Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-08-31
tn, Pacific Railroad Question in another Phase.

The Pacific Railroad will not be a Government mea-
sure. The President says he never meant to countenance
any assertion that he should recommend the assumption
Of the work by Congress, though he has not committed
himself against aiding the States, or a company chartered
by tho States interested, which may undertake the enter
prise, by grants Of lands or by money
We find the above in an exchange paper given as a
quotation from the Washington Union to show the
tune of srict construction which the official organ
now grinds on the Pacific Railroad question. What
an absurd position the organ places the Administra-
ton in, to say now that ''the Pacific Railroad will not
be a Government measure" The plain unmistakea-
bic declarations Of three members of the Cabinet,
bearing every Impress of official announcements, are
known from one end of the land to the other, and
were received as cbfeidt by friends as well as oppo-
nents Of the Administration We shall not do Secre-
taries Davis, Guthrie and Gushing the injustice to pre-
sumo that under such circumstances, they would UNI
dertake to ~enlighten the public, voluntarily, of some
thing they knew nothing about-that they would take
upon themselves to speak for their "hOaOred chief"
an has Yresenee, without knowing his views. Upon a
measure Of so much importance as the Pacific Rail-
road, it is hardly to be presumed that the President
would sit silently by and hear members of his Cabinet
make assertions for him which 'heHeCer meant TO couR-
hnanee." To do so, would be to convict the President
AAu hs NApNhS VI a want VI ~ f'Nl'
about important national affairs which, it seems to us,
must be objectionable in the opinions of their warm
est supporters. If the Union now speaks by authori-
ty, the only construction that can be given TO the
course of the administration is that it has made a
clear blck out from its first position. How that is we
are unable to say. Certainly, from the variety oftunes
the organ has been grinding since the fourth of March
last it is not the most reliable authority, and even
m Strict rnncIructioniSt will have ia admit that they
nust take this last 'oficia announcement with many
grains of allowance. According to their OWL shows
ing, the Union was wrong in its first Indications of the
views Of the President on this question. There is
Just as much reason for suspicion that it may be
wrong now. Better wait till the question is settled
whether we have an organ among us or not, or As it
was suggested some time ago, by those wh) would
not credit the Union then, to wait till we hear from
the President" lie has not defined his position
yet. Much exultation now over such crumbs OF
comfort might be attended with a very uncomfortable
reaction. The Unionis "not cery reiiaJje autAol ity'
the Strict Constructionists, themselves, say.
But suppose this new phase that is given & the sub.
iect is correct, what have the Strict Construction De.
mocracy to say to it9 IL they will take part Of the
Unions authority, we presume they will take ALL
What do they think then of this second edition of the
Presidents views, in which tits pretty strongly in
dicated that he is in favor Of 'aiding the States or a
company chartered by the States interested, which
may undertake the enterprise, by grants of land or
by money" We feel some curiosity to know how
the sanction Of such a plan by a Democratic Presi-
dent 'of the Virginia school, =" will suit the views OF
Strict Construction Democrats. Our own State has
a considerable interest in the recognition of the Con.
s~titutional right Of the General Government to make
''grants oflands or money" to schemes of Internal I'm
provement within her Limits. 4 recognition of that
right by the Virginia Democracy might have the good
effect Of bringing about a dstributive share of III,
public lands, whi,h would aid very much in carrying
on the great works OF Internal improvement Virgins
las undertakcn-and relieve her people oF taxation tC
avery comfortable extent. II might remove the "con
stitutional %scruples' If our Congressman in voting
against appropriations Of money to the improvement
of the James and AppomattIx rivers. What will ~
Virginia Democracy have to say now, to this plan
which is likely to meet with the appreciation Of Tia,
Administration, for the General Government to max,
grants Of land or money to an Internal Improve
ment enterprise I?