Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-08-04
We have stated The circumstance.

fectual We have stated the circumstance
which convince US that the army, navy and
Qualifications are less effectual and we can con
ceive of no other means. unless we are pre-
pared to rely on securing the benefits of a
,ailroad through Mexican territory, in con-
uerio1 with water transportation. means
of common defence and protection to our Pa
e;6c possessions; but this suggestion could
hardly deserve a moments consideration as a
,ermanent reliance for defence and protection
Oar mind therefore, reposes confidently on
,be conviction that there is no constitutional
obstacle in the way ofan appropriation by
Congress; and in reaching this conclusion, we
feel perfectly satisfied that we are standing
firmly upon the principles of constitutional
construction laid down by the "siraightesl
sect" Of Democracy
It's not to be overlooked that upon any route
proposed for the rail road the great difficulty
IN the way ofits complexion is TO be found in
the passage of lis main trunk through territory
,.o vet erected into States. So far as its pas
SAGE through States is concerned il is scarcely
necessary to say that no question of constitu
,ional power NJ nld be- allowed to embarrass
the enterprise as those States would at once,
and gladly, remove all difficulty growing out
of their claim to exclusive jurisdiction. In
that view the question of constitutional power
becomes still less embarrassing upon the doc
,rine which has been maintained by the most
eminent Of the State Rights state as to the
full power Of the federal government to con-
struct roads in our territories. 1t is, as we
understand. upon Considerations OF this char
acter, that the consttutionality Of the Pacific
rail road, as measure of defence and protec
ton, is maintained by both the distinguished
members Of the cabinet above referred to- and
especially by the Secretary OF War.
In considering this proposition. we cannot
well overestimate the weight of those circum-
stances in The actual condition Of our posses
slons on the Pacific which strongly invite for
eign aggression 1t cannot he supposed that
our population on the western slope OF the
Rocky mountains is insensible to this danger
and that they are rot fully alive to the claims
which they have under he constitution to am
pie protection. We should be,ray an inexcu
sable ignorance of human nature not to know
that the neglect Of the government to provide
the means of tho protection which their situa
ton requires may result in feeling OF dissat
isfaction and alienation which might seriously
endanger the continued harmony and integrity
of the coniederacy. These considerations
are Of moment in determining the fact on
which The constitutional exercise oil the pow
ers Of the government must depend We are
satisfied that they are we'll calculated to fix
the conclusiveness of the position on which
we rest the consrituonality of the proposition
for government aid to the Pacific Rail Road
But ii does not follow that because there is
no constitutional difficulty in the way, there
may not be other obstacles deserving of atten-
ton. We have suggested that there are such
obstacles, and on these we shall make brief
comment in another number of our paper.