Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-10
STATTNTON SPECTATOR.
The Pncific Railroad.

The Pucific Railroad.
As we said week before last, the Pacific Rail
road scheme is the great question before the coun-
,ry at this time and our readers will expect to be
kept fully posted in reference to it we, therefore,
need offer no apology Tor bringing the subject prom
iaently to view again. The controversy in which
it has involved the Democratic press is brisk and
highly entertaining, and we only regret our inabl
both sides. The Washington Union, the Presi-
dents organ, feRowing up the declarations otSec-
retaries DAVIS and GUTHRIE on their recent excur-
sion to New York, continues to advocate the
scheme, aud to advise as to the best means OF Sc
curing its early completion. The Union is appre-
hensive of some sectional luminosity arising be-
tween the respective advocates of the Northern
and Southern routes, which may defeat or indeh-
nitely postpone the work, and therefore urges the
friends of the enterprise to go in :or it unembar-
rassed by collateral influences, and determined to
look alone to its accomplishment as their grand
object. These, doubtless, are the sentiments of
the Administration. The Richmond Enquirer,
however, after taking time to think over the mat
ter, comes out boldly in opposition to the whole
project Indeed the tone Of that Influential! jour
nal upon this question is rather remarkable, con
sidering its uniform Difference heretofore to Demo
cratic Executives. five could properly claim
the right to do 50, we would give it severe lee
ture for its dsrespect towards Gen. DAVIS, the
Secretary Of War, and indirectly towards Presi-
dent Pierce. Having on former occasion rep
rimanded us for speaking disrespecttully of Demo
cratic officials, we might now take the liberty of
reciprocating butwe shall only quote passage
in which the Enquirer speaks very severely Of the
Secretary, promising that one Democrat probably
has the privilege of talking 50 about another
The Enquirer says:
"This attempt to invest the monster project
with military character is cOntrnV 10 fact, con
trary TO intention, contrary 10 possibility, contrary
to common sense contrary to every principle either
of the stricteSt or the most attudinous construc-
ton, and contrary to that direct, blunt, practical
sentiment of the American people, which despises
subteJuge, indirection and palation, which makes
them march right up to any object lookat it with
- ~
shovel shovel, in defiance and contempt of what
enthusiasts, hair-splitters, dreamers or romancers
may say to the contrary, 1t will require great
many speeches, and an immense expenditure OF
sophstry and rhetoric, to make the sensible prac-
teal American people regard this road as any
thing else than what Col Benton calls it; HIGH
WAY, PEOPLES ROAD, q continental THOROUGH
FARE and zoe can Only conaniSSerate The delvded
statesman who undertakes to prove to $4,000 900
OF the most Shrewd, practicable and impractcable
people In the world, that il is any thing else.-
We pity the honest men who are striving to per
suade their own honest minds to accept and to
support 50 monstrous deluSon."
The Democratic press of Virginia concur
with the Enquirer in denouncing the project, Of
of course. Let us see how leading organ Of the
party at the North regards 1.-THE New York
Herald says, the revelations of Messrs DAVIS and
GUTHRIE are tantamount to the proclamation G.
the platform Of Gen. PIERCE and his Cabinet on
the subject, and were particularly agreeable in
those parts. Reterrngto the signs ofdisapproba-
,on in Virginia, the Herald says that the two
Secretaries, Gin endorsing the nationality and con-
stituonality of this great work of public necessity
and manifest destiny" have ''run against some
Of the snags Ofthe Old Virginia Slough Of De-
spond,' or Dismal Swamp of '9S and 49," |,
further speaks of ''these Dismal Swamp common
tators upon constitutional distractions" and con-
cludes as follows:
"The Pacific Railroad must be built. Con-
gress must take 4 hand in it. The fimsy chaff
OF State Rights objections does not touch the ter
ritores. The Secretary of War and the Secreta-
~ Of the Treasury are right. This great road is
national work, and national necessity and we
rather like, In this connection, the ausion of Mr.
Guthrie to the surplus in the treasury The strict
constructionists Of pngioia must clear the track,
aud let the locomotive pass"
While these discussions in regard to the consti-
nationality of the work are going on in some quar-
tens, its construction seems to be generally regard
ed as fixed fact and the question chiefly consid-
cred is that of route. Col BENTON has publish
ed letter received by him from gentleman con-
nected with one Of the exploring parties, which
announces that the middle route is practicable and
the country well watered and fertile. The Colo
mel insists upon this route and will hear of no 9TH
err As to the Southern route, he says, in the Ian
guage of Kit Carson, ga wolf couldn't make his
living" on it. He also gives fair warning to all
opposers to get out of the way
"The time has come" he says. ''aud not it
will soon be here, and IN ciaps Of thunder, when
error shall hide its head Ignorance hold its tongue
SRd scientific speculation cease to betog the plain
question Of tho plain road to the Pacific. Com
mon sense and practice are at work. and will vim
dictate truth and justice against the errors of all as
.saiants.9
The executive, in coming ont in favor of the
Pacific Railroad, has stolen the old genteman's
"thunder," but he evidently still considers him
self Jupiter Touans, and is forging other bolts to
hurl against the incorriglSle enemies of bis favo
rite scheme.
The Alum Springs.
II is said there are nearly, or quite,6 vsi,ers
ut tho Rockbrdge Alum already, and ''the cry is
still thew coma - The dasonad