Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-04

.5itl 4 -+---ild .-#.it |
tsCrPersofs desiring the Istm in Alex
ahdria Z can M be accommodated BY leaving
their names with JaiCr Cooper, at the
Fancy Store of w. B. Richards, No. 3
Exchange Block, King street. .en'''' 'H-|
Tho administration and the Pacific Railroad
% 40 aih;n' 5Hi Project. 8 ''''.t'' -jt,i
The Pacific railroad question is evident
y destined to prove troublesome. to the
Administration, more especially in view
Of the fact that the Richmond Enquirer
sounds" the alarurn by way Of calling to
arms !, the very strict eonstructionists,
against the, views which the President is
now supposed to hold upon the subject.
Sof,f, the Enquirer has certainly strength
ened rather than weakened the position Of
the Executive. Thus, the editor frankly
Acknowledges that the power to construct
the road Il accorded to the Government,
in that Of providing for the defence Of the
Ill
country. lie, however, denies that it can
be constitutionally used, except in case Of
aetral war. The Administration tiudg-
ing from the Union ewspaper) here joins
issue with the Virginia journalist. Now,
inyiew Of the fact that in case of actual
war the power to construct this proposed
railroad through Some nineteen hundred
miles Of desert, would not be worth six
pence in the way Of a practical provision
for the defence of our Territories on the
Pacific, it is, according to the Eaqurer's
showing, merely equivalent to a right to
lock the stable door, only after the horse
shall have been stolen! Or, in other
Words tho power. the existence of which
the Enepiftrrr admits, must be so con
strued as actually to be no Potrer thus to
provide for the defence of the country.
Ne know nothing of our own knowl.
edge Of the views of the Administration
on this question, yet by putting. this
and that together, I'VE areimpressed with
the belief that we see through the train
or combination of circumstances which
have determined them boldly to side here
in with the alleged opinion Of the major
ity., From q thousand signs around us.
we. conclude that the Administration, as
awnols, are uerrrnlneul ostanu up square
~ to strict construction doctrines !;
while they scent to. be equally determined
to- take no position relative to this rail-
road, which shall permit their political
opponents to draw from their policy the
argument that theereed of the Democratic
party is not what Jefferson pronounced it
to be. +" Yhstis a creed, which without
the violation Of d single one Of, its pifnei
pies is capable Of adopting itself to the
expansion of the country in all its eIe.
ments, 50 as to work as harmoneously for
the public good when thestars and stripes
may fDat overthe whole North American
continent, as when the Confederacy num-
bersd bat thirteen; sparsely settled States.
4 They the ADMINISTRATOR apparently
believe that in case Of warwith foreign
power without this proposed railroad
ready at hand, the Government will be
unable to afford the slightest available
protection TO California and Oregon. They
SEEM further to think That, by thus pro
tidihg for the protection of those regions,
they can confer incalculable benefits upon
cut commerce.. not only with them, but
with the world beyond, which has sud
denly become at least as import. ut as any
other American transmarine commerce,
and promises in all the next twenty years
to become of greater Importance than even
our present trade with Great Britain. To
this end, they are probably anxious that |
the great highway from Europe, as well as |
from North America TO China and the East |
Indies, shah be across the United States; |
ard thus be, for all time. absolutely unller !
the control Of this Goreynmeat, under any
circumstances. of peace or war, which |
may possibly occur. This cannot fail to
prove of, inealculable national advantage |
to ns-an advantage which the fathers Of
the Democratic party did not intend Jap
pasently in tile Administrations judy,
ment9 TO- throw away, in laying down
their party's creed. ..H,.-
It strikes us, further, that the, Admin
istzstion are impressed with the belief,
that, in view Of the presumed necessities
Of the coS,, ,,plocc thoI, fal-a tho laod in |