Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-07-23
Railway 20 the Pacific.


met avowals in favor of a government railway
TO the Pacific. The scheme coniravenes all of
their arguments and theories on tie oonsiitn-
tional power of Congress to appropriate money
for purposes of internal improvement. and
therefore they cannot advocate II but II Is
manifest that the Administration Intends en-
bracing II among tho measures of its policy.
and therefore they cannon oppose IT, Their
predicament is ptiable On the one side, they
have their own consistency 10 mainiain-on the
other, their party leaders TO support. What
are they to do. in such diemmal We look
with eager curiosity 10 see.
The military argument of Col Davis does
not present the question in new light aud
therefore does not relieve them Of their embar.
rassment That argument is as old as the pol
icy il justifes. 1t was repeatedly presented,
in every possible aspect, by Mr.. Cloy-and as
repeatedly combatted and resisted by the self.
st,led Observation-Disclosures of Virginia. They
cannot unsay all they have said. They lack
the magnanmity TO admit themselves convinced
by wing arguments, and to cooperate with
wings in the adoption OF their measures
Again we ask. what are they TO dol Why
docs not the Enquirer give them the cue =
Why does not our neighbor speak out for him
self The question is one of transcendan mt i'm.
portance-faly a- much deserving his attention.
we beg leave 10 say, as the gossip about Mr..
Powell and the President
Viewed with reference to its commercial,
social and political effects, 40 scheme has ever
engaged The consideration ofthe American PEG.
pie that more fully challenged their attention
but regarded rs defensive measure neces.
sary TO provide the country with the means
of its own protection, IFS importance SURPRISES
oil Appreciation In the language Of the North
American las things now stand, our Pacific
possessions are only ours during the continu-
ance of peace A war with England, certain
ly--a war with France, probably-would en-
danger them A war with either would utter
ly destroy the trade now existing between
them and the States on the Atlantic side ofthe
continent. Our whole naval force would be
inadequate TO defend the coasts Of Washington,
Oregon. and California. We might struggle
10 save San Francisco: but how supply troops
and munitions of war, except by the old fash
toned six or eight months voyage round Cape
Horn Of what use will our Panama railroad
and Panama steam packets be to us during war;
What benefit can we derive from Nicaragua,
or even the nearer route by the isthmus of
Tehuantepcc And, these blocked up against
us by hostile squadrons, what are we to hope
from the natural facilities Of tue TWO thousand
miles OF prairie and mountain lying, bowling
waste, between the West coast and the Mis-
sissippi The highest troops travelling al
most without parks and trains could not march
from Wesport to Sacramento in less than four
months. Were a ralroah in existence, an ar
my could be transported, with all its appoint.
ments, in as many days. For military purpo
ses, railway, in fact, will bring San Francis
co as near to ST. Louis as Philadel phia used &c
be 10 New York under the ancient system
during the war of 1912. In all other regards
commercial, political, social its Importance is
too obvious TO need remark. Do we wish to
annihiIate the vast desert, which now inter.
venes between the two shores of The continent,
and thus cuts the republic in twain--annihiate,
by changing it.into populous territory, bloom
ing like the rose do we wish to convert it In
to new States, full of American citizens, the
brothers and near neighbors alike Of those
Of California and these of Pennsylvania, ready
to unite with either in repelling, and laugh
ing at, the idle attacks Of all foreign en-
smies2 The means lie in railroad to
the Pacific, which will carry population
with it almost as fast as it will carry passen.
gers Build the road, and it viii be found
that population accompanies, or precedes it
With the prodigious resources Of this govern
ment, backed by the still more prodigious en-
ergius of the American people, such work
would be constructed in ten years-in eight
years-perhaps even in six. 1t is but to viii
it to have it. Behind the surplus moneys in
the treasury lie tae untold wealth of the public
lands and Europe is ready to supply us with