Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-08-02
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
THE PACIFIC Rail. ROAD.
MONDAY MORNING. AUGUST 1. Ie5s.

discussion than has been given any political question !"
many years.
1t is unnecessary TO say that s journal is hostile 10 III
appropriation OF federal funds for purposes oil inerhai III
pruvemenl To cunccde such right 10 'e iedera govern
menl, especially in the u $" sthpehaos All "o''a
king as The Pacific Railroad would be 10 give up ' p"e
Piles for which Virginia has conendcu since he "'y !" m
der Adams 1t would be authorize system OF e"penue
ond n on,n N. door 10 system extravaganza and pub
lie pecula ton sufficient undermine Tue integrity :" al"
Government, that ever existed II would fix und perpetual
that loose state of pupic morals, ana thul hashiuceh
svs,em of gambling on public MEANS which took so deep
oo in The past admhis slion. II would realize the
evils predicted by the hteresl and most eX
,rayagant denuncators OF The policy ol Internal improve
| ments by the general government.
The road proposed is indeed of vast Importance to tht
country II will be than 1000 miles long II viii cos
$50 900 900 probably S010O000o But the Union now
contains nearly $4,000 miles OF completed rail road which
has cost nearly O0 As much more OF Tal road
projected and in Of construction which VIII cost as
large sum as that has cost which already is completed
These roads the creatures ana ms vast sum mo prouucl
of individual and municipal enterprise
Who shall sci limits 10 American enterprises Whu uta'
o,v ,a The oeopIe who have built IL UOG mics of road
moi bud one thousand miles, vii hont the aid Of The Federal
,vsomep} who shall say lha, the individual and corpo
furnish $50 900 0lW or SlU0UOONi'
me plea OF nrgrssr urged in favor oi making This great
yok an enterprise for the federal government is not valid
|, undertakes The enterprise G The country. Missouri has
commenced The and will carry il singehandcd lar be-
pond borders. The single city OF ST. Louis has gone
earnestly into the work. and already provided for continuing
through half Of the Stale Of which she is the
capital
Texas has begun work another point, and as
TO shame the dnubters of American enterprise English
bankers have pledged cupu enough TO The road past
the remote borders of Texas. The work is already
in active progress IRON two pcnts Surn I'll. VI
niencca s terminus, anu California gold VIII pc
sure 10 construct il from Pacific far eastward Cu
forna extends.
But for lhe high sources from which tina o.hpr FLEA in ben
ii its CONSTRUCTION by the Federal Governmenls mpuT
tance military proceeds the plea would be un~of
inv Of serious noce We lay down The general proposition
thai any such be consuonaly constructed
BY The General Government for military purpose unless
the immediate ugences of actual require s use or I
of troops before ndr!r: Gr "arrpsa
have tins 20 :on.r!ei i.
The work is already in good hands !! is already III le
Gaies and tulcen hands. Is IN The HANGS " 'hI
people, To turn over 10 the tenras Government would
be even az measure OF eaanumy either time cost The
most dcplorahe policy Of all :he organizations IN exist
once that OF the Federal Government would be the least
efficient rxravagant, the most dlatoty and the
most Indifferent The impaence and convenience oi The
great public 70 leave it the auspices Of the Federal
Government would be subject its inciPcncy 10
contest respecting the terminus northern ard e
Controversy danrrr""S and IA nrnifH"'"d ~
,h gre,t controversy upon freeso u TIE road !" gre hn
with paUiic iuns, aI uecuAs NATIONAL Worh u Woeid o'
the means Of thousand and Petexts tor annoyance ami
aggression upon southern ci,zsns 1t bad policy 10 ere
ae ,nv more national any more partnership property be-
,woen North and South than is absolutely unavoidable
Whilst sympahizns wi,h and approving the main view
Of our correspondent "Bue RIDGE in Thursday . paper
we do no; sympatn.e m apparent animosliY io"ardr
tho administration Indusriously as The elor, has beer
made 10 prove the sentiments lately uttered by individual
members of the administration be those Of the admins
,ratiop a tuI not u ye, convinced OF she iact
much less rha, they desire make this mammoth scheme
branch of their policy We believe that iii not be the
IN. monster scheme receives such high and infuenu
encouragement. gs national measure, that vii, nc change
the views Of the Deocra,c pay OF s school, OF strict con
ructon They will oppose it, nanul!y earnestly TO the
last. =, ,o,
From the Waslingtoln Union, July %
rHE PaclrIc RAIL R0ap.-l'he public mind has been d.
eced several years with Increased interest towards nt
uipsntic proposition connccl the Atlantic and laclt
oceans by means contiruons rail road This tendency
has received fresh impulse from the favor wh which ht
eoterorise was adyced IN by members al The Cabinet
on the late visit OF President 10 New York These in
dica,ions of Executive have culed out comments from
press in different quarters o c county, IRON Wicil W.
are able form idea oi the condition ot The public
mind on the question Our observations have brought US
rhe conclusion that whilst there Is respectable minority
opposed the enterprise government measure there
DECIDED majority rcudy sanction the general proposition
Of Pacific rail r0ad but that this majority is SO wen aiVl
ded as to details that scarcely be said with any degree
certainty that there Is aay lor any sPecc foue :"
Pacific rail read.
Prise ever since Whitney brought the subject before TIT
country we constrained To admit that The obstacles II
The way of its early consumma"n are So numerous and st
serious in their character that we Indn sc no very sanenin
nopcs of seeing carried into successful execution lor many
r.,rs ~ come II the proposition could be- received
acted upon free from the emharrassmenls VI coaefa oli
cal and geographical considerations us intrinsic importance
would command for such concentration ol publc seull
nrnt as would insure prompt adoption and lts early ac
coppshnlent. But in Judgment II would oe l'nposslo
to conceive great national PROJECT whlch woho no. oe sur
rounded with fewer embarrassing incidental issues than th
If connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific States by raj
road Without regarding its attainment as mprarcaolc
vs b;,t that glance al some Of the obstacles in the
NAV be potaby considered by those OF It's friends whose
convictions of its Importance have made them SIN
,uioe of lis success within reasonably short Time
II n safe and sound rule that whenever Congress- look
m m nr aid in ay enterprise the first consideration should
have regard TO its conformity with constitutional power
There are politicians and they are not lew IN hummer or
deficient in ability who meet The propDsill0n al e ies
old with denial of lis cunsliluli0nalty Those who have
arrived al this conclusion are aciuaed by xcu cohVcons
based upon settled principles of constitutional constructor
/
they be reasonably expected To depart we Gel
them down fixed opponents, upon whom no process OF
reasoning that may hereafter be adopted can make an I'M
preston We think they in making wrong application
OF sound principles. Without protesting ourselves TO ot
either peculiarly strict latudnous consruciionisis and
WIN airank admission that do not profess 10 compre
hcnd win The eXac,ncss of scientific definition The mean
ing OF these antagonsc terms have been content IL
otm our opinion on the question upon what we consider '
natural common. mode of constituting The constitu
on-the mode hy which suppose the intention OF the
constitution ls TO be most certainly reached Upon this
rule oil construction We are satisfied that Congress- has
uciy the same power TO appropriate the public
wards the construction u railroad the Pacific Tint II
has 10 build orlitcaons 10 Pacific territory
from invasion aggression We arrive at this conclusion
upon the conviction that possessions on the Pacific vii
he unsafe and liable be US either by 70
reign invasion by domestic ayoiuun without The mean
OF transporting speedily TO the Pacific the necessary militia
rv Material both OF and munitions Protect our Ter
ritory and peservs the Union in s full strength la Other
words we regard the Pacific railroad necessary for de
fence as government and thai he power Of The povenmen
N oroyde for lie defence in this mode is clear and ce
lain az il is 10 provide for the erection Of furcatious
| prot, CT the city Of San francisco.
The constItuonalty Of the proposition in our opinion II
not TO be worked out upon any refined hair splitting dslnc
lions as TO express and implied powers but II stands full,
vndcaed upon the plain power OF self defence IN obedl
cncc 10 the obligation protect the several Staes appet