WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1859
337
of country lying between San Diego and El Paso, by his proposi- tion, or whether it will terminate in California and not extend to the Atlantic coast? [The Presiding Officer-Mr. Broderick.] Mr. Houston. Mr. P1·esident, it seems very strange that the honorable Senator from California should wish to appropriate all the mail service to California, and to disconnect it entirely with the Atlantic coast, unless it were by the transit routes, or by way of St. Louis and Memphis. I presume, if the terminus· on the Pacific coast were at San Francisco, it would not be deemed at all detrimental to the public service where the route should continue; but the terminus being at San Diego, seems a diversion from that great important point on the Pacific, San Francisco. Everything must be centered there. It is the attraction through- out the world, it appears to me, and everything that originates here in relation to California or any other section of the country, Mr. Houston. It necessarily starts at San Francisco, I pre- sume the gentleman intends, and is to terminate at Placerville, thus still making it the focus of all our legislation. It is regard- less entirely of the communication with the Atlantic. The most direct and expeditious route that can possibly be, is to be ter- minated or thrown out, because it does not go to San Francisco. Placerville does not connect-unless it is through the medium of stage-coaches, with El Paso and the Mesilla valley, and those other sections of country-nor lead to Sonora. It is a point that is to terminate the mail service from San Francisco, and is to cut off all connection with the Atlantic coast. There is no route that can be traveled with the same expedition, with the same advantages, with the same certainty at all seasons of the year, comparable to the route from San Antonio to San Diego. That communicates directly between the coasts, starting on the Atlantic at Indianola, passing San Antonio, from thence to El Paso, Fort Yuma, and San Diego. These are points that are to be connected by the continuance of this route; but if you terminate it at El Paso, all communication ceases on the Pacific coast. If you ter- minate it at Placerville, all communication with the Atlantic coast is terminated. It is necessary, Mr. President, that this mail route should be continued for the purpose of connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific, as it is the most expeditious and most certain route, and even if it costs more, the advantages of it would correspond with the addition of expense. must go to San Francisco. [Mr. Broderick speaks.]
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