Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-08-25
The Pacific Railroad.


extract from Col. Davss late revised
speech, and proceeds to remark as follows:
'This plain, unequivocal avowal Of the
Secretary Of War surely leaves no room for
future misapprehension as to the position Of
the construction of the Patifi5 Railroad
within the territories Of the United States
with federal means. 1t is devoutv 10 be
WISHED that, having taken their stand so
openly ard decidedly Upon this question.
they will not be driven from it hereafter
by any consideration cf party expediency.
1t is already apparent that opposition must
be expected from that division Of the de-
mocracy which has hitherto held the extre-
me-: views respecting the want of power in
the government TO aid system Of Internal In
provement; but against this detection the al-
lninistration may confidently rely upon 70
pular support in its advocacy Of the great
measure it has espoused, composed OF the
intelligent national men Of all parties.
However stoutly it may be contendcd by
few impracticable politicians, that the
views of the administration, as expressed
by Secretary Davis, cannot be maintained
without violation of consistency, all SEN
sible minds will preceive and acknowledge
that they are perfectly reconcieabe with
The doctrine Of strict constitutional con-
struction, to the utmost extent to which
that doctrine has yet been or ever can be
soundly or nationally carried. Never be-
fore in the history Of the country has :
case occurred which, in its peculiar charac-
ter, so fully and clearly justified the practi-
cal application Of the authority of the gov
ernment to construct Il road, as a mere
measure of military defence, as is now
presented in the proposed railway 10 the
Pacific, and in recognizing the exigency rs
imperatively demanding the exercise Of a
constitutional power expressly granted, the
President and his cabinet do not incur the
charge Of departing from principls Of TO-
Iitical faith, out simp'.j affirm that an occa-
sion has, for the first time arisen, afordinc
just and Legitimate opportunity TO apply it
practically. II the Wing press of The ua.
lion reioioes that Denccratio Eyecutiyc is
prepared TO urge the construction Of tho
road to the Pacific as natignal road, TO be
built with national treasure. This circ,,,n-
stance shO,ld not be supposed TO emana,e
from belief that there has ;,een .ny charo.a
IN Democratic po!icy. We are orotjficd
that an improvement Of such vast public
consequence has been admitted to fall with
/ in the strictest rule of construction relative
to the right of the government to make or 70
aid it, and are free t, concede that if in.
wolves no alteration in the relations of ;he
Wing and Democratic partjes T., ,hn crcs-
ton of constitutional power relied Y7oa in
the case.
.No o,e c,r a,,,,, ,i, ,.o...;.,. = ,
Pacific Railroad for the purposes Of nation.
al defence: nor shall we waste words in GU
denvoring to demonstrate SO n!ain a promo
sition. On this principle alone the eoycrn-
ment is not only legally com0etcrt. but j.,
absolutely bound. 10 construct #. Tie i'm
portance of a nrompt exertion Of the rial,,
however, may be shown Ly stating the i'm
mense value of the property now anoa, o.?
the Pacific, to say nothing of the settlements
upon its shores. The humber Of vessels is
said to be ], ,2S4, with 4O3. .lGS ,onnape and
employing "a, GOO American scamen. The
aggregate Of property is appraised at sev.
enty millions Of dollars. This is raridly
augmenting with the expansion Of opr
trade in that region, and in case Of war
with any of the great naval powers of the
earth, it could be swept from the ocean be-
fore defensive force could be sent round
the Horn to protect our commerce and our