The Yazoo Democrat., 1853-08-17
The Esacfaic RnflrOasI.


since the question has become the subject of
universal comment-eaused by the speeches OF
Davis and Guthrie, at Philadelphia The En-
quirer thinks, that, but for the grave manner of
advocating this work, and the high respectable
ty OF the authors of the pretext 1--WE suppose the
Enquirer has reference to The necessity } ait
would be. il could be, only subject of amuse-
ment," The inference to be drawn, is, that the
Enquirer men think it silly "pretext," and its
authors wanting in candor or judgment.
The Enquirer makes sport of the idea of build
ing road to the Pacific for "common defence"
dwels upon the word common with much stress,
and says: ''We had supposed if there was an
impossible ground on which this measure could
be rested, it would be this very ground of COM
mon defence" The Enquirer seems to think
that to come under tie head of :. common de-
tenee,D the railroad would have to be for the de-
ienee OF every portion of the Union, that for
the defence OF California alone, or even for the
defence of any portion of our country, if not for
tie entire Union, it could not be called com
mon defence" Let us see the strength of this
Argument Is not the State of California part
OF an entire Government,--the United States of
Americas So far as common defence is con.
cerned, is not the Union one grand and inseper-
able superstructure, every portion of which rests
on, and depends on every other portion, for its
continuaGce {?
We think no one viii deny this. Then, if
this be true, would not the defence of California
be for the defence of our common country? To
sustain this position, we think it requires no
h.
essary to prove that defending mans arm would
be for the common defence of his person. Not
withstanding this seems so plain, and incontro-
vertible, the Enquirer submits the following
question: Suppose the road were in facl nee
essary for the especial defence of San Francisco,
or Of California, does it thereby, under natu-
raj common sense Interpretation of the consti-
tuition become necessary to the common defence
of the confederated States?"' The Enquirer seems
to look upon California being the only State
or territory of the United States which could be
benefited. in this respect, by the mplated
railroad Did the editors of that paper forget
that California is but small portion Of The vast
territory of the United States. lying west Of the
Rocky mountains? And do they not know that
a railroad to California would be in fact road
to Oregon, and all that country west of the
mountains?
After commenting at some length upon thei
falacy of the common defence" argument, the
Enquirer yields the point by the following sim
guarly fortunate admission 1t says If Cali
fornia were so situa ted with reference 10 the great
powers of the world, as to be Immediately liable
to an attack and invasion of such a nature, as
could only be repelled by the combined military
powers Of the whole confederacy, and this inva-
sion were probable an imminent; then thus new
argument would possibly apply IN favor of this
new and mammoth measure" We have not
| time now TO show that we are in point of time.
further from California than other powers which
are fully able to take and hold her against the
world were she left to depend the assistance
of the States East of the mountains, without
more speedy overland communication than we
now have, but such is the fact. The only routes
which we are sure of finding open for the trans
portation of an army, and munitions of war TO
California, in case of an invasion of that coun-
try, are round Cape Horn and overland through
our own terriotry. We have no assurance that
the Isthmus route would be open to our army
but on the contrary, we have every reason to ap-
prehend danger from that very passage. The
| least sustainable assertion of the Enquirer, is
that g She (California) already possesses popu-
lation equal to her protection IN any possible
emergency" Is it possible, that California, with
her unsettled population and unprepared con
diton could defend her seaboard against any
possible attack from any all he great powers
of the world with which we might get into df-
| fculty and war? Such an assertion Is truly as
tonishing, when we consider the fact that we are
liable to become involved in war with the most
powerful nations of the world, at any time.
The Enquirer says that no demands have been
made by the 'Caifornians, for protection; and
that they would scout the proffer, even of such
measure, upon such pretext. The citizens OF
California have urged upon Congress the necessi-
ty of such work, and the great Pacific Rail
road bill which caused so much debate and ex-
lcitement in that body last winter, was offered
lbya California Senator. (Gwinn.) 1t was urged
upon Congress by the last California Legislature
land Governor Bigler dwelt al some length upon
this subject, in his message to the Assembly
Whether ii is needed for the protection OF thar
lcountry, and for the common welfare OF the
J United States" or not. we--east of The maun-
tains--are as competent TO judge. should Caitor-
MIA g scout the idea--which she does not.
The Enquirer thinks ''it would strike the plain
thinking, plain-speaking trainers of the Consti.
tuition, with great deal Of surprise, if they were
alive. to hear this rail road. of continental III