Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-08-12
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.


| llnt,
rail road or highway hardly expected that The assertion
reoyucd school of politicians in Virginia u whom may "
most be applied Napo!eon's remark about ne houu1s ;
that 'lhey learn nothing and forget nothing ~ - WIN
out SURPRISE therefore, that the Richmona fH9"re
tho ancient 0rucle and champion OF that vrnrrahe sco VI
abstraclionisis in decided npposm'n ~ e eap
sons OF the Union in regard to the l"c. n 49, wa" @ @
on After due examination, II Is dcciuea 'i'' e "E"
ncnts support of great continental highway 40 nor
square with c resolutions Of Us that emcoanch. :" a'
political wisdom OF sand-sl advancement ana oackwa'u
progress; und therefore, that the sald arguments hnn
dox and contrary TO the Virginia doctrines t
The Enquirer has in duty bound procceaeu :" o" '
hercsy of the Administration in the premises ny fcfouu
cling some of the most striking OF those Scnerane
which NAV be found in The files of that respectanse Joui
passim during the forty years Now, we regard tne
,imnistrn,ion in This matter The light OF an esteemed
friend who has been wandering in The paths "l error lot
long lme trying To turn over new eai anu menu m wa,
Our sympahies therefore, with the Union III lhls con
lest and though may not with proprey lend y he'-
ing hand at least see fair play oy giving 10 us a
ces the benefit of circulation III virginia. WHICH, win
its own may make approach 10 The nnvrrsaN o INC
Enquirer in that ancient Cnmmunwealth we accoIn'"eV
give the second article OF The Union IN ms Gay sPap't'
National iuteHigsncsr, Aug
a .,,,, h, cc,r, IN. above sneer ul our veteran OPP
ponen, as the highes, compliment that could be PAID 10 the
| ;.,o,c,. ,f N, Examiner We are proud 10 know that
fr more tban 40 wears the Enquirer has unchangedy op
,osc3 The construction of internal improvements by The
General Government as in direct conflict with "firgnia
doclrnes which specially endorsed by the Dem"cra.
cy of the Union The unanimous adoption o The ast Bal
,imorc laorm. We have as YET seen nothing 10 SATISFY
NJ ,boi N. views President Pierce correspond with the
arnosions of The Unon but whether IL be so o! no, our
tuy was no less plain Last winter published with our
owe appfova, the spe ch u s. Senator Rutler against
me Pacific Rail Road bl and however unpleasant il was
Nor us 10 dillcr with members OF party We could
moi, without derectun Of duty allow the occasion 10
pass by without repeating fixed ana honest convictions
That we reflect the sentiments of the Democracy OF virgil
MIA on this question: assured not only by the voice
Of the Democratic press and the concurrent opinion OF lead
ing Democrats whom we have recently 4een but our no-
cal opponents admit the sse aon1asion For IN
stance the Lynchburg fginan in order - urk the point
Of divergence between the administration % and The lrg-
na Democracy, publishes The article n Tie Union ana 'he
reply o. the ntuifc which II compliments 100 hishy
wien il says THAI it is hc organ OF Egina Democracy
and ii no. The cponcnt OF the presea opinions Of ;he party
This state will control those opinions and ultimately con-
s:tain thc,.. into Tie channel il marks OUT
We shall not sa mach the general merits OF the
question in addition the extended remarks we have NTH
erto made. The argument of common defence IS now
most strongly relied by The advocates OF the Railroad
whose construction by The Federal government Is claimed
as nabsolutelv necessary" 10 defend California against for
eis INVASION c sha! Eot 90 o?sf that ground again.
ba, We would respectfully suggest thai some portion OF
the surplus might be devoted 10 the Strengthening
nayy
o California than Inc railroad. Here is Legitimate power,
given under The con-uton, and il might safely and wsrs
be used fer the "cu,lucn defence" With all respect we
w,ud the Secretary OF the Treasury instead OF de-
voting The super abundant Of the country 10 t:
construction Of the Pacific Railroad either 10 pay oil more
ui The public debt in addition 10 the I'VE millions ne mas a
ready so properly advertised or 10 enlarge oar declcn' na
wv or TO reduce The We have more money than we
can eg,imulcy cspcnd He might in this case, prepare
10 reduce Tariff either BY general reduction OF duties
or by reduction specific articles, or by cnllrEnS thc
| free list.
But, even could The federal treasure be cgiiima,c!y
poyed in The construction of TIN. anaot aai should
protest against /. dangerous ami alarming consoda-
tion of po"er aud lrightfu o corruption. Many
ct The leading Wing papers, while conceding the consu-
onaly construction BY Congress Of the Pacific road
warmly protest against the work being done in that "sy
We extract from letter in the ~ Express the following
orcble view. aeaus, alarming expenditure Of pub
| lie money by the general government:
| Correspondence Of the New York EXPRESS %
,.as nl.psed 20 note your remarks opposition what
think may be Justly called the insane plan OF Congress
,rnn,np 10 build the Pacific rail road, and 10 least
nne uurua Of high standing against lat crude
and III advised project. Experience has uy convinced me
that il bad and very expensive policy o any Sdtc ana
sill more so for the United ates 10 undertake a!y pdoic
works of that nature II is far beci 10 leave them ln pr.
ya,c enterprise and the expenditure to be watched over oy
of interest," anu Inc sucn is
IN usfy the aid of The Federal State Governments 10
pve il in The way donations and subscription 10 the stock
All these works when prosecuted b2 he general or local 90
invariably cost Two or c.iod what they should
d. md the system OF exiorOn not ~ harshe terms
where the public treasury "sands the racket is 80 ly
hsbeJ and carried into effect for nbOr materials right 81
wov damages &c. Nc, say nothing oi the horde ut o
Gcas On pay whose interests Is 10 iea' ana not 10 cape
de the work That they may bc the longer IN employ iia
the result unavoidable and inevitable III making all snrh
undertakings costly Jobs, without any certainty I"
ever obtaining good work notwithstanding the greatly m
creased cost.
independent however, of hc mpolcy Of Congress IN.
dcraknr that work, the plan itself ia the widest not t say
the most absurd scheme that louk possession OF the
minds of community appears 10 have done with The
minds Of the American people: and is matter Of aston.
shncn to me, that the numerous nnd able presses which
exist The country, not one has undertaken 1" expose The
dil ues and the absurdity of the scheme which would
render its execution almost ipossibiity or carried m
10 effect that il could only be done al irshul expense
which would exhaust the national golfers anu srGaly nufe
If not destroy The public credit. The income om such
road admitting il could be competcj womb De hleta
y nothing after paying the expenses, and much uonDl
/ il would even the latter. 1t is all Buncomoc hafcr
dash TO say have heard many do, that the road should
be built and maintained by the Government, without wish
ing or expecting that any thing in The way OF revenue
should derived from H. and there are no doubt some VINO
will even contend that lha natGn Choud bear al! the eS-
penses and the freight and passenger cars galuousy
consider it, however "fxed ac' that il is dsadVan-
agcous prosperity aud resources OF country 70 con
Railroad or Canal on which the trade anu uaVc
will not besides covering current expenses also yied 'a
interest the outlay of capital am, however, luiiy
that work Of the kind dcvcoPes and greatly ~
resources Of the country through which passes
particularly in some districts Of States or territories ana am
perfectly willing TO await reasonable time for such devel
opment; but how long will be before the extended wilder
ness and wild wastes and mountains through wmch nIS
Pacific Railroad must necessarily pass would yield an an
nua revenue of twelve millions OF dollars tor ir interest
on cost of Two hundred millions (and lucky we shouid DC
II is finished for that by the United States, should
they be guilty Of the supreme folly OF undertaking ' oe'
sides the current expenses for maintaining in running or
der road OF 1000 $500 miles, with all the attending out
af Tor the repairs and constant supply ol locomotives
ouheh anu passenger the renewing and reaylng INC
suo OF The road stations; drpotS; machine shops
nel Tor the army OF abnts mechanics nachinsts, con-
ductors engineers, clerks snrrnendcnls and managers
" &c &C.. &C., &C.
Your alluslon IS perfectly irst The birds of prey
which from every quarter Uuiuu would collect hy
hundreds and by thousands 10 themselves upon snr
job, where Uncle sam has TO aymaster and who
are now looking forward with gloatinu eyes "a the
nation Of their wishes Take away this iniucemcnt and
how large portion of the camoron. advocates !" le
sure would close their ,outlIj opponents
of the plan they now lie supporters ~ H. II in add
lion 10 this class you In withdraw support
those who are riding The plan political hobby who
other neither desire would support H. and how