The Sarnia Observer and western Advertiser
January 19, 1854
The Pacific Railroad
Mr. Rusk one of the Senators from Texas, has, during the past recess of Congress, devoted himself very
industriously to the project of getting the Pacific Railroad to run through that State. It will be remembered that
Ex-Governor Paine, of Vermont, died in Texas last summer. He had gone thither with other Northern gentlemen. to
examine the topography and other general capacities of the State, with a view to ultimate steps in relation to the
Pacific Railroad, when he was seized with an attack, which, acting upon a debilitated system, and chronic disorders
which he had long suffered, prematurely terminated his career. Some of the fruits of that cursory exploration, thus
made in conjuction with Senator Rusk and other gentlemen of Texax, have lately appeared. A Railroad Bill has lately
passed the Legislature of that State, by a very decided vote in both houses, and will no doubt be approved by the
Governor. Senator Rusk, we presume, is the father of the bill. It is designed to encourage the formation of a
company which will secure to Texas the advantage of having the Pacific road across the State. Its most prominent
feature is the grant of 12,400 acres of land, per mile, to the company which shall contract to build the road under
certain stipulations and guarantees. But to secure this boon the company must be formed under this act, and of
course comply with all its provisions. The bill thus quite knocks away all the pegs which afforded a shadowy
prospect to our friends of the Moonshine scheme. They have all along professed to rely greatly upon certain
important advantages derived under some old Texas legeslation in reference to a road from Galveston to red River,
with the right to make branches indefinitely. Long ago when Texas was bidding high for the money and enterprise of
other States to come to her aid, she granted quite a number of charters to adventurers, making favorable offers of
land to those who would build certain railroads within her borders. The Moonshine company got possession of one of
those charters, through the agency of an individual whose persuasive talents enabled him to enlist Mr. R. J.
Walker, L.J.Chatfield in his scheme. This ancient and latent enterprise has thus been revived in order to be
welded on to the act of incorporation derived by the company from this State, as a sort of bladder to float it over
the perils that have ever encompassed and of late, particularly, threatened, to engulph it. This new act of Texas,
so entirely outbidding all former acts, pricks this bladder completely, and leaves it entirely worthless as a
sustaining power to the Moonshine enterprise. In order to take advantage of the new grant, the Moonshine must
abandon their organization under their absurd New York charter, with Mr. Walker’s ten million subscription, the
millions appropriated to bribe the press, and all. Only a bona fide organization under the act of Texas can now
hope to build the road through that State, We believe a company of truly responsible men, most of them residents of
New England, are about to organize and go ahead under this act. We sympathise with our afflicted friends of the
Walker scheme, but we cannot afford them, if we were ever so well disposed, any substantial relief. This last
legislation utterly, and we fear maliciously, cuts the throat of their banthing, and now nothing is left but to
give it decent interment. We trust it’s remains will silently but respectfully consigned to the tomb, and that no
vain attempt will be made at this stage of their disoloution to encourage any galvanic contortions. It is a dead
horse. Let it be buried. — Tribune.
