Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-08-09
From tho Rlchmond Whig.
Signs of DiscordI


tion of the Virginia Democracy to the Internal I'M
provement policy avowed by General Pierce and
his war.minister. The Enquirer and Petersburg
Democrat enter their protest against it in emphat
10 terms. The former has the hardihood to argue
the question with the "Union''-and the latter
does not scruple to laugh at the National organ to
its face. We shall take care to chronicle the re-
suit of the controversy.
In the meantime, the N. Y. Herald, the most in
fiuential organ of the Pierce Party, takes up the
cudgel, or rather whip, and cracks it over the
heads of these refractory gentlemen in avery I'M
ceremonious style. The Herald speaks in the tone
of master. 1t knows that the Brigadier has the
Virginia Democracy con the hips" He has the
power and the patronage-and they have nothing.
The Herald, therefore, makes short work with them
1t tells item, in few words, to get outofthe way
and let men of sense pass.
We commend the Herald's article TO their serl-
GUS consideration and healthful digestion:
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD AND THE ADMTNIsTRA-
TON Us. THE VIRGINIA STRICT CoNsrRucTIoNIsTs.
Long will be remembered in this section OF the
country the speeches of the Secretary OF ar ana
the Secretary of the Treasury in favor OF the build
ing of that great continental inter-oceanc hlgn-
way the Pacific Railroad, by the federal govern
ment; ard when we reflect for moment on the
fact that COL Davis, himself hair-splltting con,
structionSt, not only made the road conslltuuonai
by making it military road, but clearly lntlmated
that the President himself entertained the same
opinions there is no wonder that very extraordl-
nary degree of Importance is attached to these
ministerial revelations, north OF Mason ana DIX
on's line. They are tantamount to the pIoclama-
ton of the platform of Gen. Pierce and his caol-
net on the subject of this Pacific Railroad; and
they were particularly agreeablein these parts be-
cause of the doubts previously entertained OF the
footing of decentralization on this question:
Messrs. Davis and Guthrie, however, in endors-
ing the nationality and constitutionallty OF TINS
great work OF public necessity and "naniiest des-
tiny" have run against some of the snngs CT Inc
Old Virginia ''Sough of Despond," or Dismal
Swemp OF '9S and '99, conspicuous position IN
the editorial columns of the Richmond Enquirer IS
given TO a correspondent who declares himself
deaset against the Pacific Railroad policy of Sec
rotary Davis-and he enters his protest against
Davis and Guthrie, and insinuates that they came
10 the Crystal Palace "for the purpose OF manu-
featuring public sentiment, preparatory to the next
meeting of Congress" The indignant Vlrslhlah
then goes on 10 say that,
'.If such are to be the recommendations OF the
administration, / take this early occasion 10 say
that it is not "the entertainment to which we were
invited. The country was promised regular old
fashioned, Jefferson State rights administrator
under General Pierce; and /, at least rely conf
IDENTIFY upon the fulillment Of that promise. But
if such is the policy of the administration upon
questions of internal Improvements am oil.
intend to adhere faithfully to Virginia principles
to stan by the old and safe doctrine OF State rights
and strict construction-to resist all attempts 10
enlarge the powers of the federal government-
And If, in doing so, it shall become my duty to de-
nounce an administration which aided IN bring
ing into power, shall not hesitate to do even that
-disagreeable as it may be- My motto is, .'Prin-
ciples not lnen'-and intend to act up 10 it.
BLUE RIDGE"
The Richmond Wing, journal which, we re-
greet to say, is laboring with an unhoy zeal to stir
up a scrimmage in the great family of the national
democracy, North and South, commenting upon
the same subject, rubs its hands together and
chuckles in the following strain:
Senators Hunter and Mastn, from Virginia, de-
nounced the Pacific Railroad, at the last Congress-
as paIpable violation of the constitutions dan
gerous TO the liberties of the States; and Senator
| Mason went so far as to pronounce the scheme as
bad as the alien and Sedition laws of old John
| Adams. Now that scheme is endorsed; it is pub
| cly advocated by members OF General Plerce'S
administration. The administration oil the brga-
der is considered in favor of it ta fixed facts"
| and what are the Virginia democratic Senators,
| and the whole Virginia democracy to do if MeSSrs
1 Hunter and Mason spoke their sentiments!
Sure enough, here is dilemma. The Virginia
hair splitters of State rights can't comprehend the
constitutionaIity of national highway through the
"ter!itories'' of the United States. We believe,
however, that these Dismal Swamp commentators
upon constitutional abstra ctions, who
Can hair divide,
Betwixt its south and southwest side,
very generally admit the infallibiity of Mr.. CAL
lloun in his calculation Of the metaphysics OF the
constitution. Mr.. Calhoun has said that Congress
is the sovereign over the territories of the United
States; but whether he had said SO OF not Congress
under the provisions of the constitution, has al
ways, and does now, exercise over our territories
| the powers of a sovereign. Congress may give
away or sell the public lands as it pleaSeS 1tmay
Appropriate any amount of money or lands for the
construction of roads, &C., through its landed es-
tates, with the view of increasing their value, or
for military purposes, or for the transportation OF
the mails. See the immense grants to railroads
aud canals made i'll the Western and Southern
States, within the last four years. What then, is
there in tile constitution to prevent the construc-
ton by Congress, OF railroad, or fifty railroads,
Though the public lands in the territories of the
United States, over which Congress holds the sove-
rel authority? Nothing. And what, then, is
there 10 prevent the construction OF post Office
rail, or military railroad, or railroad to increase
the price of the public lands, or railroad to reg
uate commerce. from the frontiers of the State of
Missouri or Arkansas to the boundary of the State
of California;? Nothing.
| We go further, and maintain that the power to
establish past roads, being unrestricted and full,
embraces the power of Congress TO build postal
railroad from New York to San Francisco out of
the federal treasury direct; but, CT course, tliis
sweeping power involves the responsibility of a
wise discretion.
But if Congress cannot make railroad through
the United States territories, who can? If "the
people, of a territory possess the power of sove-
reignty the same, then the colony of the Nor
at the Salt Lake, with their local despotism,
resting upon the patriarchal institutions of poly
gamy, beyond the reach of the constitution and
the laws and institutions OF the United States.-
With all due Difference to the Nicholson letter, the
crotchet OF State rights is abSurdity in terrific
ny. Hence, though Virginia hair-spltters may
sickle upon State rights far as the construction
State is conceraed, there is clear margin Of H.
teen hundred miles between Missouri and Califor-
MIA, over which Congress alone has the power to
build railroad, or power 10 provide for its con-
struction.
at least the administration will go for heralroad