Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-08-06
NUMBER 81.
RICHMOND WHIG.

&c,
correspOndence the n. r. rrpr.,.

] congress
attempting to build the Pacific Railroad. and to SEQ
least Journal OF high stand come out ag.in., that
crude and III advised project Experience has fully con-
Vinced me that is bad aud very expensive policy tor
any SdtS, and still for the Unifed SEafss 10
undertake any public works Of that nature II il far bet
ter to leave them to private enterprise and the expend
to be watched by the jealousy Of private nser
est and If the works such justify the aid OF the
Federal State Governments give In the way OF don.
tons and subscription the stock All these works vhe,
prosecuted by the general Of local government invariably
two threefod what they should do and tho system
Of eItorton not to harsher terms whore the public
treasury islands the racket ia so fully established and
carried into effect for labor materials right Of way
ages &C. Sc to say nothing Of the horde Of officials on
pay, whose interest TO Tetdr3 and erpsdife the
work. that they be the longer employ that the
result unavoidable and inevitable in making all such
undertakings most costly jobs without any certainty OF
ever obtaining good work, notwithstanding the greatly In
erased cost.
Independent however of the impoicy of Congress up-
derakng that work. the plan itself is the widest not to
say the most absurd scheme that posessou
minds OF community appears have done With the
minds OF the American people, and IL is matter Of as
tonshment TO me, that the and able
which exist in the country to ex
pose the difficulties and the absurdy ohe scheme which
would render its execution almost mpossibiIty or n
carried into effect that could only be done ghtfl
expense which would exhaust the national cofers and
greatly nJure not destroy the public credit rhs M
come from such road admitting could he eomnle-
ted, would be completed, would be literally nothing aer
paving the expenses and much douh1 " IL would even
cover the latter IL is all Buncombe 5aderdash TO saw
as have heard do, that tie road should be but
and maintained by the Government without wishing or
expecting that thing in the of revenue should be
ueeu rom ~ and there are no doubt some who will
even contend that the nation should all the expen-
es and the run the freight and passenger graui
! tously.
consider it however fixed fact that IL is disadyan-
ageous TO the prosperity and Of a country
construct Rarad Canal which the trade and tra-
vel will not besides covering expenses also yield
tar interest, on the outlay Of capital am however
fully aware that work OF this kind developes greatly
increases the Of the through which
passes particularly in districts Of States terrific
rieS, and am perfectly willing await a reasonable time
Tor such Development but how long will be before the
extended wilderness and wild and mountains
through which this road necessarily pass would
yield annual revenue of twelve millions of dollars for
the interest OF two hundred millions land lucky
ne should be il it is finished for that by the United
states should they be guilty Of the supreme folly of under
taxing it) besides the current expenses for maintaining
in running order road of 1900 500 miles with all
the attending outlay for the repairs and sup
ply OF locomotives burthen and passenger cars the
newng and elayng the sub structure; stations; depots
machine shops fuel for the army Of aborers mechanics
machinsts conductors engineers clerks superntendens
! and managers, &C. &c, &c, &c.
-FOUR ausion Is perfectly just the birds of prey
which from quarter Of the union would collect by
hundreds and by thousands to themselves upOn such
oo WheTe nce sam has to act as payHaster and who
now looking forward with goatin eyes to the consum-
nation of their wishes Take away this inducement and
Row large portion Of the clamorous advocates Of the
w"nh rlose their mouths or become as fierce on
7onents of the plan they the supporters Of It.
" IN addition 10 this class you withdraw from its
supp those who riding the plan as a political hobby
u ~ho otherwise neither desire would support IT,
md how would the Pacific Railroad be by comnon
| consent voted a splendid humbug
IL really amusing to see how Secretary Davis got
over his constitutional crupcs in his speech his
trip to your city. Ii forsooh "a military read for
the purpose Of transporting troops and munitions Of war
to California and therefore, within the constitutional
er Of Congress to construct IT. BAH Ard is not every
r-rSsd IN the United States equally military road, and
Soud not in case Of all such transportation be excu-
sivey made by such roads: Are not our railroads run
ming to the Canadian frontier equally military roads and
in the only event in which this military road" to the
I Fteihc would be necessary such viz, in with
Great Britain, would the railroads running from every
lection Of the country towards Canada be much mre of
military roads, and such be used ien-fod much and
be euod more than the projected road TO Cal
ornia and would Mr. Secretar, Davis had advocated the
constitution Of these latter roads by Congress- had such
measure been proposeds The Secretary had better have
held his peace on the occasion rather than have as.
gned such puerile that for abandoning his
constitutional objections
presume you noticed the scathing article in The
Union, Ko-suth for the mpudent manner in which b
speaks Of and to the American people His opinions a.
his advice, however 60 for very little present in the O.
= where he is fully understood aud properly appre
cated and this article in the government organ viii have
good effect and will probably convince even him. thar
! he has overshot his mark.
The facts learn from inquiry respecting the rscs,
proceedings at san Francisco by the Government against
W. Collier the former Collector Of that port are as fol-
lows:
Mr. Collier rendered his accounts TO the late A5ri,.
'rlton in very unsatisfactory FORM and which uhsn sx
,ned and stated by the accounting officers Of the res
~ exhibited balance against him Of than $500 600
twas not at the time supposed that he owed so heavy
sum- but that large portion Of il arose from the r,s
lar mode in which he kept his accounts and insceScv
tuced. P'O-
granted him to correct these deficiencies and
ne subsequently reduced the balance by suitable explana
tons and regular vouchers considerably more than one
half and he refused settle up late SecretaIv Mr.
,or"in more than year since, instituted suit against
both him and his surees. Collier acknowledged BAL
'nce que by him but refused the proposition paw up
What he acknowledged alleging that he would not do So
Wishing to eocree the government to admit everything he
claimed. Among other Of his he retained In hi.
hands upwards OF S15OOOO Of the public money under the
preten"e Of securing himself against the resu lie of anv
suits which might be instituted against him acts Of his
ega or Illegal whilst in Office and besides which be mn,
orNad large claims for extra compensation various On
founded pleas.
This plan Of retaining public money IN their hands bv
out going officers under frivolous pretext has been ;
too common; and you doubt recoect was prncised
20 an immense extent by two Of your New York collectors
besides others during the administration Of Jaclson and
Van Buren, and most generally has been dimsy pretex
or covering up actual defalcaons which they we're una
Ole TO pay, though this latter the a. regards M
Collier for believe doubts his ample ability 10
pHprompuy and without inconvenience the full Asses
meut claimed by the Governmant.
For myself am glad to that the present admins
rltor IN addition to continuing the civil suit previoBsiv
instituted by Mr. Corwu has determined 70 proceed Grim
nay against him, under the subreasUry law for notbip
' more wanted than striking cramplc Of ths kfnd -
from what learn the subject do not believe thsts,
present proceedings would be discontinued even -, ~
paying the igl balance, but that the adminatrsti n,
70 give bin the bitter end Of the subtrcssur law and no
one should nor do believe will oensure en for =, don
they they can establish The fact A. they we're pre-
scnicd. w P''
ln illiton, however 20 Er Golfers src,,,,s a.. "a,
fgor cre BE- another portion Of biz official ,ct. which
Nh oe luiy investigated and that e. his seizures Of for
sn vessels ana their cagoes az that port under the pre-
,e'e tat our navigation laws did not permit them to DO
egaged n The Indirect trade With cargoes taken IN at any
other ports than those Of their respective coantrea
me history OF our country afford no1ng irregular
Illegal depoc and arociously uulsdab Die a. biz conduct
connected with those vessels and cargocs.
Ihey we're arbitrarily seized by simple written notice
'rNn hnsei, ard sometimes without that fnrmatv
ln1 e ctgDes sg by him without any legal proceedn4s
oncmcs e. u"iion and sometimes at private sale and
st hs most ru'nous sacrifices.
Among other against him Il Wa said that these
- Frre generally coiusiv,, and that the Collector hem
u --- Il 1 Il