Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-08-05

transfer is remarks 10 our columns. As yet
our neglibors course does not seem decisvely
determined on. There seems general spirit OF
objection qualified by a conditional and al
Tentative approval. The Republican is back
ing and filing" until all The passengers gel
aboard. aed full headwa of steam is up
Then we shall see what We shall see.
| ffoe, the Republican Of August 4th
Ehe Pacific Railroad.
1--WE devote much oil our paper to-day, to
the discussion of the constitutional question IN
volved III tho contemplated construction by
The General Government Of Railway con
nec,ion with our Pacific possessions. giving be
low an able article upon each side Of the ques
lion. The theme Is most prolific and mo-
nehtous one, pregnant " i'm co;.seane the
most VIA, We fear, TO the nature ard charac
ter -four government Secretary Davis views
are enulled TO great weight, but he advances
nothing new upon the subject, the war making
power Unexpectedly been appealedto 10 sustain
mag efficient system Of internal improvements
by the General Government. The late Gen
Games sought TO Justify his grand project OF
"Floaling Batteries" which contemplated
thorough system Of internal improvements
throug hout the confederacy,by an appeal to the
war-makng power, contending hat his splendid
scheme necessary To the common defence
in tune o. war. IT, as Secretary Davis con-
tends, Railroad constructed by the General
Governmeti IS necessary-"ABsoIUrEL RE-
oUIRtD for the defence ofthe Stales, and ter
ritores on the Pacific, We confess there is an end
10 the queslion--for it will scarcely be denied
that our Government has not the constitutional
power to defend its own territory in time of
war. But, Ibis assumption is most stouty de.
MED, as v i'll be seen from The able article we
publish from the Richmond Enquirer.
1t cannot be denied that the proposed Rail
road would be ofinfinite utility in selNing up
our uninhahited territory, for thousands OF
rnlles-a great deslderaum-in greatly en-
hnncing the value of all Cove rnment lands
along tho line of the Road, perhaps to an ex
tent sufficient to construct the road iiself--to
say nothing # the vast facilities it would af
ford 10 commerce.. trade and travel, and the
VIC derinl effect IT would have in binding to-
geher and cementing into one indss lube
mon, distant portions of the confederacy now
widely separated. But these are all questions
of expodoncy, and We profess to belong to
hat class of politicians that utterly repudiale
he idea that our constitution was designed to
be such an elastic instrument, subj to no
restraint or limitation. save the whims of a ma.
jorIIy III Congress, and the caprice or enthusi-
asm OF the moment. Once concede such a
principle OF construction, and the sacred CnAR
TER OF OUR LIBERTIES would become a mere
rope OF sand-a perfect mockery, utterly i'm
potent to check, much less TO stay the constant
" accommodating tide Of federal aggression and
lencro1chment upon the reserved rights of the
States, v bch would soon be swallowed I'D in
n common vortex of consolidation and central.
ization.
But, II II can be demonstrated, To use the
language Of Secretary Davis, that the construc
ton of this Road is "ABsoLuTELv REou1REp'
in military point of view,we can see no con.
stltutlonal impeachment 10 lis construction But
who Is To demonstrate this factl There will
be as mniy conflicting opinions in reference {,
1t as there are different modes Of thinking of and
DETERMINE g such questions.
Looking at the vast interests aud pow erfu
influences that will be brought to bear in eve
ry direction in favor Of this PROJECT, we can
not doubt that such Road " i'll sooner or la
ter be undertaken and completed, and il it i.
10 be the work of the General Government
we would greatly prefer seeing the Constitu
tion amended forthat specific purpose as three
tourtls OF the States. we believe would readl,
concur in making such an amendment-so a,
to avoid a precedent. that would lie appeal e,
to hereafter to justify latiludnarisn con
struction OF the Constitution and encroach
ments AID LIBITUM upon the reserved rights o
the States.