The Texas Republican. [volume] (Marshall, Tex.) 1849-1869, 1853-08-27


so numerous and 50 serious in their charso.
ter, that We indulge no very sanguinc hopes
Of seeing /, carried into successful execu.
ton for many years to come II the propo.
sition could be received and acied upon,
free from the embarrassments Of collateral,
political, aud geographical! considerations,
its intrinsic importance would command for
!, such concentration Of public sentiment
as would insure its prompt adoption and ito
early accomplishment But in our judg-
ment i would be impossible to conceive =
great national project which would not be
surrounded with fewer embarrassing Incl.
dental issues than this Of connecting the
Atlantic with the Pacific States by railroad.
Without regarding It's attainment ~ i'm.
practicable. We think that glance Al some
OF the obstacles in the way may be proHta~
bis considered by those OF its friends whose
convictions Of It's vast Importance have made
them shnguine Of is success within . ress.
ouably short time.
ltisa safe and sound rule, tina, whenever
Congress. IL looked to for aid in any enter.
prise, the first consideration should hsvs
regard to its conformity with constitutional
power. There are politicians, and they are
not Few in number or deficient in ability.
who meet the proposition a, the threshold
with denial OF it's consti,rtionaltv. Those
who have arrived at this conclusion are &C.
tuaied by fixed convictions based upon set.
tied principles Of constitutional construc.
ton 10 which they adhere with rigid te>
naclty. snd from which they can never be
reasonably expected to depart. We set
them down as fixed opponents, upon whom
no process Of reasoning that may hereafter
he adopted can make an impression, We
think theF err in making wrong applca-
ton OF sound principles, Without profess
~ ourselves 10 BE- either peculiarly strict
or atiiudiuous constructi0uis,s and with a
frank admission that we do not profess TO
comprehend With the exactness OF scientific
definition the meaning Of these an,sgonis>
tic tn we have been content to form our
opinion on the question upon wha, we con.
sldet the natural, oommon-seuse mode Of
coustrning the constitution mode by
which We suppose the intention OF the con
.ttuti0u il 10 be most certainly reached.
ron this rule OF construction, we are sat-
st.ed that Congress has exactly the same
power TO appropriate the public revenue to-
wards the construction OF railroad 10 the
Pacihc tia, Il has to build ior'i1caf'ons to
protect oar Pacific territory from Invasion
or aggression. We arriy. at this concll.
SION upon the conviction that our posees>
sious on the Pscidc will be unsafe, and liza
bic 10 he wresied from US either ny foreign
INVASION or by domestic revolution, without
the means OF transporting speedily TO the
racine Tue necessary military material, both
oil men aud munitions, to protect our tern,
tory ana preserve the mon In lis inii
strenRih. In other words, we regard the
racine fs'ifoau rs necessary Tor our defence
ns government ana mat the power OF inc
government 10 provide Tor iss defence IN
TINS mode 10 a' clear aud certain as II TO
provide for the erection OF Qualifications to
protect the city OF San Francisco.
The cons,,u,ionali,y Of the proposition.
Ia our opinion. is not 10 be worked out upon
any refined, hair splitting distinctions ~ to
express and implied powers, but il stands
toll, sudlcsied upon the plain power OF
self defence, In obedience to the obligation
10 protect the several States. applied 10 tho
equally piain facts tina, railroad conpex-
ieu with the Pacific is necessary Ter our
common defence. aud iha, such connection
cannot be- secured without aid from the
Government l he constitution authorize
congress to raise revenue for the common
deiruce; II gnarHutees to every State pro.
lection against Invasion or insurrection.
Armies, ua,i,., and Qualifications are tho
more obvious means hs which these ob!ixa.
tons ot the Federal government Are to b
satisfied but !. does not follow that they
are the only legitimate aud constitutional
means. California is entitled to tho pro.
lection OF the federal arm to secure her
against danger from withou, and within.
How is this protection to he prcvideds
an 1t be done .i'.ctualy by stationing
large atnies aud erecting Notifications on
the Pacific coas, That may be possible,
and 80 i, might be possible TO Increase our nal
w to such sn extent AS 10 protect her from
sggressions from abroad bu, looking At
tno actual condition OF the State, il. locs.
zion on the seaboarj the insdequxry OF ito
population to repel f,secn invasion. its
Immense distance from the militia Of the
other States, and the character OF the inter.
vcniug couuuy, We cannot suppose that any
one would deny that railroad would fur.
n.sh more certain aud reliable means Of
protection aud defence than the standing
army, navy and Qualifications. all combined.