Continued from March 1 (reply #18) . This excerpt covers a long time period. I got today's posting date somewhat randomly from footnote #80 (third paragraph). It references a letter Davis wrote to one M.D. Haynes on this date.
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William J. Cooper, Jr., Jefferson Davis, American
Cooper on Jefferson Davis:
[Davis] "also continued his vigorous support for a transcontinental railroad, built with federal assistance.
As before, he struggled against his strict-constructionist associates, who did not think the federal government should aid railroads.
Again, Davis based his contention on requirments for defense and federal ownership fo the territories.
To avoid the problems of selecting a route, he suggested authorizing private companies to present plans..."
There were three main proposed routes, northern, central and southern, of which, of course Davis supported the southern route, and stood to benefit hugely from its passing by his plantation just south of Vicksburg.
Some have argued, seriously, that the really, really real reason for secession & civil war was the transcontinental railroad route.
All the North had to do was agree to Jefferson Davis' Southern route and all those other problems (slavery) would melt away.
