Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-08-10
Fpnnn the Richmond Rnnnirsr.

WA rnbl;sh below an article from the Washington
Union tpon a subject which is destined to engross
verv much of public attentions and probably to
l;cst more elaborate discussion than has been give
an to any political question for many years
It is unnecessary to say that this journal is hostile
to the appropriation of federal funds for purposes OF
internal Improvement. To concede such n rignt 70
the federal government especially IN the case Oh 50
stuoendo,,s an undertaking as the Pacific Railroad
would be to give up the principles for wnlcn
has contended since the day OF the eloer Aualhs
would be to authorize system OF cAPenu1' "nJ
to open the door to system OF extravaganza anu
nubic sneculaton sufficient to undermine the lnteg
ritv of any government that ever existed 1t Wouiu
fi and nerpetuate that loose state of public morals
means which took so deep root in the past admin
istroton 1t would realize the most enormous evils
over predicted by the btterest and most eNravagant
Ienunciators of the policy of internal improvements
by the general government.
the country. twill be more than :, OOO miles long
1t will cost $50, 000,0 900 and probably
But the Union now contains nearly l2,OoO mics OF
completed railroad; which has cost nearly SooOo1!
oOO Az much moro of railroad is projected and in
course of construction, which will cost as large
sum as that has cost which already Is completed
These roads the creatures and TINS vast sum the
nroduct of individual and municipal enterprise
who shall set limits to American enterprise? Who
sha saw that the people who have built 900 miles
of road cannot build one thousand miles, without the
aid of the Federal Government? Who shall say
have furnished $500 OOO 900, may not furnish $780,
600 900 or 800, 100000?
The plea of necessity, urged in favor OF making
this great work enterprise for the federal govern
ment is not valid 1t undertakes the enterprise OF
the country Missouri has commenced the work
and will carry it single-handed far beyond her bord-
ers The single city of St Louis has gone earnestly
into the work. and already provided for continuing
through half of the great State OF when she Is the
capital
Texas has begun the work from another point, and
as if to shame the doubters of American enterprise
English bankers have pledged capital enough to car
~ the road past the remote western borders OF Tex
as The work is already in active progress from TWO
points Soon it will be commenced ut its western
terminus and California gold will be sure to con-
strict it from the Pacific far eastward as California
extends.
! But for the high sources from which that other
plea in behalf of its construction by the Federal
1iovernment-its Importance military road-pro-
ceeds the plea would be unworthy of serious notice
We lay down the general proposition, that any such
work can .Ver be conStituonaly constructed by the
General Government for a military purpose, unless
the immediate urgences of actual war require its use
for the transportation of troops before individual or
State enterprise can have time to construct 1t.
The work is already in good hands 1t is area-
DIV in the safest and most efficient hands 1t is IN
the hands of the people To turn it over to the Gen
cral Government, would be, even as measure OF G.
economy, in either time cost, the most deplorable
policv OF all the organizations in existence that of
the most extravagant, the most dilatory, and the
most Indifferent to the Impotence and convenience
of the great public. To leave it to the auspices of
the Federal Government would be to subject its very
incpiency to contest respecting the terminus, a
northern and southern controversy angry as dan
gerous, and prOtracted as the great controversy
upon trec-soil. If the road built with public
funds, and become national work, it would be the
means of thousand and one pretexts for annoyance
and aggression upon southern citizens. 1t is bad
policy to create any national any more partner
ship property between North and South than is alb
solutely unavoidable.
Whilst sympathizing with and approving the main
view of our correspondent, I" Blue Ridge" in Thurs
day s paper, do not sympathise in his apparent
luminosity towards the administration. Industrious
" the effort has been made to prove the sentiments
lately uttered by individual members of the admin
istration as body, not yet convinced of
the fact much less that they desire to make this
scheme branch of their policy We be-
1eve that will not be the case If the monster scheme
receives such high and influential endorsement, a
national measure, that will not change the views of
the Democratic party of the school of strict consruc
ton They will oppose it, manfully, earnestly to
the last
From the Washington Union, July 29.l
The Pacific RAIL RoAD. The public mind has
been directed for several years, with increased in
terest towards the gigantic proposition to connect the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans by means of continuous
rail road. This tendency has received fresh i'm
pulse from the favor with which the enterprise
adverted to by two members of the Cabinet on the
late visit of the President to New York These in
dcations of Executive favor have called out CON-
ments from the press in different quarters of the
country, from which we able to form some idea !
Of the condition of the public mind the question
Our observations have brought to the conclusion
that whilst there is respectable minority opposed
to the enterprise government measure, there Is
decided majority ready to sanction the general pro-
position of Pacific rail road but that this majority
is well divided as to Details that it can scarcely
be said with any degree of certainty that there is
De-
Whilst we have been the advocate of the proposed |
enterprise since Whitney brought the subject |
before the country constrained to admit that
the obstacles in the way of its early contamination
are so numerous and serious in their character,
that we indulge no very sanguine hopes of seeing it
carried into successful execution for many years to
come. If the proposition could be received and |
acted upon free from the embarrassment of colate-
rail- political and geographical considerations its in
trinsic Importance would command for it such a con-
centratlon of public sentiment would insure its |
prompt adoption and its early accomplishment. But |
in our judgment it would be impossible to conceive
great national project which would not be sur
rounded with fewer embarrassing incidental issues
than this of connecting the Atlantic with the Pacific
States by rail road. Without regarding its attain
nent inpracticable, think that glance at some
Of the obstacles in the way may be protably consid
Bred by those of its friends whose convictions of its
Vast Importance have made them sanguine of its sue
cess within a reasonably short time
1t is safe and sound rule, that whenever Con-
gress is looked to for aid in any enterprise the first
consideration should have regard to its conformity
With constitutional power. There politicians,
and they are not few in number or deficient in a.
bity, who meet the proposition at the threshold