Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-03-10
EVENING STAR.
WASHINGTON:
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1853.
Pacific Railroad.


There is NO national object in which the
citizens of Washington really have deeper
personal interest than the construction OF
government highway to the Pacific. In
some respect it depends on the location and
use Of that thoroughfare OF the nation,
whether or not Washington continues to be
the national metropolis. If the Pacific slope
is really neglected-the actual wants of the
people in that quarter Of the Republic are
not promptly attended to as far as the gov
eminent here has it in its power to supply
them-it is clear that we shall have serious
trouble in the whole of our far western
possessions.
There is no rational or patriotic man
who could or can anticipate any other re-
suit. If California, Oregon, New Mexico,
Utah, and other regions adjacent are not
faithfully regarded by our Congress, they
,c1I set up for themselves! THE REPUBLIC OF
THE PACIFIC will be sure to follow; and
once lost to us, those golden possessions
could never be regained.
1t is in this very important point Of view
that We urge the immediate survey of the
whole Pacific route, and the speedy con-
struction Of the road Our own humble
idea is that the work should be undertaken
by Congresses Government measure
on the same principle on which we build
our Navy Yards, Military Barracks, United
States Magazines, Custom Houses, and
ships of War. We regard this great nation
al highway as Peace Enterprize-a Union
movement means for retaining our Pa
cifo tire ASSURE within the national CONTROL
We are opposed, in toto, to the futile at
tempt to start the work as private con-
csrn-as personal monopoly-a giant cor
poration in some sense independent of Con-
zress and therefore not wholly within the
reach Of the people.
Give US the road to the Pacific But
let the National Government build it.
An able writer in the National Intelligent
Ger, signing himself very appropriately ''Pa-
ci6c," while arguing the constitutionality of
shis popular " ork, alludes to Mr. Jefferson's
views on the acquisition Of Louisiana, as
expressed in his letter to MIR. Breckenridge:
1.-The Constitution has made no provision
for our holding foreign territory, still less
:or incorporating foreign nations into our
Union. The Executive, in Selling the fugi
i've occasion which so advances the good of
cur country, have done an oct beyond the
Constitution. The Legislature, in casting
behind them metaphysic subtleries, and
risking themselves like faithful servants,
must ratify and pay for it, and throw them
nelves upon their country Tor doing for them
unauthorized what We know they would have
done for themselves had they been in situ-
stion to do it. But We shall not be disavowed
by the nation, and their act CT indemnity
will confirm and not weaken the Constitution
by more strongly marking out its lines"
II this reasoning is correct-that the act
Of Congress, endorsed by the people, proves
the constitutionality Of any national meas
ure-then it is clear that Congress has a
constitutional right to build national rail-
road from the Western territories to the Pa
cifc ocean, as o measure of union, defence,
government necessity, and for the preserva-
ton intact Of our distant possessions. Con-
gress has the same right to build such a road
for such purposes as it has to build any
other government work. 1t would be safe
to entrust its survey and completion in the
haLds of our public servants; for then, vir-
tually it would be in the hands Of the people,
Wa shall reeur IN this imnorfo Mt snhioct