Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-07-23
WASHINGTON.
" Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and
ihseparable.n
SATURDAY. July o. 1879
SIGN OF THE TIMES. I.

1t is with much pleasure-the greater we CON-
fess, for some little surprise-tha. we see journal
50 influential as the Charleston Mercu, deservedly
is with large body of polticiansin the South en-
phatically endorsing the views lately expressed by
two of our Cabinet Minister'S in the presence Of
the PRESIDENT, in regard to the constitutional
power OF the Government to construct a railroad to
the Pacific. The Mercury says, indeed, that it has
TOR some time past advocated the view recently in
Dictated at Philadelphia by Secretary DAVIS; and
of course it must be So but, always regarding that
PRINT as after the sratest sect of strict constructions
lists, we had not anticipated its support in the
greatest work of internal Improvement ever pro-
Jected IN this country. At any rate, the stand it
now takes is worthy of the palmy days Of South
Carolina, when her CALHoUNs, and McDuPF1Es.
and HAMILToNs were first among the foremost in
the National Councils in maintaining the great
cause OF sef-improvement, which every interest Of
the country then imperatively demanded Of the
General Government as among the highest of its
duties We hail the liberal views Of the dis
tingushed Secretary of War and his colleagues,
and Of the leading journal of Charleston, as au-
CURING the return Of wise councils and a sound
domestic policy.
FROM THE CHARLESTON MERCURY
The PAcifIc RAILRoAD.-Among the most interesting
indications OF the policy Of the Administration which
have been disclosed during the tour to New York we
place the remarks of the Secretary War and the Secre
tary OF the Treasury at the reception in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia American whose editor took part in the
entertainment, in article on the subject Of railroad
to the Pacific, says
The Government through two of it's principal Secre
ares has declared in favor of the undertaking as work
Of national necessity and has declared too in favor
It's being constructed, as Government w"~I - =
NO constitutional difficulties are appre-
hended to be in the way constitutional scrupes an
pear be ENTERTAINERS the clause is designated confer
ring the power under which it be made the surplus
FUNDS In the Treasury are pointed at available for the
purpose and as capable of being applied more benecay
in this mode than in any other and accordingly we are
justified in believing that Gen. Pierce has determined to
place the building OF the Pacific railroad the head of
the measures which to constitute his policy and that
he means to for his Administration the glory Of
commencing the grandes it is destined to prove the
most benefcen work of internal improvement ever at
tempted by human hands. 1t was in his presence and
therefore, assuredy with his previous knowledge and full
concurrence that COL DAVIS and Mr.. GUTHRIE gave
terance to words the subject which, we are sure will
be read with one sentiment of pleasure throughout the
entire length and breadth of the United States"
The plan here indicated, CONTINUES the Mercuy it
well known to readers, is the which this paper
has always advocated from the of the dis
cussion in the Senate last winter We advocated the me
sure as one of plain necessity the protection of the
Pacific REGION and its construction by the Government
as the constitutional and proper mode of realizing the OBJ
ect We rejoice to that the Administration has taken
this view OF question likely to have great place in
the practical politics of the next four years COL DAvIss
views are so exactly own well expressed, and SO
significant of settled policy that we quote them at some
length