The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-07-16

opiaions Of msssrs. H~1AApan and Davis
ON the PacfAc 1ailroad.
In their speeches at Philadelphia, remarks fell
from these gsnalsmsn having direct bearing ON
the important subject Of the proposed railroad
across the American continent fFs sar
MIR. DAVIS said: aA 9ff
ssThey knew he belonged to the strict construc-
ton school, which never turned to the right nor
Within the limits of the States they would touch
nothing; and he spoke not for himself alone, but
his honorcd chief himself But when they looked
to their recent possessions in the slope OF the Pa
cifc, there were two things which arrested atten-
ton. Upon the pages of history nothing is marked
more steadily than that, running back to the re-
hottest antiquity, mountains of divided nations,
that a. the light or shadow fell upon the one
side or the other, so would the character of men
be modified and government changed But had
it not been in the PROGRESS Of mind in its con-
fiict with matter that the United States had ad-
vanced, had gained additional force, and had
they not reached the period when they could
triumph over this natural obstacle, when they
could skip the mountains, tunnel them or pass
them by any means known to civil engineering,
binding men together, SO that the fluctuations
Of life should become to them as nothing! lGreat
applause. He had said that he was strict con-
structonist, but he had also Knocked the idea of
one construction within the limits of the United
States, and another outside of them: [Applause.
He had always Knocked the idea that this Gov
eminent could build road outside of the United
States, and could not build one in it. lGreat
applause. There was another question which
involved the question Of the integrity of the Pa
ciic possessions; but there was still another-a
closer question to which he knew the heart Of
Pennsylvania would respond-it was the question
of protection, which in her strength she had al
ways shown herself willing to throw over the
weak. IF the Pacific possessions should be threat
ened by hostile fleet, the Government would
have no navy there to interpose for their protec
ton; and if that hostile fleet belonged to such a
power as England or France, it would take all
the navy Of the United States to keep road
open which would cross either of the isthnuses
Of this continent And while the navy of the
United States was thus employed, what would
be more easy than for such maritime power as
either of these to strike at those possessions and
rend them from these States, even to the extent
of the gold regions which lay behind the coast?
'slf then, purely military question, it should
become necessary to have an intercommunicaton,
so that the Government s munitions of war and
men could be thrown upon the Pacific for its de-
fence, the application of the NARROWER Of the
Government to this case would be within the strict
limits Of the Constitution. Enthusiastic ap-
plause.1 But if it could be shown--and he always
held his opinion open to correction from any quar-
ter-that these means were not required, were not
necessary, and by necessary he meant absolutely
required, then, he would say, show the other
means which would answer as substitute, and as
strict construction Democrat he would accept
the proposition. Great applause Under every
ingenious construction which had been placed up
on the various powers of the Government, under
every ramiication which ingenuity had suggested
to supply that deficiency of INSTRUMENTATION,
in vain had it been attempted to be shown him how
the military power of this Government, which
consisted in the sinews and strong hearts Of its
citizens could be used the slope of the Pacific,
unless there was railroad to transmit it. [Ap-
plausel If, then, it could be done, and if that
hazard existed on that ocean, he would say that
the rest followed consequences; the smoke OF
Pennsylvania coal might be seen on the desert
waste, beneath the cloud-capped mountains, and
Pennsylvania iron, with the very stamp Of her
foundres upon it, might be seen creeping in long
serpentne track to the slopes Of the Pacific. Zap
plause. sa
Mr. Buchanan admitted that Colonel Davis was
strict constructionist. He had never known but
one man who could excel his friend from Missis-
sippi in that for the latter had got far to be
willing to appropriate the public money to make a
railroad to the Pacific, with which he himself en-
tirely agreed.