Washington sentinel., 1853-12-15
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD.

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In our report of the proceedings Of the House
Of Representatives of the 18th, the important
fact was mentioned that resolution claiming
the power for the federal government to con.
struct railroad to the Pacific was laid upon
the table by a large majority.
The movement was initiated by Mr.. John
Wentworth of Illinois, who, although strictly
speaking new member is known to the coun-
try because Of his connexion with previous
Congresses His proposition declared that
Congress has the power to provide for the con-
struction Of a railroad over the territories Of
the United States, for the safer and more expe-
ditious transportation Of the public moneys,
the mails, the troops, and the munitions OF
war, from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast, and
ought Immediately to exercise that power.
When Mr.. Wentworth's resolution was offered,
Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia, moved to lay it upon
the table; and the motion to lay upon the table
was carried, by a vote Of one hundred and
twenty-six to seyenty-two. -
Mr.. Wentworth's movement was followed up
by Mr.. Washburne, Of Illinois, who offered a
resolution declaring that, as incidental to, and
indispensable for, the exercise of the powers
conferred by the Constitution upon the Con
gress of the United States, to provide for the
common defence and general welfare, is the
power to construct railroads through the terri
tories of the United States, for the purpose OF
facilitating the transportation of the mails
and the munitions of war; This resolution
was laid on the table by vote one of hundred
and eighteen to seventy-fve. subsequently,
Mr.. Yates, of Illinois, introduced resolution,
declaring it to be the duty of Congress, as soon
as it could ascertain from the authorized sur
veys the best route, to pass an act providing
for the immediate commencement and early
completion of a railroad to the Pacific. This
resolution was laid on the table by vote of
one hundred and nineteen to sixty-eight
At this stage of the session we cannot state
with confidence that the above votes decide the
fate of the Pacific railroad scheme, as gov
ernment undertaking. Indeed, it may be con-
sidered certain that abler and more influential
men than Mr.. Wentworth and his supporters
win take it up within a few months, and force
It upon the consideration Of Congress and the
country. Already vague and unsatisfactory
reports from some of the surveying parties
sent out, under the appropriation of one hun
dred and fifty thousand dollars, made by the last
Congress, have been presented to the puhlic;.
and it is clear to every one who has given
attention to the political events of the las, two
years, that the attempt will be made at the
present session of Congress to pass law for
the purpose Of constructing a railroad from
the Mississippi valley to the Pacific coast, by
means to be furnished from the public treasury.
Against such dangerous, unconstitutional
and demoralizing scheme we have uttered our
solemn protest. In the second number Of the
Sentinel, we denounced it in the strongest Ian
guage we could command and to the end we
will denounce it as not warranted by the Con-
stitution, as barrier to any communication
between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts--as
corrupting to the public morals--and as hostile
to the spirit and genius of our institutions.
Some months since, the democratic party
was startled by certain articles that appeared
in the Washington Union, which we're inter-
preted throughout the country MS appeals in
favor Of the Pacific railroad as a government
work; and (what was of infinite more impor-
tance) as an indication that the administration
had determined to sustain such an anti-republi-
can project. But fortunately it soon became
apparent that the Washington Union did not
speak by authority, if it meant to sanction, on
behalf of the administration, such an undemo
cratic and corrupting enterprise. The Secre-
tary of War corrected the reports Of his Chrys-
tai Palace speech. Mr.. Guthrie, we believe,
has not yet explained his position; but the
opinion Of the democratic press, and other in
haences, for ought we know, forced the Wash
ington Union to pause, consider, and turn
back, a . sg
If we interpret the Presidents message
rightly he must veto any act of Congress pro