Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-07-19
Railway TO the Pacific.

;net. IN the presence and under the approval OF
N. President in favor of the construction
by the Federal government of railway
TO the Pacific. The occasion was that Of the
festival in their honor.g given by the city Of Phil.
adelphia The National Intelligencer likens IL
to the practice INDUCED by Ministers OF the
Crown of England, avaiing themselves of tes
tive occasions 10 disclose TO the public, IN after
dinner speeches, the views of the government
on particular subjects. which, for reasons of
State. they prefer not to make known in FOR
NAL official manner. The Secretary of War,
strictest of constructonsts as he claims to be,
was the first to break ground in favor OF the
measure. "Pennsylvania, he said. was tied
by lightning to every portion OF the United
States, and with her coal and iron she was
about to establish commercial relations with the
slope of the Pacific, and to look over into that
unknown region of Asia which involves China
and Persia" within the limits OF the States
they would touch nothing, aud he spoke not
for himself alone. but for his honored chief"
''He had ssd that he was a strict construc-
ZIONIST; but he had also Knocked the idea that
the limits of the United States and another
outside oftbem. Applause Hehad always
Knocked the idea that this Government could
build road outside of the United States, and
could not build one within ii. Great APP
plause
There was another question. which involv
ed the question of the integrity of The Pacific
possessions; another,a closer qucston,to which
he knew the heart of Pennsylvania would re-
spond. Ii was the question Of protection
which in her strength she had always shown
herself willing to throw over the weak. 1.-THE
Pacific possessions should be threatened by
hostile fleet, the Government would have no
navy there to interpose for their protection;
and if that hostile fleet belonged TO such Pow.
er ss England or France, it would take all the
navy of the United States to keep road open
which would cross either of the lsthnuses Of
this continent Aud while the navy of the u.
nited States was thus employed what would
be more easy than for such maritime Power
as either ofthese to strike at those possessions
and rcnd them from these states even to the
extent OF the gold regions which lay behind
the coasn II then. rs purely military ques-
ton, II should become necessary to have an
intercommunIcatlon, that the Governments
munitions of war and men could be thrown
OpDH iHt dIlHC TOT lis 'itffUcf, the aDDllCn
ton of the war power Of the Government to
this would be within the strict limits of
The constitution. Enthusiastic applause i
But II 1t could lie 81 own (ond he always held
his opinion open 10 convection from any quar-
ter that these means v ere moi required wore
not necessary. and by necessary he meant alb.
solutey required-then he would say, show
the other means which would answer as
substitute, aud as strict construction Demo
crst he would accept the proposition. An.
plause.
Uuder every ingenious construction which had
been placed upon the various powers of the
government, under every ramfcalion which
ingenuity had suggested tosupply that defcen-
cy oil accommodation, in vain had il been at
tempted TO be shown him how the military
power OF this Government. which consisted in
the sinews and strong hearts of it's citizens.
could be used on the slope of fhe Pacific. I'm.
less there was railroad To transmit it. IAN.
plause) If then it could be done. and if tba,
hazard existed on that occasion, be would saw
that the rest followed as a consequence; The
smoke OF Pennsylvania coal might be seen on
the desert waste, beneath the cloud canned
mountains, and Pennsylvania iron, with the very
stamp OF her own ioundries upon it, might be
seen creeping in a long serpentine track to the
slopes of the Pacific Applause
Mr. Davis closed his remarks by proposing
the health of the Hon. James Buchanan. That
gentleman responded, silly ridcung the strict
construction views of the States rights Secre-
fary, by telling an anecdote ola former mem.
Der OF Congress from Virginia. (the somewhat
eccentric Judge r who being taken alarm.
ingly i'll at Washington, with the prospect of dy-
Ing, and being buried al the public expense,
sent for friend and declared TO him: al would
nearly as lieve take my chance of being id.
as TO entertain the idea that Congress. without
authority from the constitution should appro.
pirate money 10 bury me-. THAT Gentle
man." Mr.. Buchanan said, twas more of a
strict constructonist than his friend Davis, for
the latter bad got SO far as TO be willing to ap
ProPnate the public money TO make railroad
10 Inc Pacific Nth ehicA he Aimse5f entirely
agreed"
1yt