John Harrison Wilson, The life of Charles Henry Dana

“ [104] character and consequences yet presented for public consideration.” He contendd that there was no hope of financing the undertaking, except by using “the public lands as a source of capital, coupled with a judicious scheme for the colonization of the region” through which the road should be located. This was in 1850, and it is a noteworthy fact that at that early date he favored the plans of Asa Whitney, who, as early as 1846, had made a proposition to the government for the construction of a line from the western end of Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean. The first speech in the Senate in advocacy of the general measure was made by Senator Breeze, of Illinois, but the bill which was finally passed was introduced by Senator Benton, of Missouri, in 1849. Dana gave this scheme his heartiest approval and support from the first, and urged that should the bounty land bill become a law, as he feared it would, it should be followed at once by another setting apart alternate sections for the railroad, within five miles on either side, so that its construction should not fail for want of resources. He pointed out that the construction of such a road would confer an immense benefit,

not only upon the whole country and the whole world, but a very great special benefit upon the country lying along its line. That country will be vastly increased in value by the road for all purposes of human occupation. That increase will pay for the road. ... New York Tribune, July 4, 1850.

His advocacy of the measure, in its various stages, was continued as occasion required, till it came to be recognized by the entire country as essential to the preservation of the national unity and to the maintenance of the national defence. But the final victory was not