The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-31
The P~eins Railroad anA The Adm ianss<er
ZION W. the Virginia Strict 0onseructionisss.


vor of the building of that great continental
inter-oceanic highway, the Pacific Railroad ~
the federal government; and when we reject
for moment on the fact that Col Davis, him.
self hair-splittiug constructionlst not only
made the road constitutional by making u
military road but clearly intimated that the
President himself entertained the same OPT
MONS. there is no wonder that very extraordi-
nary decree ofimportsnce is attached to these
ministerial revelations, north OF Mason and Dix
on's line They are tantamount to the proca-
nation of the platform Of Gen. Pierce and his
cabinet on the subject Of this Pacific Railroad;
and they were particularly agreeable in these
parts because Of the doubts previously enter
tanned of the footing Of the administration on
this question.
Messrs. Davis and Guthrie, however IN
endorsing the nationality and the constitu-
tionality Of this great work OF public necessity
and " manifest destiny having run against
some of the snags of the Old Virgins Slough
of Despond," or Dismal Swamp of '9s and '99,
q conspicuous position in the editorial columns
of the Richmond Enquirer is given to cor
respondent who declares himself dead-set
against the Pacific Railroad policy of Secretary
Davis-and he enters his protest against Davis
and Guthrie, and insinuates that they came on
to tie Crystal Palace 81 for the purpose of
m anufacturing public sentiment, preparatory to
the next meeting of Congress-" The indignant
Virginian then goes on to say that
If such are to be the recommendations of the
MI I 10 rlu sianf tn gau
that il is not the entertainment to which we were
invited" The country was promised a regular,
old fas honed Jefersonian State rights adminlstra-
ton under Gen. Pierce; and /, at least, rely conf
denty upon the fuilment of that promise. But ii
such is to be the policy of the administration upon
questions of internal improvements am on IN
tend to adhere faithfully to Virginia prnciples-ts
stand by the old and safe doctrine OF state rights
and strict constructon-to resist all attempts TO
enlarge the powers of the federal government. And
IT. in doing ST. il shall become my duty To denounce
an administration which | aided in bringing into
power shall not hesitate to do even tha-disagree-
able as it may be. Ny motto is, PRINCIPLES not
men''-and intend to act up to it. BLUE RIDGE.
The Richmond Whig, journal which, we
regret to say. is laboring with an unholy 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 Mason, from Virginia, de-
nounced the Pacific Railroad, at the last Congress,
as pa pable 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 sedtion laws of old John
Adams. Now that scheme is endorsed; it is pub
licy adVsca ted by members OF General Pierce'5 add
minstration The administration OF the oryadier IS
considered ia favor of it as " fixed fact - and
what are the Virginan democratic Senator'S, and
the whole Virginan democracy, to do if Messrs.
Hunter and Mason spoke their sentiments
Sure enough here is a dilemma The Vir-
gina hair-spltters of State rights can't COM
prehend the constitutionality of national high
way through the territories of the United
States. We believe, however, that these Dis
NAL Swamp commentators upon constitutional
distractions. who
Can a hair divide,
p~twixt its south and southwest side,
very generally aumlit ti,v i4.n.ili,ility vr Vt.
Calhoun in his calculation of the metaphysics
of the constitution. Mr.. Calhoun has said that
Congress is the sovereign over the territories o.
the United States but whether he had said so
or not, Congress. under the provisions o.
the constitution has always, and does now.
exercise over our territories the powers
of sovereign. Congress may give away
or sell the public lands as it pleases 1t
may appropriate any amount of money or
lands for the construction of roads, &c,
through its landed estates with the view of in-
creasing their value, or for military purposes,
or for the transportation of the mails. See the
immense grants to railroads and canals made
in the Western and Southern States, within the
last four years What, then, is there in the
constitution to prevent the construction by Con-
gress of a railroad. or fifty railroads through
the public lands in the territories of the United
States, over which Congress hold the sovereign
authority I? Nothing. And what, then is there
to prevent the construction of post-ofice rail-
road, or military railroad, or railroad to in
crease the price of the public lands, or rail
road to ." regulate commerce" from the from
tiers 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 post roads, being unrestricted and
full. embraces the power by Congress to build
postal railroad IRON New York to San Fran
cisco out of the federal treasury direct: but OF
course, this sweeping power involves the res
possibility Of a wise discretion.
But if Congress cannot make railroad
through the United States territories. who can!
If " the people" of territory possess the power
Of sovereignty over the same then the colony
of the Mormons at the Salt Lake with their
local despotisn, resting upon the patrarchal
institutions of polygamy, are beyond the reach
of the constitution and the laws. and institutions
of the United States. With all due Difference
to the Nicholson letter, the crochet Of State
rights is an absurdity in q territory. Hence
though Virginia hair spltters may sickle upon
State rights as far as the construction Of rail-
road by Congress within the limits Of State
is concerned. there is q clear margn Of fifteen