Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-11-12

irom nor JED. DAVIS IN reply TO charges made
by Senator Ioombs duringi the canvass These
charges "ere that he Davis was disunionist
sitting IN the councils VI The nation, and WAS. to-
gether with the cabiret OF Gen Pierce RESPONSE
bic for the idea ofbuilding the Pacific railroad with
money taken from the treasury of the United
States" Mr.. Gaskl denied their truth. and for
"ardedthem TO the Secretary of War in the hone
OF receiving reply before the day Of the Georgia
election Here is Col! Davis letter:
WASHINGTON. Sept. 81, 1853.
V. 4. GAsKILL, ESQ, SIR.-Your letter of the
2oth utimo arrived here during my absence, and
~ heai'h mas combined with constant occupation
thus far, to delay my reply.
Before proceeding to notice the political questions
to which yoU call my attention which YOU inform
me Nr. foombs has made against me. You say.
: tie denounced You a disunionst sitting in the
councils the nation" During the controversy
OF 1885, IN relation to the rights of the South and
the duteS OF the general government, insthe ter
rtorles acquired from Mexico, my attention was
called, IN debate, to the fact that in certain news
papers bad been charged with a desire to dis.
solve the Union. Believing it to be the work of
base men Who concealed themselves behind the in
Struments they employed | then said before the
Senate il any gentleman makes the charge will
answer in monoSylaGles. 1t was well understood
that, that answers would not be less hasrh than it
Is false. Such is my answer now
In that long and exciting controversy my opin-
IONS were freely expressed. They are spread Oh
the volumes of Congressional debates, and to them
refer to disprore all allegations made against nv
iealty to our constitutional Union. Subsequently,
( 1851 Wien engaged in d canvass in Mississippi,
whilst declared the opinion that State, as a SOW
ereign and equal member Of the Union, had
night 10 withdraw from the confederation, also
spoke OF 1t as the last remedy, the final resort-one
10 which, under existing circumstances, Mississippi
should not appeal. and such was the position cf
those with whom acted, as is shown by the res
putonS of the convention which nominated the
State ticket III 1851
Though have been made somewhat familiar
With the excesSeS of partizan conflict, am not
little surprised at this accusation, because Of the
source from which it comes AS member OF Com
sress, and by personal intercourse, Mr. Toombs
has had tuil opportunity to know that the accusa-
ton Is false; aud | am sure that comparison Of
the position taken by Mr.. Toombs and myself will
show that my most ardent language never reached
the extreme to which he went, both before and long
after the measures, commonly called the cempro-
mise OF 1880 had cen presented, and the prnci-
pies and constitutional rights involved had been
fully discussed.
In conclusion of this matter, l viii only say that
cannot very highly appreciate the moral senti-
ment OF man who isprone to believe, ready to as
sumo, that one who desires to destroy the Union
would be willing to hods place in its councils, and
swear to support its constitution and be who makes
such charge against M, does SO gratuitously, and
thereby assures me that he is radically false and
corrupt
send you printed copies ofthe speeches made
at Philadelphia and New York, which you can
compare with the representations which you in
form ME, have been made of my remarks in rela-
ton to railroad to the Pacific Oceon You will
not fail to observe that the only point on which
claimed to express the views of the President vas
an assurance cf strict regard for State rights In
relation 10 the construction Of railroad my
marks directed to the first question: that is the
constitutional power of the government. The pow
er OF The government, under certain conditions is
held to extend to the construction ofrailcoad with
IN the limits OF territories belonging to the United
States. He, who denies this must also deny the
power to costruct wagon roads, for which appro-
prIationS We're made by the last Congress for the
territories of Minnesota, Oregon and Washington,
and with the disbursement of which | am now
charged. He must deny the jurisdiction which
has been so long exercised over the territories by
the general government; and finally find himself
on the same platform with the sect which arrayed
the sovereignty of the territorial inhabitants as
barrerto federal legslotion for the protection of
SlaNthOldef property who should migrate from 4
Southern States one of the joint owners Of
that territory. to become on inhabitant oft. With
in the limits of the States the action of the eder
al government Is restricted, that it could not ex
coed the aid which mghtbe given to a private COM
pany, and that have held, on other occasions was
limited to the interest in the work which the gov
ernment had as landed proprietor The rule on
which Congress has made grants of contiguous
land, and the right of way in aid of the construc
ton of roads. Beyond the question of power. are
the questions fpractcability and expediency. The
practicabiity will be more intelligibly discussed
when the surveys directed to be made by the Con-
gress, have been completed. They are now in
progress and have not attempted to foretel their
result.
The expediency is to be considered in connec-
ton With all the political phys and administra-
tive questions which enter into it. The mode Of
execution, the last to be decided the first it seems
10 me presented for objections; and l am held re.
sponsible for particular plan of proceeding, when
had proposed none, when, from the dependence
ofthe plan and means ofexecuton upon the locftOn
of the route, had not considered itpossible to &C.
eide on the best mode of proceeding until after
the route had been located Then, and not till
then can any one estimate the extent of road, how
much, if any, will have to be constructed within
the limits of the United States territory, the cos
per mile and the rleans which can be made ayaa.
bic for the construction.
. Very respectfully, your ob't serv't.
Il JEFF. DAVIS.
" PROFITABLE GRAPE CRoP.-A gentleman neal
Cincinnati, il is said has six acre lot, the yied