The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-08-04
THE REPU BLIG.
WASHINGTON:
THURSDAY MORNING, AUGUST A, 1853
Democratic Unity and Diversity.


the United STATES is construed, and is to be
construed in future, by the interest of the pop
Mar majority, II any object shall present suf-
fcient importance 10 line nation to justify POI
pular issue. we may anticipate that rule Of
construction will he found 10 justify the act.
The scrupulous minority will be ridiculed or
set aside, aud the will Of the majority enthroned
as the law of the land. This may be all very
well 50 long as the object is of unquestioned
advantage 10 the country; but the doctrine once
established that the Constitution Is to be inter
pretcd By ballot. and measures will follow of a
more vital character, and iraught with more
permanent consequences. We are led to these
remarks from the unexpected declarations made
by certain members Of the Cabinet upon the
constitutionality Of the Pacific road. We
waive, at this time, the discussion of the con-
siitutional question. We make no criticism up
on the establishment by implication of power
not written in the Constitution. We look only
at the singular fact that Cabinet apparently
pledged against the doctrine of constructing
public works with public money, sanctions the
thing whilst it condemns the principle! Is it
for this that Wings have been denounced as
federalists, consolidationists, aristocrats. and
monopolists? Have not the Wings agreed that
internal Improvements ought to be transferred
to the States. since the States are now able to
construct them2 And does Democratic ad-
ministration reverse its own doctrine and pro-
pose policy which even the Wings had aban-
doned2
We conine ourselves at present to comment
ing upon the singular IMMUNITY with which
system abandoned by one party may be taken
up and carried out by its antagonists. Our
Democratic friends have infinite advantages.
They occupy a platform supported by every
extreme of political faith. The Freesoiler and
Fire-eater draw their bounty from the same
fund-the coal, iron and sugar interest craving
protection as an inebriate undergoing the
pangs Of reformation Graves strong drink-the
cotton planter who fancies that the breeze is
tainted with protection, and that the tariff
throws upon his fields shadow worse than
the blight or the boll-worm-the Fogy whose
wine is older than his liberties, and whose
ideas are of eYen more venerable vintage
as an imperfect means Of communication
the advocate of public lands for public pur-
poses-the constructionist who would not &C
cept public land enough to be buried upon. OF
all these, various and contradictory as they
may seem, has been compounded selfce-
mented conglomerate, as hard as stone
The Democrats have, by means of uniting
every sectional sentiment under a national
name, used up the Wings very much upon the
principle that the Mussulman who held the
hog-from the knife and fork--sacred according
to the story books, treated that useful animal.
Their first proposition was that pork was unlaw-
full; different sects were of opinion that there was
no religious improperly in exempting partic-
nlar part Of the animal from the general con-
demnation; as each sect reserved different
portion, their combined exceptions compre
hended the whole physiological system Of the
prohibited animal. The moral deduced was
this, "Nlahommetans eat up the hogs" and il
like manner the Democratic party have abjurec
the doctrines of the Wings, but with the special
reservations 10 which we have adverted. Its va
Iious sections have covered the whole ground Of
doctrine advocated by the Wings. In word
Democracy has eaten up the Wings.
The positions of the Administration in regard
to the constitutionality of the Pacific Railroad
are obviously formed upon the natural demand
for such work; but although one or more
railroads should be constructed across the con-
tnent, we doubt whether the precise argument
has been adduced by those Cabinet officers who
have spoken upon the subject, by which iii
construction may be best justified. The es
adjustment of a military road would be nj
doubt important, but the specific purpose o
defending California would not justify it, sine,
long before such road could possibly be con
or demonstrated its ability to protect ITSELF fl
either case the road would be unnecessary
We should think the more satisfactory method
of construction would be to let the States in
corporate SO much of the road as may pass
through them, and let companies, incorporated
by the States, obtain from Congress the righ1
of way through the territories.
To the road, thus organized, Congress may
advance money either by capitalzlng the mai
pay--by subscribing to the stock, or by any
other lawful expedient which may accomplish
the same object. Such road will be more
useful than if constructed and owned by the
Federal Government. The public would have
the advantage of the care of several admins
trations on the several sections of the route
and if there areas there will be---mOre thar
one route, the care and competition along tn
line will reduce freights and fares, and secur
the comfort of the public. We are satisfies
that single route will constitute monopoly
mismanaged and dangerous. If constructet
with Federal money exclusively, it will con
stitute - like the East India Company
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