Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-03-01


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AGENTS.
PoSrN through the State of Virginia are
Lorzed agents. and lineral commissions grant
et upon all monies received
Mr.. J. 7. BRIGHrwELL. of Danve. is specia
Scent in that section of the State.
The Pacific Railroad bill has been debated at
great length in the United States Senate. The
Washington Union comes to US every day freight
Q | with the lucubrations of Senators on this to-
pic, and still promised more of the same
SORT. In glancing over this bonndless and drea-
~ expanse of words, find that most
OF the Speakers are Democrats, and that
tile learned doctors of shat political school diff
fer just widely in regard to this railroad ques-
ton. they do in respect to almost every othe L
important topic of the day. Grave questions o.
constitutional construction have been raised in
| this discussion, but the views of Democratic
Senators in relation thereto are as wide asun-
dor as the poles The Pacific Railrond bill was
framed by Messrs. Gwin, Rusk, Douglas, and
o.her distinguished Democrats, and Is warmly
supported by nearly if not quite half of the
Democratic party 10 the Senate. But what say
their Democratic bre thren, Messrs. Mason. Hun
ter. Toucey & Co., in relation 20 this m mmoth
scheme !? Mr. Mason stigmatses IL as an out
rugeous violation ofthe constitutions and AYERS that
If adopted there will no longer be Democratic
party in this country. Mr.. Toucey denounces It
as worse than the Alien Sedition lttw-worse,
by far, THAI a national Bank Mr.. Hurter, Mr.
Butler, aud other Southern Democrats, are not
lass vehement and emphatic in their denunca-
ton of the measure the highest constitutional
grounds. Ifthese gentlemen are to be credited
Messrs. Gwin. Douglas aud other distinguished
lumiua ries of the Democratic party, are pressing
upaa the consideration of Congress one of tn 9
most dangerous corruptng and flagrantly un
sttutional schemes; that was ever brought to the
notice of that body And yet the Democracy
profess "strict construction" as fundamental
and universally recognised principle of their creed.
They must hereafter abandon this pretension
or exclude Mr. Gwin, Mr.. Douglas, and their
coadjutors from the pale of the Democratic
Church. How can Messrs Hunter, Toucey and
Mason, affiliate with men who advocate mea-
sure which they deem ou5rageously uncon-
situtonal than the Alien and Sedition laws of old
John Adams administration The Democratic
advocates of the Pacific road BILL according to the
logic of their own political brethren, must be
set down as federalists of the deepest dye.
Whilst we do not concur in all that has been
said by the opponents Of Mr.. OWNS bill, there
isOne feature of that measure which we think is
Justly obnoxious to the denunciations that have
been levelled it, and which. in our judgment,
ought to damn it forever. We allude to that
provision which clothes the President of the
United States with all the power and patronage
pertaining to the management of the work. 1t
is proposed that Congress shall dvest itself of its
legislative powers and transfer them to the exe-
critive. The President is authorised to let out
the contracts involving an expenditure of at least
500, 100000, and perhaps of thrice that sum.
He fixes the termini of the road, determines its
route and prescribes its guage. In fact. he is
made the President Of the road, but with powers
UNNECESSARILY greater than were ever before
vested in the President ofan Incorporated COM
pany. Messrs. Mason and Hunter assaulted this
provision of the bill with much force and ability.
They also commended that the bill violated the
Democratic doctrine in respect both to the subject
of internal improvement and the creation Of cor
porations by the Federal Government. These
gentlemen may be right in their Interpretation
of the Democratic creed respecting internal i'm
prove and corporations, but far as the question
of executive patronage is concerned, they are
unquestionably in the wrong. In proposing to
strengthen the executive at the expense of the
Legislative power, Mr.. OWNS bill is eminenty
Democratic, and should receive the jealous sup.
port Of all who profess that faith. If tried by
their course on this question, the advocates oil
the bill must be pronounced better Democrat.
tn an its opponents.
Debt Of The State.
The Senate Committee of Finance have made
report on the debt of the State for the two
years, commencing the 30th September, 1850
and ending the 3Oth September 1852, and the
~x,ro,a hfa racainto opJ d;sh,rsa,,on., &c A..