Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-09-14

Pacific railroad question correctly. We
have advocated no specific mode of 60
yernment aid in the construction of a
road through State-indeed, we have
intended to stand upon the ground that
no question as to aid from the treasury
would arise. In our first article we sta
ted that there was no State through
which it might be necessary to build that
road that would allow the government
to be embarrassed as to the question of
power. By this remark we intend to ex-
press the opinion strongly that any State
through which the road might be laid
out would promptly remove any embar-
rassment by building the road itself. Ell
Their by its own resources or those of in
dipidual enterprise. We did not mean
to intimate that the State would give its
consent to the exercise of jurisdition by
the general government, and that this
consent would confer the pcwer. We
entertain no such opinion. If the power
does not exist without the consent of
State, it cannot be conferred by its con-
sent. But we intend to be understood as
expressing our confidence that any State
so situated would build the road with its
own means, and hence that no question
would arise as to conflict between the
jurisdiction of the federal and State GO
vernmeuts. With these remarks, we in
sert the following article from the Free
Press, and recommend it to the attention
ofour readers:
" The PACIFIC RA1LRoAD.-We think
the views of the Washington Union re-
speeding government aid in the construc-
ton of the Pacific railroad are, to some
extent. Inexperienced. We do not I'M
derstand the Union as advocating any
precise plan of government aid, though
some of its suggestions are so construed.
! The following extract from one of its ar
ticles embraces, as we understand them,
the views of that paper in nutshell, and
we suppose also, those of the administra-
ton:
''' 1t may turn out, and we think it
probably will, that the determination of
the government to furnish effectual aid
in the construction of a road through its
own territory, wherein lie the great ply
steal obstacles, will give to the enterprise
so much certainty of success that indivi-
dual and municipal capital will be ena-
bled to construct not only one but many
diverging tracks through the States
through whose territory it may pass
In that event, the original strict doctrine
OF construction Stands intact. IL it-be
comes necessary, however, for the govern
ment to give aid to private capital to pro-
mote the enterprise in the States, then it
does not follow that an appropriation from
the treasury will be essential the aid
may be derived from the public lands of
those States, and in that event, the old
strict construction principle may be dis
turbed. But even if it becomes essential,
in order to insure the success of the en-
terpriSe, that money should be appropria-
ted by the government to be expended in
aid of the work in the States, it may be
found, upon careful investigation that the
power to protect our Pacific possessions in
obedience TO an express trust assumed
by the government, may so far be regar-
ded as specified or express grant in the
constitution as to authorize the appropri-
atom
eve do not believe the power of the
general government to appropriate mo-
ney for purposes of internal Improvement
within the States will arise as a practical
question, because we do not imagine that
any such appropriations will be necessary
to secure the building of the Pacific rail
road.
"The necessity of thus appropriating
money from the treasury, would have to
be urgent in the extreme indispensable,
in fact, to avert a known prospective dan
ger-to induce the Democratic party OF
the Union TO abate jot of its long-che
rished principles in this regard Public
lands may indeed, be set apart in aid o.
projected improvements within the States
but nobody supposes that the general go
vernment is going to become proprietor
of such works. Not by any means
That money may be appropriated
Gas we hope it will be) for the construc
ton of this road through the territorie!
of the United States under the clause o
the constitution authorizing Congress t.
raise revenue for the common defence, VIZ
presume few, if any of our statesmen
doubt; but further than this tue Demo
cratic party cannot move without depar
ture from its loug-cherished creed.
" The people of every section of tn,
common country are in favor of the Paci
fic railroad, and of the government rem
dering it all necessary aid within constitu
tioual limits. But it behooves the Gemoc
racy to take care that no bad precedent
are furnished to be followed in the futrue
We repeat we do not think the question
) Of appropriations of money to build tn,
road in the States will practically arise
but should it, the Democratic party vii
be pretty thoroughly committed agains
any such appropriations.
-" As bearing upon this subject, we eli
the following extract from lengthy ar
ticle in the Charleston Mercury
IS The recent speech of the Secretar,
of war has become the theme of genera
discussion, and in not few cases ha
. drawn forth strong commentator fron