The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-18

RoAD.-It was believed by many intelligent
persons at Washington, at the close of the last
session Of Congress, that the Pacific Railroad
over-cautious democratic friends of the measure
were DESTROYS first to ascertain where Gen.
Pierce stood in regard to this great enterprise.
Some were confident that he would prove to be
awarm advocate Of the road others were afraid
that he would turn up strict constructonst
as hidebound as North Carolina yearling after
hard winter, and that he might possibly veto
the hill. A few, like Gen. Rusk, were manly
enough to run all risks and do their duty; but
the bill failed Inde( it was understood at
the time that the direct cause of its failure was
the result of an application to General Pierce
to interest himself in its behalf He is said to
have replied to this appeal, that he was elected
President of the United States and not the
President of a railroad company.
Now, therefore, we are highly gratifed to state
to the American people and to the rest of man
kind that we have good reasons to believe that
the administration is in favor Of this Pacific Rail-
road as great national work and we should
not be surprised if this important project were
to be fully developed in the first annual mes
sage Of General Pierce to Congress, at the
opening of the session, in December next.
One of the most important disclosures from
Secretary Guthrie, on this late Executive excur-
sion. was his declaration, at various points on
the journey to this city, that he is in favor of
this Pacific Railroad, and an enthusiastic be-
lever in it's grand commercial, political and
civilzing results. General Davis, the Secre-
tary of War-a strict constructionist of the Ill
ira Southern school on some other questions,
has also boldly come forward in support of this
mighty work. At the Metropolitan banquet he
was particularly pointed upon the subject, and
very satisfactorily disposed Of all constitutional
objections by insisting that this overland rail-
way was needed as a national military road.
The President himself, prudently and perhaps
properly, has said nothing upon the question; but
we presume that the cabinet is unit and that
those members of it travelling with General
Pierce knew the ground they were standing
upon, and the views of their chief, in advocating
SO enthusiastically as they did this glorious
project of a railroad across the breast Of this
continent from ocean to ocean.
We remember that General Davis, while a
a member of the United States Senate, moved
an amendment to one Of the military bills be-
fore the body, the object of which was to intro
duce on the great plains and deserts Of our
Western territories an experimental caravan OF
camcls from that somewhat similar country
between Jerusalem and Egypt. We trust that,
while cooperating with the active friends of
the Pacific Railroad in advancing that great
project to a practical beginning he will not
forget those camels They would be valuable,
fnot invaluable, workers in the transportation
Of men. materials and provisions for the road.
Finally. since the official disclosures of Messrs
Guthrie and Davis in behalf of this Pacific
Railroad, we feel vastly stronger in the pre-
sentiment, with the permission of Providence,
OF passing, before the expiration of next eight
years, from New York to San Diego or San
Francisco, by railroad. Is not the administra-
ton with US, and have we not some twenty-five
millions surplus money in the treasury? Clear
the track