al- 
 ready completed. From Dublin, the distance of 
 sixty-three miles across the Irish Channel, to 
 Holyhead, is passed with steam-packets, at the 
 rate of eighteen miles an hour, to which place the 
 Chester and Holyhead railway is already finished, 
 connecting with Liverpool and London — crossing 
 the Menai Strait by the Britannia tubular bridge, 
 which was opened for traffic on the 18th of March, 
 1850; the distance from Holyhead to London by 
 rail being two hundred and sixty-three miles. 
 
 The memorial which I have presented states, 
 and I have no doubt on the best authority , that 
 able parties are ready to place the reoulred steam- 
 ers on the route, from Halifax or Whitehaven to 
 Galway, whenever the connection by railway 
 shall have been made between New York and 
 either of those ports. It will be my purpose to 
 show that such connection is both ieasible and 
 desirable. 
 
 Prom New York to Waterville in Maine, a 
 distance of four hundred and ten miles, there il 
 in operation a continuous line of railway. From 
 Waterville to Bangor, fiAy miles, a charter has 
 been obtained for a railroad, which no doubt will 
 be built by local enterprise and capital ot an early 
 day. 
 
 The European and North American railway in 
 Maine has been incorporated by the Legislature 
 of that State, and an exploration and survey mads 
 by an able Engineer, under the authority and at 
 the expense of the State— $7,000 having been ap- 
 propriale<l for that purpose, and for the publication 
 of the report of the Engineer and other important 
 papers bearing upon the enterprise. The report of 
 the Engineershows that, from Bangor to the eastern 
 line of the State aild the point of connection with 
 the road in the Province of New Brunswick, the 
 length of road to be built in Maine will be from eigh- 
 ty-five to one hundred miles, according to th« routs 
 
 -X. 
 
 yM. 
 
 
'\*.. 
 
 
 ( 
 
 =fc: 
 
 ti*: 
 
 Ihnt may be finally ndopted , and niny be construct- 
 ed lit 11 cost fiillins!; something below <j;3,(IOI),OOU. 
 Acts of inr.orpoi-ntion liiive been fjranted by the 
 Legislatures of New Binnawirk uiul Novn iScotin 
 to the European and North AmericBn railway 
 within those provinces, res|)ectively,alid grants of 
 Ihe public doniiiin miulc, and other, aid pledged, 
 aa will be seen by reference to the acts of legisla- 
 tion which accompany the memorial that has 
 been presented to Congress, uTid which will se- 
 cure, beyond doubt or contingency, the construc- 
 tion of llie road from the eastern line of Maine to 
 the city of Halifax, or the town of Whitehaven. 
 What is now wanted, and am. that is wanted, to 
 accomplish this great work — than which none of 
 larger importance to the nation can claim the pub- 
 lic attention — is, the means to build that part of 
 the European and North American railway which 
 lies withni the State of Maine — between Bangor 
 and the line of New Brunswick. The road from i| 
 Walerville, oi' Augusta, to Bangor will nearly ab- \\ 
 ■orb the capital that can be obtained for such in- ; : 
 Testment in that part of the Slate. The means of ' 
 Bangor and viciinty will be reipifred to extend the ' 
 road to that place from the west; and as the terri- 
 tory, north and east, thron/;h which the route of 
 the European and North American road lies, is 
 thinly settled — in truth, for half the distance an 
 almost unbroken wilderness — it is easily perceived ' 
 that the capital required forso considereblea work, 
 involving nn expenditure of nearly §3,000,000, 
 cannot be obtained in that section of country. 
 As the road will be of no merely local advantage 
 or character, it is not unreasonable that the funds 
 necessary to build it should be drawn, to some 
 extent, from other portions of the country than 
 the immediate vicinity of its location — from the 
 parties who will derive most certain and substan- 
 tial benefits from its construction — the people of 
 all the States in the Union. , 
 
 I will now stale, briefly and clearly as I may be 
 able, some of the advantages which 1 think will 
 be likely to result from the grant of the aid prayed 
 for in this case A continuous line of railway will 
 be put in operation from the city of New York — 
 nay, from all the considerable cities from New 
 Orleans to Portland — to the easternmost available ' 
 harboron thecontinent; a daily line of steam-ships, • 
 ■of the greatest practicable speed and capacity, will 
 be put upon the international ferry between the two 
 hemisplieres, and the passage between New York j 
 ^nd London reduced to a period of six days' time. ' 
 The memorial slates: ! 
 
 " Experience has now rslalilislicil, ns a general rule, ilie ; 
 Act, that the useful speed of railway traius amy, uikIit all 
 possible circumslauccs, bo three times as grratias that of a 
 itcani-f'hip or sailing vessel. TlieHdvaiitngcgHiiiodnnd the 
 time saved m Ihe pash.-ge of the uiiiils bclwceu New York 
 ■nd London, by adcptiag the plan proposed, over the present 
 iotcrnutional postal system, may be slated ns follows : 
 From New I'ork to Lomtou, 
 
 Miles. Daya. Ilourt. 
 RailwayfroinNew Yorklo Il.tlifax. 867 - 17 
 Stcnnicr from Halifax to Galwttv — 2,1110 5 5 
 
 Railway from Oalway to Dublin 1'30 - Q>i 
 
 Bteamer frail Dublin to Holyhead... ti.1 - 3 
 ftailway from Holyhead to London.. 1263 - 5 
 
 a,U9 6 8>i 
 « In the foregojni! estimate, a speed of railway transit is 
 asKumed such as is employed on the English express trains, 
 and the speed of the steamer is taken at one third the time 
 allowed lor the passage ofthe railway train. Allowing three 
 •od a half hours for shifting tlie mails and baggage, and the 
 Ame occupied in the transmission of the uiailis from New 
 
 j York to London is six and one half days, employing ths 
 present rates of spued on the most approved and biwlcon- 
 
 iliii'tiiil rii j I (I'll tu ill Ii7 •iiiliiiiil 
 
 I (liuied railways in l^nglanil. 
 
 I '• -Viiplylng ihe snaie rates of spend lo the (irescnt route 
 
 ' from New Voik to London, and the result is as follows: 
 
 Milea. Di.yit. Hourt, 
 Hteainer from New York 10 Liverpool. :),I0() 7 14 
 Railway from Liverpool to London.. s2U - fi 
 
 T 19 
 " Difteronen in favor of the European and North Ameri- 
 can railway route, one day ten and a half hours. 
 
 " lliii iliis cmiiparison by no means doesjnsticeto the rel- 
 ative advantages of the two routes, yteam-boiits, lik? racc- 
 liorscs, go with increased speed as you reduce the unne- 
 cessary load, and by the shorter sea- route, may undoubtedly 
 be increased ei|UHl to tiro miles per hour for the entire voy- 
 age. Assuming the correctness of the tbrejfoing statement, 
 the following result is shown : 
 
 Dayi. Ilaura. 
 
 Steamer from New York to Liverpool 6 H% 
 
 Railway from Liverpool to London - 5 
 
 8 Wfi 
 
 " Diircrencc in favor ofthe European and Oalway route, 
 two days, eleven hours— eipial to (llty-iiine hours saved. 
 
 " The chances would be in tiwor of the longest land route 
 and the short sea-voyage. The certainty attainable in rail- 
 way transit, the facilities for rc'pairing accidents and sup- 
 plying improved engines to make up lor detensions, on thx 
 one side, and the risks of a long sea-voyage on ilic otlier — 
 accumulating almost with geoinelric progression with th« 
 distance— signilieantly urge the adopHon of the proposed 
 ' plan. 
 
 " The greatest speed yet attained in an Atlantic sea-voy- 
 : age, was by the American steaiii ship I'acilic (a shorter 
 passage has been made since this petition was drawn up) 
 during the past year, averaging a speed of thirteeu and on» 
 eighth miles per hour tir the entire distance— having mads 
 the run from Liverpool to New York in nine days twenty 
 liimrs and liilecn niimites. 
 
 " 'J'lie speed of ocean steamers has increased very much 
 in the ratio of their size, and it is not hazarding much to 
 say, that within the next live years a uniform speed of sev- 
 enteen miles an hour may be reached in ocean steam navi- 
 gation by tlic adoption of the shortest passage across the 
 .Atlantic. 
 
 " We have assiiineil a speed of railway transit beyond 
 any uniform attainment in th- country ; but those least in- 
 I'orined in the practical workings of railway machinery know 
 lliat at present Uie questinn ol speed is a mere question of 
 cost, and has no relerence to tlic absolute capacity forspecd 
 of the locomolive engine employed in railway transit. The 
 ' only linit to the speed of a railway train is the strength of 
 inateriiit, and increased uitention lo tlie construction of 
 railway inachiiicry will enable tlie locomotive engine, in 
 due time, lo measure speed with the wind." 
 
 j Mr. Chairman, there can be no reasonable doubt 
 ! that, whenever by means of improvements in the 
 ' construction and working of steam-vessels, the 
 , passage between New York and Liverpool can 
 I be made by the present route jn nine day8,ade- 
 i gree of improvement will Itave been attained in 
 steam-ship and railway performance, which will as 
 certainly permit the transit, by Canso and Gal- 
 way, to be made in six days. Considering that 
 nearly half the quantity of coal required for the 
 long sea route will be dispensed with on the other, 
 and the causes of detention in St. George's Chan- 
 nel and the Irish Sea, and on our own coast 
 avoided, I hazard little in the prediction that the 
 average time of transit between New York and 
 London, by the proposed route, will not much 
 exceed one half the time that will be required upon 
 the present routes. Practical and scientific gentle- 
 men ofthe first eminence in the country, who have 
 carefully examined this plan, have expressed the 
 conviction that it will effect a saving of ol Uast 
 one third of the time consumed by the routes now 
 used. It is well known that the principal dangei^, 
 ditricultie.s, and delays experienced, are in conse- 
 quence of the fogs and storms encountered ii' ilic 
 
 '^z^)L 
 
 
\\'^ v^. h^ 
 
 i: 
 
 =;^ 
 
 sfe: 
 
 dIl)•^^, eiiiployiiiu the 
 ipriivcil niKl dciiit c(in- 
 
 lo till- |»r('s(.nt route 
 Milt is IIK I'ollntvs: 
 
 Miles. U,. 
 nl.:),l(M) 7" 
 •Ml - 
 
 . Hvun, 
 14 
 
 7 19 
 
 nn and North Aiiieri- 
 liuli' lioiirH, 
 lot's Jiictice to till! rcl- 
 tuam-lMmts, lik-! race- 
 011 r(Mliict! till! iiniio- 
 utL', imiy iindoiibtcdljr 
 our lor Ihu entire voy- 
 e foregoiiig statement, 
 
 Dayi, Hours. 
 
 Kiol 8 14^ 
 
 5 
 
 8 l»Sf 
 'nn nnd Onlwny route, 
 yiiiiic liourn saved, 
 t tile loiiKeat land route 
 dniyaitniiialile in rail- 
 rig accidents and su|>- 
 
 Ibr detensions, on ttin 
 voyage on the other — 
 
 progression with th« 
 ptiuii of the proposed 
 
 n an Atlantic nea-voy- 
 liip I'acilic (a shorter 
 tiiioii was drawn up) 
 edortliirtepu and on* 
 isiance— having mads 
 in nine days twenty 
 
 I increased very much 
 lit hazarding much to 
 
 unilbrin speed of sev- 
 il in ocuaii stcaiii navi- 
 1st passage across the 
 
 railway imns'it licyond 
 try ; bii: those least iii- 
 ilway inaeliiiiery know 
 is a mere ijUBstion of 
 ilule capacity forspecd 
 
 II railway transit. The 
 train is ilie alrenglh of 
 to the coiif'truction of 
 locomotive engine, in 
 
 ! wind." 
 
 no reasonable doubt 
 nproveinents in the 
 
 steam-vessels, the 
 and Liverpool can 
 \n nine days, ade- 
 e been attained in 
 lance, which will as 
 ly Canso and Gal- 
 Considering that 
 al required for the 
 i with on the other, 
 Si. George's Chan- 
 on our own coast 
 
 prediction that the 
 en New York and 
 ite, will not much 
 ill be required upon 
 ind scientific gentle- 
 ! country, who have 
 have expressed the 
 
 saving of at Uast 
 I by the routes now 
 s principal danp.-,-^, 
 need, are in coiisi- 
 encountered it u . 
 
 K J908 
 
 navigation of St. George's Channel, and or, the 
 coast lietween Nova Scotia and New York. The 
 commerce and intercourse between this roiinlry 
 ftnd Europe is rapidly incrensing. Our commer- 
 cial necessities, the habits of the people, and the 
 spirit of the age, dcmniid the employment of every 
 facility for shortening and clieaperiing the transit 
 
 to the people of the United States thsit will be de- 
 lived from tlie estnblisliincnt of iliis line of iiiter- 
 nulioiial coiiimunii'iiliDii, nnd of tlie reasons why 
 it is believed tliiit the General Government should 
 irrniil the aid ihnt has lipen snliciled, 1 would call 
 your attention to certain facts and considerations. 
 Halirnx, Nova Scotia, is in telegrnplrccommu- 
 
 between them. Nothing can be more legible to \ nicatioii with every con.sideiable city in the Uiii- 
 
 the understandings of men who have any nppre 
 dation of what is demanded by the physical, intel- 
 lectual, and social activities of the times, than that 
 this project, if the statements ard deductions I 
 have made are correct, must be carried out, nnd 
 cnnnot be long delayed. The case is one of those 
 plain and palpable ones that do not admit of hesi- 
 tation, or give room for cavil; one that compels : 
 conviction by its own force. { 
 
 In this busy and steaming life of ours, this day 
 of competition, enterprise, and unprecedented ac- 
 tivity, the saving of half a week's time, or of a I 
 single day even, determines the whole question. ' 
 The regularity and certainty of the passage by 
 this route, as compared with any other, will not 
 fail to be regarded as considerations in its favor of 
 great weight; while the fact that it reduces the 
 sea-voynge one half will not eacn e the attention ^ 
 of those who have experienced t 2 sea-sickness , 
 and discomforts incident to such a voyage. 
 
 The laws of trade and commercial and social in- 
 
 ■ ted States and the Ihitish Provinces, nnd the day i« 
 not (li.staiit when that commiiiiii-aliuii will be ex- 
 tended to the Pacific ocean. London is connected 
 by telegraph with the priiio.ipal capitals of iMinipc; 
 and a survey of the progress made in thi.i line of 
 imiirovement, within the last five years, can leave 
 no leasonabie doubt that within the next five this 
 connection will be extended, on the one hand to 
 the extreme limits of Europe, if not into Asia, 
 nnd on the other, by submarine lines acro.ss the 
 Channel, to Galway, in Ireland. Then, with a 
 lineof steamers of the first cla.ss in size and speed, 
 making the pnssngt between Galwny and Nova 
 Scotia in five days, (the estaliiishnient of which 
 depends upon the opening of railway facilities for 
 passengers and business between Waterville and 
 Nova Scotia,) London, Paris, St. Pelersbi;rgh, 
 and Constantinople, if not Calcutta and Canton, 
 will be within six days time of New York, Charles- 
 ton, New Orleans, and St. Lonis. What enter- 
 prise of the present day, so simple and so feasible, 
 
 tercourse, as bearing upon this question, are plain n"d '" be secured at such smell exjiense, should 
 ~ . _ . - command the attention and receive the patron ige 
 
 of the people, ond of the Government, so readily 
 ns this? Its benefits will be enjoyed by every 
 State — in the South and' in the North, in tlie West 
 and in the East — as well upon the shores of the 
 Pacific, in California and far Oregon, as upon the 
 Atlantic. Will it not be of very great advantage 
 to the merchant of New Orleans, the cotton bro- 
 ker, and ship-owner, to be able to transmit or re- 
 
 and decisive. The late General Dearborn, of' 
 Roxl)ury, Massachusetts, in an able and very elo- 
 quent speech before the Portland Convention — a 
 convention of the friends of this enterprise, assem- 
 bled from different cections o ' the United States 
 and the British Provinces, in 1850, said: { 
 
 •' All history and all experience show that the necessities 
 nf coiiimerce seek out the nearest and shortest routes (or ; 
 travel and business. Calais and Dover have been the points 
 
 Of embarkation ever sinee the invasion of Ciesnr ; nnd for ceive intelligence to or from any port in Europe 
 
 nn other reason but hecnusc they were the nearest points ■, i„„„ ,i,„.?., ...„ 1,1 -ut-.h ,1 1' ; ,„ „ ^, ._ 
 
 between the island of tireat Britnin nnd the continent of '" less thai a weekr Will the business men in 
 
 Europe. Ca,ie Hunium was the point of concentration for "•f c:a..s think lightly of the benefits conferred 
 
 upon them, by enabling them to visit the commer- 
 cial capitals of the Old World without the hazards 
 and inconveniences of a long sea voyage, and in 
 two thirds of the time that will be required by any 
 other route? 
 
 What single'mensure can the sanction and lim- 
 ited aid of the Government assure, from which a 
 moiety of the benefits could result that would in- 
 evitably flow to the people and the nation from 
 this? I feel that I am standing here upon strong 
 ground; that the positions I maintain must be com- 
 mended to the judgments of men from every sec- 
 tion of tlie country, and of all shades of opinion 
 as to the power and duty of the Government t* 
 lend i'.s aid to works of public interest nnd import- 
 qf this highway and the realization of the idea of , ance. Grant all that has ever been contended for 
 its projector — a conception as grand as it wassiin- \, by the strictest constructionists, nnd concede the 
 pie — but the aid of this Government to n limited ; most that can be desired l)y those who would limit 
 extent; and which, in the form of a grant of a :| tlie action of Congress in questions of internal 
 small portion of our unoccupied lands, can bo ac- |i improvements, and I will confidently ask them to 
 corded without embarrassing its finances or vio- ;| support this application, believing that thev may 
 lilting any sound principle of public policy. But, i do so without the violatior. of any principle which 
 sir, this road cannot be built without such aid. It \ they regard as important. Wliy, sir, no giant for 
 is not of sufficient local importance, nor is there \\ the removal of obstructions in our harbors, or for 
 the local capital, if it were, to warrant the under- i the erection of light-houses and breakwaters, can 
 taking. With theassurance that it will be granted, ll be of more truly national interest and character, 
 private enterpri.se and capital may be relied upon |i or more clearly within the legitimate scope of the 
 for its successful prosecution and completion, it powers of the Government. No expenditure of 
 lu continuing the statement of tlie advantages jl millions of dollars upon our coasts can confer sticli 
 
 the trade of Greece, simply because it was the nearest 
 point to Kirypt. V.'hy was the Appian Way extended from : 
 Capua to Brundusium, nn the Adriatic Gulf? Because ilmt 
 was the nearest good harbor near tlie narrowest place in the : 
 Adriatic sea, in the most direct lire from RnmetnConslan- '■ 
 finoplc. VVIiy was the suspension bridge of Telford ex ■ 
 tended across the Meiini Birait to the Isle of Angli'sev ; nnd \ 
 Ibe still more wonderful work of modern times, the Britnii- 
 Bia Brirlge across the same straits ? Because it was in the 
 moBl direct line from London to Dublin and {reland. If 
 *nu will examine the map of tlie world, you will find that, ■ 
 In all lime past, ti.e points of continents or island', whieli ' 
 approach the neaiest, have become the highways of their 
 Intercourse and eonimercc. II is for this reason that I be- 
 lieve that the highway for the trade and enmmnnieation 1 
 between this country and Europe must be made to the 
 aa«lem coast of Nova Scotia. " 
 
 Nothing is wanting to secure the construction ■ 
 
\ 
 
 terlain, (lemonMtrable, and unquestioi.ililr. rdvaii- I 
 tage nnd prnteetion to our commeire u» -A'ould be i 
 eonfcrred by the ctitablishineiit of tlie proposed i 
 line ofcomnuiiiiiMition. It would keep the owner 
 and his vessel, in wimtever European or Asiiitic 
 port the latter might be, separated by less than a 
 ■ii'^'le week. It would enable communifations, , 
 whether of accident, of market, or of destination, 
 to be made and answered without injurious deten- 
 tion or delay. It would reduce the rates of insur- , 
 ance and ilie prices of freii^hts. It would place the ! 
 Sshini; fleets of Gloucester nnd Cape Cod, upon ; 
 tlie coasts of Nova Scotia, in communication with | 
 the owners at home by a railway transit tiial 
 Bii^lit be performed in less than a day. | 
 
 There is another point of view from wliich this 
 work presents a truly national ciiaracter: it is as a | 
 means and implement of national defense. Tra- i 
 Tersins; a territory so near the coast, yet not upon ! 
 it, to the very frontier of the Republic, and con- j 
 nected, as it will be, in its branches and intersec- 
 tions, with every other railroad in the country, it 
 wiU 1)6 of greater service and importance in this 
 respect, than any mere works of protection and 
 fortification that can be erected by the outlay "•" ■ 
 many millions. Un this point I do not speak 
 anauvisedly, or without book. I quote from an 
 admirable letter of Lieutenant Manry, United I 
 States Navy, addressed to the Portland commit- j 
 tee, July 24, 1850. Having reinarked that — ! 
 
 " tl [this rnihvay] will connect with rnilroiulH from Mon- : 
 (real, Unchee, and ilOKtnn ; nnd in view nl' the conso(|uvncu ! 
 wliich tlii!si' line* will give it, you eloqiienlly di'scriliu it n 
 'grand trunk line of railway from the State of Maine to the 
 lower llritiiih Provincei.' It is only oiii; of the topmost 
 branches; the inniii trunk extends friiin ihe West to the 
 East, from the North lo the Houtli, and has itn Inp-root 
 planted in the heart of the Mississippi valley. 
 
 "There isnirc.idyin contemplntion, in prm'css of con- 
 •truction or aciiinlly completed, a grand trunk line nf rail- 
 roads nil the way froui I'ortlanii, in Maine, to Memphis, in ' 
 Tennessee, and other points on the Mississippi river. To 
 com|ilelc such n trunk you cannot go amiss lor friends and 
 ■dvocutes, for its branches are everywhere. Whcilior you 
 go ainoni: the mountains of New Knghind; or tlie lakes of 
 Canada— in llic plains of the South, or the forests of ttie 
 We»t — wherever you sound the car whistle for this line of 
 road, you will see the friends of the measure, like Klioderick 
 Uliu's men, starling up froiii every hush and tiaak, in ready 
 response 10 tlie call. 
 
 " At the speed of (,'ollins's sleamcn! — and wo do not mean 
 to rest satistied with Unit — the passage across the Atlantic , 
 can lie perl'oriiied, when the line of your trunk road is pushed 
 •ver into Nova Scolia, in a week. 
 
 "The advantniies of a road which is to shorten one third 
 of the sailing distance between London n:id New York, 
 Boston and I'aris, arc too many nnd too obvious, and loo 
 great for ciiumeruliou or description. They strike every 
 one." 
 
 He proceeds to say — and to this portion of his 
 letter I desire to cull iiarticitlar attention: 
 
 "There is, however, one pointof view which I wish you 
 wonhi take nl this railroad ; for it is from that point tliat I 
 wish to present some of its merits to public favor. 
 
 " You know Hint the system of tiirtincalioiis formerly 
 adopted for the defense of the eoa.-'l, ns expensive and as no- 
 eessary as it was, has been rendered almost unnecessary by 
 the system of railroads that bus been intriMluecd by the pri- 
 vate eiiterpriseniidenergyof public-spirited individuals like 
 yourselves. We have seen the Uciienil (ioveniment ex- 
 pending millions of dollars for Ihe erection of a single for- 
 tjAealiun, and whieli, when compleied, was of no earthly 
 value in times of peiu'e to the eilizensor occupations of 
 the coiiiilry. There it stood— a mere pile of brick and mor- 
 tar — diawiii;; heavily i||hiii the public Treasury for repairs 
 every year, ami dra;;girig out a burdensome existence in 
 peace, that perchaiue it might be useful in war. 
 
 '• Now, with tlie power which this railroad would give 
 you to draw an army, if need be, from the great valley of the 
 West, Olid in two days uinrcb it all the way by steam from 
 
 Menipnis, on Ihe Mississippi, to the frontiers of Maine, or 
 even into foreign territory— willi such a power, what da 
 the people ofMaine want with any forts ami castles, except 
 such e« limy be necessary to protect tier seaport towns from 
 the great guns of big ships.' 
 
 " You know, tim,— lor you have only to visit the navy- 
 yard ill your .Slate to see evidence of the liict— that the plan 
 was to collect in our navy-yard, and at gnmt expense, large 
 
 iiuanlilies of ship limber, and stoieit nway lor the elnei^. 
 gencies of war. The einergeiieies never came, the liinbof 
 rotted, and the nioni.'y was lost. 
 
 " Now, in time of war, almost any timber that stands fn 
 the forests is good enough to build men-of-war. Kven if 
 built of green niiibcr they would probably lost through ths 
 war, when the vast majority of them, ol whatever kind of 
 timber they might lie built, would be of no fiirilier use at 
 any rate. Therefore, with railroads, what do we want of 
 any more stores of ship timber for any such purposes ? Ai 
 for the Navy, railroads have converted almost every forest, 
 ' from Maine to Georgia,' iiiio a timber siied tor it. 
 
 " fleeing, therefore, the important part which railroads 
 are peforniiiig, and will perlbriii in the system of natioual 
 defenses— seeing that one of the priiici|>al objects wliich 
 moved our fathers to form this Union, was ' the better to 
 provide forilie eoiiiinon defense;' and seeing that the publk) 
 lands arc a coinnioii fund which is being squandered, I am 
 of opinion that a more riglite<ms, wise, nnd lieiieflcent dis- 
 pensation could not be made nf portions of these lands than 
 to apply them to aid in the consiruetioii of railroads, and 
 utiier works which provide so elfeetually as railroads do, for 
 the common defente." 
 
 Not only will this road ^in connection with tha 
 Atlantic ferry) be convenient for the traveler, en- 
 abling him to make the passage to Europe by the 
 shortest and quickest'sea route, and over a por- 
 tion of this continent as yet but little known, but 
 of a most interesting character; through the heart 
 of Ire'und — a land whose history and misfortunes, 
 whose vicissituder and sorrows, have interested tia 
 all — and by that grandest achievement of niode.-ti 
 art and skill, the Tubular bridge; — not only will it 
 aO'ord direct advantage and protection to the tratla 
 and commerce of the country; speed the transmi8> 
 sion of intelligence by mail and telegraph, and pro- 
 vide for the national defense; but it will tend indi> 
 rectly, though materiallv, to enlarge the trade, and 
 : increase the wealth and population of every por^ 
 j tion of the country. And here I am hapjiy to be 
 , able to read the opinions of the Hon. Robert J. 
 > Walker, contained in a letter to John A. Poor, 
 ! Esq., dated August 9, 1850: 
 
 I " It was not in my power to ■comply with the reque*- 
 I made by the committee in your name, to alieiid and addrea* 
 I the Convention held at Portland on the 31st ult., with a 
 j view to the continuation of the great Eastern railway from 
 your ciiy to some point in Nova Scotia, nearest to Great 
 : Uritain and Ireland. This would, indeed, be a work of 
 ' vast importance, not only to your own State and city, ID 
 j Nova Scotia and New Uruiiswick, but to the whole Ameri- 
 I can Union, and to all the continents of the Old World. It 
 I is lio|>ed that, with the inipravenients now being made tti 
 I steamers, ft niight bring some good harbor in Ireland withia 
 I live days of our American shores. 1 1 would greatly cniar0> 
 I inlernalionni commerce, and become a new bond to pr»- 
 I serve the peace ol the world. It 'fould increase our export* 
 ' to the British provinces oiid to R irope, ,vith a eorrcs|Hiiidiiig 
 I aiignieolation of imporLs and revenue. It would bring Eu- 
 rope 80 near to Americii, Uiat it would greatly facilitate ttia 
 export and ditl'iision abroad of uur ttepublicun principle*, 
 without any diniinuiion or deterioration of the supply Utu 
 for domestic consuiuption." 
 
 " I cannot doubt but that the present enlightened Minis- 
 try of Great llritain — the great advocates of a liberal com- 
 niereial policy— will aid this noble enterprise ; that out 
 (;iivernment will extend to it all proper facilities liy moil 
 arrangements and otherwise: and that the rest will be ao- 
 complished by tlie well known energy of New Kn^land, 
 aided by tlie eoUperatiun of Nova Scotia and New lirua*- 
 wiek. 
 
 " I'^rom the increased speed, it seems to me that the mall 
 and passengers, between lH>tli countries, must be geneiaU/ 
 carried by this route; ua also light articles of value. >' 
 
\ 
 
 |liprii of Maine, or 
 piiwur, wimt do 
 liiicl enHlli'M, except 
 I'lipoi't lowiid trom 
 
 J to vinit till" nnvy- 
 lliic't— tliiuiliepliin 
 
 (way liir ilie eiiipp- 
 r cniiii', ihu limber 
 
 ibcr tliat Binnila fn 
 ol'-wnr. Evun if 
 |ly Inst tliroiiffh the 
 l^wliBli'viT kind of 
 |t' no t'lirilri'r ime at 
 lat do wi! want of 
 oh piirpiMi.'ii .' At 
 Iniost every rnrcat, 
 ined lor it. 
 rl wliiuli railroadi 
 system ul' national 
 i|ial objerix wliieh 
 was ' the h(!tter to 
 eing that the publlo 
 ; aquanUered, 1 am 
 ami benefleent di»- 
 of tlicHe laniU tlinti 
 II of ritilroada, and 
 UD railroads do, for 
 
 inection with the 
 tlie traveler, en- 
 o Europe by the 
 and over a por- 
 little known, but 
 hrough the heart 
 and nuslbrtunes, 
 laveiniereBted ue 
 ement of niode.-n 
 not only will it 
 ection to the trade 
 leed the transinis- 
 legraph, and pro- 
 l it will tend indi> 
 rge the trade, and 
 ion of every por- 
 I am happy to be 
 J Hon. Robert J. 
 a John A. Poor, 
 
 ply with the reqiie» 
 to attend and addreae 
 the 3Ut ult., with a 
 laKtorn railway from 
 tia, iieiirvsl to Great 
 idci-d, be a work ot 
 n Btate and city, ID 
 : to the whole Ameri- 
 r the < lid World. It 
 now being made tn 
 'bor in Ireland wittiiB 
 vould greatly eniarR* 
 a new bond to pro- 
 increase our cxporCi 
 iVitli a correnpoiidiiig 
 It would bring Cu- 
 greatly fueilitnle tlw 
 I'piiblioaii priiieiplea. 
 Ill of the supply iiitt 
 
 It enlightened Minia- 
 tes of a liberal com- 
 enturpri ie ; that our 
 ler lUeilities by mail 
 the rest will be ao- 
 [y of New Kn^land, 
 tia and New Uruii*- 
 
 s to me Hint the innil 
 s, must be gene/All/ 
 lea of value." 
 
 The Hon. Ciiarle) Sumner, United Stutcii 
 Senator from Massachusetts, says in reference to 
 this road : 
 
 " I cannot ilouht Hint the mnlcrial ndvnntiiges, at least to 
 the eommiinily, from such aveinies nfi'iimmiiiiiciuion, will 
 he in entire liiiriiiony with the iirealness of the design. The 
 
 Erodileer, llie ninnulucturer, niiil the eonsiiinrr, will all be 
 roilght nearer louellier; intercourse of all kinds will be 
 promoted; commerce will be ipiicki'iied ; mnrkels will lie 
 
 3 Hilled ; property, wtterevcr loiichi'd by tliese lines, will be 
 langcij, as by a divining rod, into new values; nnd the 
 grcai current of travel, like tlial strenm in classic fable, or 
 one of the rivers of California, will till its channels with 
 golden sands." 
 
 This enterprise, says the Hon. Edward Ever- 
 
 BTT — 
 
 " Will he, when canicd into effect, of very great utility 
 to the American continent, niiil will alliinl theuKist import- 
 ant facilities to I'le coiiimircial ami social intercourse of 
 tlic Llnilcd ••'latBs of America and Kurope." * * * 
 
 "I have long looked forward to the commencement of this 
 great enterprise, and 1 rejoice to aec the muvenicnt ma- 
 king." 
 
 The President of the United States writes to the 
 Portland Convention, as follows: 
 
 " Feeling, as I do, a deep interest in all subjecla of inter- 
 nal iniprovemiMit, which ar<! calculated to develop the re- 
 sources and lulvancc the great interests of the country, I 
 trust that ynur proposed conveiitiun may bo productive of 
 the most happy results, and that, tlirough it, another link 
 may be added to the chain which is binding more closely 
 Iba great commercial interesisof this country and Europe. " 
 
 Mr. Chairman, this road will be a portion of 
 the grand trunk railway that is to span the conti- 
 nent; it will be a link in the vast chain, of which 
 Uie Missouri road may form a pnrt, which is to 
 be stretched from Halifax to San Francisco. This 
 mighty work is fragmentary and incomplete, until 
 the European and Korth American road is built. 
 The convenience, the interest, the necessities of 
 the country demand, nnd will compel its con.struc- 
 tion by the funds of the Government, if it cannot 
 be built without. As well may you think of send- 
 ing the mails from Washington to St. Louis by 
 way of Boston, as believe that tne country will be 
 •atisfied to send them to London 'by the present 
 route, when they can be carried by another in 
 two thirds of the time. In a case of the maijnitude 
 of this, the possible is the determining considera- 
 tion, it is the peculiar strength of this plan that 
 it cannot be partial in its benefits. Louisiana, 
 Missouri, Georgia, and Illinois, with their vast 
 products, will derive as mucn advantage from it 
 aa Maine. It will bring them nearer to the mar- 
 kets of the Old World. 
 
 For these reasons we ask, respectfully, but with 
 oonfidence, for a grarii of the lands of the United 
 States, in which Maine has an interest in common 
 with all the States, for the benefit of all. We ask 
 it on national grounds. We may place our re- 
 quest on considerations which can apply to no 
 otlier State, and be invoked in behalf of no other 
 public work of the kind. 
 
 But, sir, there is another consideration which 
 I desire to address, to the House in behulf of thi.s 
 petition. It grows out of the relationa of Maine 
 to the General Government, in connection with the 
 northeastern boundary question. The title of 
 
 aine to the territory she oluii.ied was clear and 
 
 iquestiiiiialile, and had so been regarded nnd 
 I'onounced by the General Government. Great 
 1 'itain was extremely desirous of possessing that 
 ; irtion of our State lying north and east of the 
 1 ver St. John, and would probably never have 
 
 msented to any arrangement which should not 
 ': ive embraced the cession of that territory to her; 
 
 regarding it, as she did, of great importance as 
 aliording a means of direct (omniunicntion between 
 her upper iiiul lower Provinces. Well, Nir, this 
 ■' Government wiis anxious to have tlie que.slion 
 , settled. It will be remembered timt the coniiner- 
 cial anil exporting sections of the ciuiiilry were 
 exceedingly ■ensilive on the snlijcct. In fnrt, 
 jl Maine was pressed from all (|uarlerH to acquiescjj 
 ll in the terms that were proposed t<i lier in 1H4'2; 
 ;| she did aciiuiesce, and the treaty of Wu-shiiifjlon 
 ' was coni'liiiled, and all the tniublesoiue qiiesiions 
 !i between these countries were |)Uliitrc.st. House's 
 li Point was ceded to the United States, and other 
 1 advuiUuges secured. Hut Maine gave up between 
 ->,UUO,aOO and 3,0()0,0()0 acres of her laiuln for the 
 ; .Ninall Slim of ^ISO.UOU — a territory wnrth, in the 
 I products of the forest alone, oh experience hae 
 J proved, much more than that amount. She felt al 
 ''; the time the inadeinuicy of the sum paid to her; 
 but she was not unmindful of the importance of 
 the treaty to the country, and fully appreciated 
 the reasons of a nntinniil cliiiracter which iiilluenced 
 the distinguished Secretary of Stale to desire to 
 effect, if possible, an adjustment of the delicate end 
 embarrassing questions which had so lonn^ threat- 
 ened to disturb the peace of the country; and in a 
 spirit of sacrifice and jiatriotic regard for the in- 
 terests and wishes of the other Stales, which did 
 her infinite honor, she yielded her consent to the 
 dismemberment of her territory. And now tha» 
 she asks of the General Government, in aid of a 
 work within her limits,but of general convenience 
 and importance, a grant of hind less in quantity 
 and value than she has ceded at the instance of 
 the Government, and for the benefit of the coun- 
 try, she feels that her prayer will not be looked 
 upon with less favor, to say the least, when pre- 
 sented in connection with the facts which 1 have 
 stated. 
 
 But, Mr. ChairiTian, it would be unjust to the 
 old States, not to urge this claim upon grounde 
 common to them all. As it is ipiite prolinlile that 
 these lands are to be given, in greater or less quan- 
 tities, to the Slates in which they lie, I have in- 
 quired for the reasons which should limit the 
 grants to them alone. The deeds of cession from 
 Virginia and other States, authorize no such dis- 
 tinction; and certainly it cannot be supposed to 
 exist where the lands have been obtained by con- 
 j quest or purchase from other Governments. I do 
 not propose to argue here the general question of 
 the distribution of the public lands among the 
 States, It would be a work of supererogation, 
 after all that has been said in Congress upon the 
 subject, during the la.st twenty year^. These dis- 
 cussions have shown, conclusively, that the lands 
 are held in trust for the States. They were ac- 
 quired by the lelood and treasure of the old States, 
 while yet many of those in which they lie were 
 not even in the cradle of iheir existence. And 
 are the States, by whose treasure and whose valor 
 they were obtained, to be told now that they are 
 none of theirs? Arc they to be delayed and post- 
 poned in their petitions and reijuesls for some 
 share of them, till the new States shall become 
 strong enough to star.d up, nnd bolilly avow their 
 determination to be governed, in the (lisposition of 
 them, by the "simple rule'" of Rob Roy — 
 
 -the good old plan. 
 
 That they shmild take wlio have the power. 
 And tliey should keep who can .'" 
 
6 
 
 No, sir, I will not lielieve it. The jimlic-e and 
 Tnn<;niiilitiiily' nrtlic liilid SIiiIih, nut Ivx:-. I hull their 
 wiN(hini iimi ciij.'iii'ily, will dictiilc ii dill'iri'iil line 
 of" ["iliry. I iHii dispdsid tn lie liKeiiil lo the new 
 StnlPM, I lielieve llml lliey iiiii;lil In Imve. mill will 
 Imvc, mure lliiiii lluir ino riitu sliiire of tin ni. Ai 
 the Miime time, Nomelliiii!; in due In the old Stiites. 
 For very |irii(lftiic'e, from ii wise reiriiiil fur their 
 own iiiteresi, the new will hh mcI tovviirdx the idd 
 liN to prevent diMMiiliHl'iKtioii iind jURt eomphiiiit, 
 Biid to reliiiii their <rood will. This is worth n 
 greivt (leiil — iiye, is of infiiiilely j;renler viilue lo 
 them than all ihtir liro.ul iiereH. Qeiillemeii of 
 tlie new .Stiile.s! (jive uh HnmelhiiiK — eiioin;!! tnnH- 
 •ure ii.s of yoiir;j:ood llei^hllorho(ld — mid you will 
 not only Hociire the lion 'h share of these lands, hut 
 tlie siron^jesl relations of friendship and fraternity 
 between all the Slalta. This will he no poor re- 
 turn for such inanifesl JuHticc as is souKht at your 
 hands. 1 say at your liamln — for the old States 
 are so tied up with theories, and cursed hy abstrac- 
 tionists who see no jiower for {rood, or equal and 
 exact justice, under the Constitution, that even 
 now Mjenre powerless without your aid. 
 
 1 would have the lands (jivcii in part to actual 
 ■ettlers, and the lialance appropriated for internal 
 improvements in llie Slates. A system should be 
 matured, by which, while the hinds should be lield i 
 and appropriated for the purposes! have indicated, 
 evils and abuses in the manaijenient would be pre- 
 vented. I am not sure that any of these bills and 
 plans have been sufticienily matured, or are as 
 •afe and fjiiarded in their details as they ought to 
 be. Unless extreme care is taken now, we siuill 
 build up in llie new States vast landed corpora- 
 tions and oiiira;;eous monopolies, which may be- 
 come the instrunifiilsof oppression, and thesources 
 of evils intolerable and interminable. Not doubt- 
 ing the policy of granting lands to the Slates, I 
 would have it executed in o way which should 
 •ecureto the Slates the objects in aidof whK:li ihey 
 are given, without imposing upon them a master 
 who will sit upon their hopes and prospects like 
 tlie genius of the nightmare. Sir, it is obvious 
 that the evils to which 1 refer ore mainly to be 
 apprehended in the land States, in wliich the grants 
 will become valuable in consequence of the works 
 constructed therein. But all the grants should be ' 
 upon conditions which will secure the sale of the 
 lands to settlers, and prevent the aggregation of 
 large estates in the hands of individuals or corpo- 
 rations. Perhaps it would be best tlial tlie sales 
 •hoiild be made by the General Government, under 
 a uniform system. 
 
 I have not thought very much upon tiiis mailer; 
 but it has occurred to me, that a systein by which 
 alternate quarter sections should be appropriated 
 or set apart for actual settlers, .md the other sec- [ 
 tions, or their proceeds, given to the States, in 
 ■ome just proportion, for works of public improve- i 
 ment, might be adopted, l^w some such disposi- 
 tion of I he lands, we should provide hnmenfor personn ■. 
 enable lo bwj them; offer increased indueemenls to , 
 industry and friigalHy; furilitate, with nil desirahte 
 rojiiditrj, llie selllement of the new country; render 
 txAstantial aid lo llie new Stales in the cnnslniclinn of, 
 railroads; do somelhing for the benefit (\f the old Stales; ; 
 preserve harmony and good feelins; between all the \ 
 members of the Confederacy; check the tendencies to \ 
 eentralisin, by withdrawing from the central Gorem- i 
 vunt the disposition of this vast fund; and effect, once J 
 
 for nil, a seltlemtnl (if this land qutslion. And who 
 can tell the importance of n consiimmntion liki 
 this ? 'I'ill this (pieslion is settled, and finally spt- 
 lied, it will come up every session lo plague you, 
 lo embarrass all your legislation; it will be con- 
 nected willi every measure of importance befom 
 Congress — with larill's, river and harbor appro- 
 priations, coast appropriations, everything. Tit* 
 lands unappropriated will lead 'o more nrolliijat* 
 legishition, lo more trading and log-rolling tliRn 
 would be had from all other causes put together. 
 Hut I maintain that these lands should be used 
 solely for the improvement and progress of tha 
 country, and never an acre sold off to nay our ot- 
 diiiary, annual expenses — to my mind, the moMl 
 shiftless and improvident disposition tliat can hi» 
 made of them. By the appropriation I have suj;- 
 gested, you would open new sources of wealth ill 
 tlie country, enhance the value of property, and 
 increose the revenues of the Government. Nay, 
 sir, by this policy, the latter wou! 1 be speedily 
 increased by an amount larger than the net re- 
 ceipts, under the present system, from the sab 
 of the lands. From every point of view the Qov^ 
 ernment would be the gainer by adopting thlfe 
 policy; and not only the Government, but tha 
 people for whose welfare it was established. Tha 
 Government, afte. all, has something to do be- 
 sides takingcare of it&elf. It should have a ])olicy, 
 within :lie Constitution, in reference to all urn 
 great interests of the country, and that policy 
 should keep company with the wants and spirit 
 of the times. This is an age of wonderful acti«> 
 ity in material progress. The purely metaphysi* 
 cal age is past. The ideal and the actual are joined 
 in no unwilling matrimony. Thought runs itself 
 out into the implements of human advancement 
 and liap|)iness. , Our anointed men are practical 
 men — those who "contrive to make two blade* 
 of grass grow \yliere but one grew before." They 
 are the men wnO have been called, and who haw 
 come. What are they doing — what have they 
 done? At thecommencemenlofthepresentcentury 
 we had no steam-boats ascending rivers against 
 wind and tide, braving the ocean, and, I may say, 
 bridging it, so as to bring nations the most remots 
 into the same neighborhood; no railroads, ".mod- 
 ' ern Acts of the Apostles of civilization," as they 
 have been fitly called, troversing States, and lay- 
 ing them offinto parallelograms; no telegrapha, 
 sending words round theglooein " le.ss than forty 
 seconds;" no dagiiereotype, staying the light and 
 impressing the sun in the service of art. Th« 
 development and useful employment of material 
 forces is the work of this age, and the peculiai 
 mission of our country. Looking at the history 
 of the race and the progress of society, we may 
 not doubt as to the character of the work we ar» 
 commissioned to do. The solution of the problem 
 of civilization is for us and our descendants on 
 this continent. For it, we nave been educated 
 ' and set apart; for it and for us, the world has l»» 
 bored in all the past; for it and for us., tlii.s field, 
 so ample and so favorable for the trial, had been 
 reserved — discovered, and opened at the moment 
 when, as it should seem, its discovery and occu.- 
 pation could be of the greatest service. When ws 
 consider the state of civilization at the time of th« 
 discovery of America; its preparation for new and 
 higher triumphs; when we remember that Lu- 
 ther had been summoned and the Reformation an- 
 
 MB 10& 
 
(ion. And who 
 Hiiininntioii llki 
 
 , lllul fitUllly HPtr 
 
 1 to pliiftiif you, 
 
 it will lit' COD- 
 
 pdrlHlloc befors 
 I hnilinr i.ppnv 
 ^crylhiiisr. Th» 
 more pi(illi!;iit» 
 log-rnliiiif: tlinn 
 '8 put togtiher. 
 Hliould be used 
 prn{;r('.ss of tlta 
 ilT to nny our oi - 
 mind, the mosJ 
 tion tliiit cnn ho 
 ilion I luive sugf- 
 •ccs of weiillli itl 
 •f property, nnd 
 ernmcnt. NnVi 
 •u! 1 be speedily 
 han the net r»- 
 ), from the aa\a 
 of view the Qov>- 
 y adopting thlt 
 rnment, but th« 
 islnblished. Tin 
 ?thino; to do bo- 
 ld have a policy, 
 ^rcnce to all tha 
 and that policy 
 wants and spirU 
 wonderful uctiw- 
 urely metaphysi- 
 actual are joined 
 lOught runH itself 
 tan advancement 
 Tien are practical 
 nake two blades 
 «r before." They 
 id, nnd who hav» 
 -what iinve they 
 le present century 
 iig rivers against . 
 ,and,I may say, 
 sthe most remots 
 railroads, ".inod- 
 ization,"as they 
 : States, and lay- 
 is; no telegraphs, 
 1 " less than forty 
 ,ring the light and 
 ice of art. Ths 
 rment of material 
 , and the peculiaf 
 ing at the history 
 society, we may 
 ' the work we ap» 
 on of the problem 
 ir descendants on 
 ve been educated 
 the world hii.'s 1»« 
 for U6, thi.s field, 
 le trial, had been 
 ed at the moment 
 jcovery and occu>- 
 ervice. Whenws 
 at the time of th« 
 ration for new and 
 member that La- 
 le Reformation an- 
 
 nounced, before its settlement, and that men were 
 privileged to bring with th«m to these «li(ircH, in 
 the succiM'diiig it'iitury, the great truths in rcxpecl 
 In human rights nnd .self-government so well nnd 
 forcibly t«us,'lit by a Sidney, a Marvell, and a Mil- 
 ton, and in whi^h have been laiil, broad, deep, and 
 forever immovable, the foundations of civil and 
 religious liberty, we can regard the ciri'umsliincen 
 uf the discovery and settlement of America nv 
 scarcely other than providential. Ami not only 
 is'tliis the appointed theater for the development 
 trf the powers and capabilities of civilization, but 
 here, we may believe, will be t'ound the men best 
 qualified to be the actors thereon. It wa.s the for- 
 tune of this land to be peo|)led, in the main, by that 
 most vigorous of the races, the Anglo-Saxon. IJiit 
 no race i.t one and entire. In no race bus God 
 mingled all the elements of greatness. And who 
 «halT say that in the circling of the suns there shall 
 not arise on this continent — from the mixture and 
 fusion now going on, under circumstances more 
 favorable than ever existed before, of Saxon and 
 Gelt, and of the blood of all lands and climes, each 
 of which we may believe has its own excellence — 
 the race more noble, more full and perfect than the 
 win ever looked npon? 
 
 And, as with iiuIivrduiUs, so with peoples, the 
 first stages will be those of |)hysicnl growth and 
 •trengtii; and how favorably are we situated for 
 this stage of our progress! Ajiart from the hind- 
 rances and obstructions of the Old World, the 
 evils and dangers of bad neighborhood, the tempt- 
 ations to warand unprofitable entanglements, our 
 course is plain, our duty manifest. We .should 
 cultivate the arts of Peace, and reap and improve 
 her victories. It is ours to open the resources of 
 n vast country, to increase the implements and the 
 rewards of labor; tomultiply th^imcans of living; 
 to strengthen the bonds of commtrcial connection, 
 nnd to fiicilitate social intercourse; thus contribu- 
 ting to the highest advancement ii^life in its intel- 
 lectual and moral, not less than in its material 
 aspects. 
 
 Sir, on this amjile and favorable field, with these 
 aids and advantages, we can be no laggards in the 
 work which has been committed to lis. We can- 
 not ignore our position or responsibilities. 
 
 We have a public domain of many and many 
 millions of acres, which we may suller to melt 
 away like frost-work in the sun — which may be 
 
 cut of>' piece-meal, ncrebyncre,to pay our ordina- 
 ry delilH — our tavern expeoNes iiiid grocery liills; 
 or they iniiy be net apart lor linineM lor the licnne- 
 lexs, and rir works of public improvenienl, en- 
 during and benefii lilt nieinorials of ilie wisdoin of 
 (JotigrcHH. In litis way the seltlemeiil of the 
 country would be promoted — tbe nicai.i "f inter- 
 course so extended, and the bonds of iVieiidslup 
 and synipiilliy ho enlnrged and sirciigllieiieil, that 
 disuiiiiiii would becciine an olisiilelc idea, and iliti 
 word lie iiiinpokeii mid unknown. 
 
 And, of the liioidredH of inillions of acres of 
 land whieli you own, fan yon nut iillind a .single 
 inillinn fur ibis work which the nurilieast Slate 
 propoMes? Will it iKil pay a llKPiisaiid fold, in lis 
 iiiMiiencc on the Nettlenieiit of the reniaining lands, 
 in its facilities to the bn.sine^ss and intercourse of 
 ; the lountry, and, finally, in the feeling of good 
 will nnd confidence it will inspire? 
 
 There i.s another consideialion, (hinted in tli8 
 letter of Mr. Walker,) to wlii.'h I would allude, 
 not as a substantive argument in favor of the aid 
 proposed, but which, 1 think, will not (oininend 
 the enter[irise 1 am advocating with diniinitdied 
 . I'avor to yinir minds. I refer to the inflJIIfcnce it 
 ; mi'st have, and tlic benefilM it will c(nifer, upon 
 other countries than our own. It will open up the 
 interior of Irclniid to the light of day, ami intro- 
 duce tliorc soniLthiiig of the spirit of industry and 
 improvement that marks our own country and 
 blesses it. It will speed the IransmiKsion of our 
 ideas and the light of cur example to the op- 
 pressed nations np( 01 Jieother. side of the Atlantic. 
 It will enable our work.s to speak to them the more 
 audibly and potcnily. What American can wit- 
 ness, with indill'erence, the progress of our ideas 
 and institutions among the nations of the Old 
 World ? And who, as he sees lliein slrcngihened 
 and established in every land, and under every 
 sky, but will be moved to exclaim, in no .spirit of 
 vain boasting en- unworthy exultation, nor yet 
 with the soriiiwful retrusiiection of .'Kneas, as h« 
 I beheld the memorials ot^ ruined Ilium upon the 
 i shores of Cartlmge, but, rather, in the sjarit of 
 j hope and unselfish joy and gratulation, 
 
 j " Hlli< jillii Inciiy 
 
 I Uiiii> rcnii) in terris im):-Iii iiuii |iluna liiliDris?" 
 
 I Sir, be liberal and generous to the new Slates, 
 but be .iisT to all, and forget not the interests of 
 , the whole country. 
 
 Printed at the Congressional Globe Otfice. 
 
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