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 DOC. No. 2. 
 
 CONVENTION, 
 
 MEMORIAL 
 
 TO THE 
 
 President of the United States, 
 
 Heads of Departments, 
 
 Senate and House of Representatives. 
 
 SAN FRANCISCO : 
 
 PRINTED AT THE ALTA JOB OFFICE, 124 SACRAMENTO ST. 
 1859. 
 

Bancroft Library 
 
 BANCROFT LIBRARY 
 
 MEMORIAL 
 
 To the President of the United States, the Heads of Departments, 
 and to the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
 States. 
 
 The undersigned, the President and Members comprising the 
 Pacific Railroad Convention, held in San Francisco, California, 
 September A. D. 1859, have the honor to address you on behalf 
 of the said Convention, and the People of the States of Califor- 
 nia, Oregon, and the Territory of Washington, whom we rep- 
 resent, on the subject of a Continental Railroad, from the Pa- 
 cific to the Valley of the Mississippi. 
 
 The Convention was called in pursuance of the following 
 
 CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS 
 
 Of the Legislature of the State of California. 
 
 Resolved, By the Assembly, the Senate concurring, that to 
 promote the interest and insure the protection and security of 
 the People of the State of California and Oregon, and the Ter- 
 ritories of Washington and Arizona ; and especially to consid- 
 er the refusal of Congress to take efficient measures for the 
 construction of a Railroad from the Atlantic States to the Pa- 
 cific, and to adopt measures whereby the building of said Rail- 
 road can be accomplished, it is expedient that a Convention be 
 held on the twentieth day of September, A. D. eighteen hun- 
 dred and fifty-nine, at the City of San Francisco, in the State 
 of California, composed of Delegates from the said States and 
 Territories. 
 
 Resolved, That the people of the several counties of the 
 said States and Territories, are hereby especially requested to 
 send to said Convention, Delegates equal to the number of the 
 members of the Legislature of the said States and Territories, 
 
[ 4 ] 
 
 to which they are entitled, to represent them in said Conven- 
 tion. 
 
 Resolved, That His Excellency, the Governor of this State, 
 be requested to send copies of the foregoing Resolutions to the 
 Governor of the State of Oregon and Territories of Washing- 
 ton and Arizona, respectively. 
 
 Passed, April 5th, 1856. 
 
 Office of the Secretary of State, ) 
 Sacramento, Cal, August 4. 1859 j" 
 I, FERRIS FORMAN, Secretary of State of the State of 
 California, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true 
 and correct copy of Concurrent Resolution No. 25, passed 
 April 5th, 1859, now on file at my office. 
 , <s — - ^ Witness my hand and the Great Seal of State, at 
 •J seal >• office in Sacramento, California, the 4th day of 
 
 August, 1859. 
 
 FERRIS FORMAN, 
 
 Secretary of State. 
 
 The Convention was numerously attended ; representing two 
 of the sovereign States, and one of the great Territories of the 
 General Government ; embracing the entire extent of United 
 States territory on the Pacific Coast. 
 
 The Convention continued its session through five days, 
 carefully canvassing, in all its relations and bearings, the sub- 
 ject of the Continental Railway, and reached its conclusions 
 and adopted its measures with remarkable and most gratifying 
 unanimity. 
 
 As the result of the deliberations of that body, touching the 
 subjects relating to Congressional action in behalf of the States 
 and Territory bordering upon the Pacific, we are authorized 
 respectfully to present to you the following statements and 
 suggestions : 
 
 California has been a sovereign State of the Union more 
 than nine years. She has a population exceeding five hundred 
 thousand — active, intelligent and loyal. 
 
 For ten years, and without intermission, has her people con. 
 tributed unprecedented sums to the gain and prosperity of the 
 
[ 5 ] 
 
 nation. She possesses unrivalled mineral, agricultural and 
 manufacturing resources, excellence of climate and commercial 
 position. 
 
 These, with her harbors, navigable bays and rivers, geogra- 
 phical position, commercial relations, and intermediate station 
 on the direct line of Asiatic and European trade, justly entitle 
 the State and her people to a consideration from the General 
 Government far greater than has been granted. 
 
 Notwithstanding the abundance of her local resources, and 
 the great advantage of her commercial position, the State has 
 failed to make that progress in improvements, population and 
 general development legitimately anticipated. The causes 
 operating so unhappily to embarrass the due development of 
 California, and tending so decisively to prevent the enterprise 
 of the citizens of this coast from resulting in forms of progress 
 equal to the superior local advantages enumerated, exist 
 mainly, in the relation California, sustains to the Atlantic 
 States. 
 
 The States of California and Oregon, and the Territory of 
 Washington, are the most distant and difficult of access of any 
 over which the Government is pledged to exercise its protec- 
 tion and fostering care. They are without the ordinary means 
 of a healthy and natural growth. While the avenues of emi- 
 gration are comparatively open, easy and safe to every other 
 part of the Union, the route to its Pacific possessions, whether 
 by land or sea, is constantly beset with every species of diffi- 
 culty and danger. Our remote position and the difficulties 
 encountered in travel, transit and general commerce, with the 
 Eastern and more populous States of the Union, are sufficient 
 to explain the slow degrees which have marked the progress 
 and development of the Pacific Coast. 
 
 There are other great difficulties with which these States 
 have to contend, operating to prevent State aid of Railroad 
 enterprise within their limits. 
 
 fin the State of California, the revenue is unjustly and most 
 unequally divided. Her taxable area of land does not exceed 
 
[ 6 1 
 
 one-ninth of the area of the State ; the remainder contributes 
 nothing to the revenues of the State, because it is a part of the 
 public domain, and therefore not subject to taxation. 
 
 Three-fourths of the population of the State occupy what is 
 denominated " the mining lands." These lands are. and have 
 been to this time, acknowledged to be the property of the 
 General Government. The State is called upon to exercise 
 all its governmental functions over the people occupying said 
 territory, without deriving revenue from the land so occupied^} 
 Although this questiontof federal exercise of power, against 
 the true interests of a sovereign State, is important, and claims 
 early and serious consideration, we do not propose now to dis- 
 cuss it further. 
 
 ( Oregon and the Territory of Washington stand in a similar 
 relation upon this important question^ 
 
 It is referred to here for the purpose of explaining to the 
 General Government a ^hardship which has seriously affected 
 the progress and development of this State. 
 
 It cannot be charged as the fault of the Pacific States, that 
 their revenue is so unequally derived ; nor will the General 
 Government be at loss to account for the present inability of 
 these States, to aid the construction of expensive Railroad en- 
 terprises, when they learn, what is the fact, that but an inconsid- 
 erable part of the people of the State contribute to the support 
 of the Government. 
 
 The State of Oregon, although a young State, — inexperienced 
 in the demands upon, and in the exercise of Sovereign power, 
 already, wisely foresees her inability to construct, or to aid 
 the construction of Railroads within her limits, without the 
 help usually granted by the General Government. 
 
 It will be observed, that the State of California, has an un- 
 protected Coast line exceeding seven hundred miles. Oregon, 
 five hundred miles, and the Territory of Washington, includ- 
 ing the waters of Puget Sound, of one thousand miles. 
 The people on this Coast, entertain very firm convictions, 
 that their interests as well as the general security of the terri- 
 
m 
 
 tory of the United States on this Coast, have been constantly 
 overlooked. 
 
 The States of California and Oregon, and Washington Ter- 
 ritory, represent the intelligence and patriotism of every sec 
 tion of the Union. They are national in sentiment, and in ac- 
 tion ; and have no connection with the local difficulties which 
 excite and tend to divide the Eastern States of our Union. 
 While they claim to understand their duties, as consistent 
 parts of the confederacy ; they also claim to be informed of 
 their Sovereign rights, and believe them to be at least equal 
 to those of other States, and entitled to respect and considera- 
 tion. These States hold that they understand the objects and 
 purposes of a federal compact : they believe that the principal 
 purposes to be answered by union, are the common defense of 
 its members ; — the preservation of the public peace (internally 
 and externally) and the proper adjustment of differences arising 
 between the several sovereignties. 
 
 That for such purposes the States united in confering and 
 centralizing power in the Federal Government ; and that if it 
 be put to use, it is fit and proper, to be directed to any and 
 every National exigency which may arise. 
 
 The circumstances tending to endanger the safety and tran- 
 quility of this portion of the Union, are too numerous to be 
 herein specified ; and, if the power or influence of the Federal 
 Government were not created, only, to be exercised upon the 
 Eastern seaboard, it cannot be called upon to provide for the 
 defense and protection of the States and Territories on this 
 
 ~ BANCROFT LIBRARY 
 
 Coast. 
 
 yWhile yielding to no other portion of the Union, in the de- 
 votion of its people to the General Government, the reflection 
 may not be amiss, that there is growing up on this portion of 
 the continent a new generation, bound by no ties of birth to the 
 older States, and that, should their interests be neglected after 
 the manner of the nine years past, there will naturally spring 
 up a coldness and indifference, which it is the part of wisdom 
 
 o avoid. 
 
[ M 
 
 It is both unwise and impolitic on the part of the General 
 Government, longer to delay a practical recognition of the 
 claims of the States and Territory, on this Coast. In a nation- 
 al, or any other point of view works which increase our means 
 of defense, or which afford to us an independant, speedy, and 
 reliable communication with the Eastern portion of the Union 
 and the seat of the Central Government, are of paramount im- 
 portance. 
 
 The known policy of the Government, respecting foreign in- 
 tervention in American affairs, although most cordially ap- 
 proved by the people of this Coast, but adds to their liability 
 to be involved in all the disasters of war, and that too, while 
 it is utterly beyond the power of the Goverument to strike one 
 effective blow in their defense, at the same time, also, the peo- 
 ple on the whole frontier line of these States and Territory are 
 exposed to forays and rapine, from numerous and powerful In- 
 dian tribes. 
 
 It is a true principle, never to be forgotteu by Statesmen ; 
 that, while it is the duty of the citizen to obey the Govern, 
 ment ; it is no less the duty of the Government to protect the 
 citizens, and it is an admitted truism, that a free people will 
 not long endure a Government which refuses to afford them 
 that protection for which Governments were instituted. 
 
 Addressing those who are presumed to survey the great in- 
 terests of the Republic — who regard the common dictates of 
 good faith, and who recognize the binding force and equal obli- 
 gation which characterize our federal compact, we believe it 
 will not be in vain to represent the condition of these sove- 
 reignties, and demand that measure of relief which has been 
 too long delayed. 
 
 J The great project of constructing a trans-continental Rail 
 way, answering the purpose of protection of this coast — of 
 stimulating immigration — of securing a speedy settlement of 
 the country lying between the Sierra Nevada and the Rocky 
 Mountains— of developing our great resources — of putting our 
 people in a line of success — of building up our commercial in 
 
[ 9 ] 
 
 terests — of turning the commerce of Asia through the United 
 States, and of realizing generally the benefits of uninterrupted, 
 cheap and speedy communication with our sister States — we 
 commend to your earnest consideration. 
 
 This Convention and the people of this coast are united in a 
 demand for a Railroad which shall be constructed from some 
 point upon the western border of the Atlantic States, along 
 what is known as the " Central Route," to some point on the 
 frontier of California ; whence divergent lines can be run — 
 one to the waters of Columbia River, or Puget Sound, of the 
 north, and one to San Francisco, in the south. 
 
 They are also united in demanding of the General Govern- 
 ment a liberal donation of the public lands, by which they 
 shall be enabled to aid the construction of the said branch 
 lines of Railroad. 
 
 It cannot be believed that Congress will refuse so simple an 
 act of justice to these States, or will be so blind and unmind- 
 ful of the interest and duty of the Government, as not to meet 
 their expectation in this behalf, or that it will fail to extend to 
 this coast the benefit and security of Railroad communication 
 with the East. 
 
 fit is a fact universally conceded, that an expenditure of one 
 hundred million dollars in the construction of fortifications 
 upon this coast, will not render it as secure against invasion 
 as the construction of the Pacific Railroad. ,1 
 
 The celerity, too, (having a Continental Railway,) with 
 which an army and its accompanying supplies would be trans- 
 ferred across the continent, in any national exignecy requiring 
 expeditious movement to this frontier, is worthy of great con- 
 sideration at your hands. 
 
 The completion of the Continental Railroad will be the 
 nation's announcement of readiness to take part in the stirring 
 events of the coming time. Its construction is practicable, 
 necessary, and promising the greatest results. Once com- 
 pleted, the States of the Union will realize ihe advantages re- 
 sulting from the trade of nations passing over this great higl- 
 
[ io ] 
 
 way. It will heal the political asperities which afflict the na- 
 tion, hush the elements of discord and fanaticism which spread 
 dismay over the country, and afford ready employment to a 
 multitude who labor for their bread. It will lead to the estab- 
 lishment of steamship communication between San Francisco 
 and the ports of Japan and the Chinese Empire — inaugurate a 
 new era in the commercial exchanges between these countries 
 and our own — greatly benefit every interest of the North, 
 South, East and West. It will rescue a hundred thousand 
 leagues of land from desolation, and will people the same with 
 millions of stout hearts and strong arms. 
 
 Are not these, objects which should incite our representa- 
 tives in Congress to the greatest effort ? Are they not advan- 
 tages worthy of immediate and zealous consideration ? Are 
 these not interests, so common to the Republic, that the South 
 and the North, the East and the West, may unite in fraternal 
 faith and patriotic purpose, to attain ? 
 
 If, like Cassar, men would be read, to their great praise, let 
 them favor a scheme which has for its object the benefit of 
 this State, this coast, our territories intermediate, the whole 
 Union, and the development of a great and glorious destiny. 
 Let them give their adhesion to an enterprise which shall knit 
 our several sovereignties, in amity so strong, that subtle, intrig- 
 uing artifices, within, or foes and envious force, without, may 
 never unravel the federal covenants we inherit. 
 
 These grand results to the nation, and simple justice, to 
 these distant sovereignties, bound to you by strong ties, may, 
 in the estimation of the undersigned, be attained in the great- 
 est degree by the favorable consideration of the Government, 
 granted to the following propositions. 
 
 First. — That the Government aid the construction of the 
 Continental Railroad across the Territory of the United States, 
 by the guaranty by the Government, of the payment of inter- 
 est not exceeding five per centum per annum during twenty 
 years, on the bonds which may be issued by the company con- 
 
[ 11 ] 
 
 structing the said Road, representing a sum not exceeding the 
 actual cost of the Road. 
 
 Second. — That the Government grant liberally from the pub- 
 lie lands of the Territory, over which the said Road shall pass ; 
 to such Company or Companies, as shall construct the same 
 from the Western Frontier of the Atlantic States, to the East- 
 ern Frontier of the State of California. 
 
 Third. — That in such grant of lands, the Government offer 
 a bonus, conditional, to wit ; if the Company construct the 
 said Road, and put the same in complete operation within five 
 years from the date of the contract ; grant to the Company 
 alternate sections thirty miles deep, on each side of the road — 
 but if the Company occupy a longer period of time in its con 
 struction, grant them only ten sections deep. 
 
 These grants and these conditions, with the right of way, 
 and such subsidies and transportation contracts, as the Gov- 
 ernment can well give, will insure the speedy undertaking and 
 completion of the work. 
 
 Fourth — That the Government donate to the State of Cali- 
 fornia, all the public lands within her limits, (excepting the 
 mining lands,) also to repay to said State the sum of two million 
 seven hundred and six thousand, five hundred and twelve dol- 
 lars, claimed to be legally due said State, having been collec- 
 ted, as Customs, at the port of San Francisco, between the 
 dates of August Gth, A. D. 1848, and September 9th, A. D. 
 1850 ; these lands and this sum, to be placed to the credit of 
 " State Railroad Fund," and used as the Legislature of the 
 State may direct in aid of the construction of that portion of 
 the Pacific Railaoad. which shall run from San Francisco, to 
 connect with the Grand Trunk Road authorized by Govern- 
 ment to be constructed to the Eastern Frontier of the State. 
 
 Fifth. — That the Government grant like, and similar aid to 
 the State of Oregon, and to Washington Territory ; whereby 
 they may be enabled to construct a line of Railway to inter- 
 
[ 12 ] 
 
 cept the Grand Trunk Road of the 
 as shall be practicable at or near th 
 fornia. 1 
 
 JOHN BIDWELL 
 
 Government at such a point 
 e Eastern Frontier of Cali- 
 
 President. 
 
 THOMAS J. DRYER, 
 THOS. A. SAVIER, 
 A. B. HALLOCK, 
 J. RAMSDELL, 
 NATH'IT HOLLAND, 
 LOUIS R. LULL, 
 W. S. WATSON, 
 WM. H. DALRYMPLE, 
 JOSEPH LEYINSON, 
 THOMAS BAKER, 
 RICH'D P. HAMMOND, 
 GEO. W. CRANE, 
 Z. MONTGOMERY, 
 JNO. GILLIG, 
 H. MILLS, 
 J. A. TAYLOR, 
 F. S. BALCH, 
 J. A. AMERMAN, 
 GROYE K. GODFREY, 
 HENRY S. FITCH, 
 T. DAME, 
 JAS. C. COBB, 
 HORACE AUSTIN, 
 R. J. LATZ, 
 J. S. ORMSBY, 
 J. H. CAROTHERS, 
 J. G. McCALLUM, 
 BENJ. R. NICKERSON, 
 DAN'L S. HOWARD, 
 S. D. MASTICK, 
 M. H. FARLEY, 
 
 THEO. D. JUDAH, * 
 J. B. CROCKETT, 
 S. M. MEZES, 
 JOS. C. McKlBBIN, 
 J. W. OSBORN, 
 WM. H. RHODES, 
 ED. M. HALL, 
 E. K. VANDECAR, 
 ALEX. P. ANKENY, 
 W. B. FAR WELL, 
 G. M. HANSON, 
 E. S. HOLDEN, 
 J. S. TITUS, .. 
 11. C. GERE, 
 HENRY GERKE, 
 T. W. LANDER, 
 E. BURKE, 
 R. S. MILLER, 
 PHIL. W T ASSERMAN, 
 W. S. SHERWOOD, 
 LAFAYETTE BALCH, 
 R. MATHESON, 
 WM. BLACKBURN, 
 EUGENE CROWELL, 
 IRA P. RANKIN, 
 HENRY M. HALE, 
 D. 0. MILLS, 
 H. G. WORTHINGTON, 
 LEVI PARSONS, 
 LEWIS M. STARR, 
 FRANCIS B. CAMP, 
 
[ 13 ] 
 
 F. A. BEE, 
 
 J. A. McDOUGALL, 
 L. ARCHER, 
 WM. J. LEWIS, 
 T. B. WADE, 
 J. F. FARLEY, 
 R. W. RUSSELL, 
 T. ROBERTSON, 
 THOS. H. PEARNE, 
 MARCUS KIMBALL, 
 E. LANDER, 
 
 seth luelling, 
 b. s. lippencott, 
 e. McCarthy, 
 
 A. MEEK, 
 JAMES MICHEAL, 
 
 G. M. HANSOM, 
 A. C. HINKSON, 
 L. HITE, 
 
 M. HIRSH, 
 S. J. AXTELL, 
 JOHN H. ATCHINSON, 
 G. BAECHTELL, 
 W. T. BARBOUR, 
 A. T. BAILEY, 
 J. M. BLOSSOM, 
 R. HALE, 
 
 F. A. BISHOP, 
 THOMAS J. ARNOLD, 
 
 E. A. ROCKWELL, 
 DANIEL GIBB, 
 
 R. H. MITCHELL, 
 W. W. PORTER, 
 GEO. W. PRESCOTT 
 W. H. RECTOR, 
 CHESTER N. TERRY, 
 
 F. HOOKER 
 W. A. HOUSEL, 
 C. P. JACKSON, 
 ED. JANSSEN, 
 
 E. JOYNT, 
 J. KAMP, 
 
 J. B. KNAPP, 
 JOHN CONNESS, 
 J. H. CUTTER, 
 V. B. DAUB, 
 A. D. ELLIS, 
 GEORGE FLAYEL, 
 
 F. FORD, 
 
 E. S. GILLESPIE, ^ 
 A. B. GOVE, 
 L. C. GRAY, 
 J. E. HALE, 
 L. A. BOOTH, 
 
 CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO, ) 
 October 10, 1859. j 
 I, WILLIAM RABE, Secretary of the Pacific Railroad 
 Convention, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, 
 true and exact copy of the Memorial No 2, ordered on file 
 among the documents of the Convention. 
 
 WILLIAM RABE, 
 Secretary Pacific R. R. Convention. . 
 
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