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

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been somewhat misconstrued by some OF
our readers. We have no desire or inten-
ton of departing from the old Democra-
tic landmarks, of a "strict constructio N
of the Constitution" or of opposition to
the Wing doctrine of internal improve
ments among the States by the General
Government. But it occurs to us that
Improvements might be made by the ge-
neral government within its territories,
whenever such improvements are neces-
sary for the welfare of such territories
without being liable to either of these OBJ
jectious and that aid could be given
this enterprise without violating any of
the established principles of the party,
and it is only upon these grounds that
we are willing to see such aid given. If
the government has no right to make i'm
proYements in her territories, which are
under her control, where has she the
right ? and how is it that thousands of
dollars are spent every year upon i'm
provements within the District of Column
bia We can see no great difference be-
tween the two cases.
We are opposed, however, to the gene
raj government constructing this great
road itself, from motives of policy. Co.
vernments never construct anything ex-
cept at exorbitant prices, and if it were
to undertake this great railroad it would
be literally robbed thousands of fortunes
would be made at its expense, and more
than likely the road would be imperfectiy
made. We are informed that the Ma
tional Road from Cumberland to Wheel
ing cost the United States $4,000 per
mile-at least $50, 900 too much. and if
undertakes the construction of the Paci-
tic Railroad, we cannot see how it is to
escape like extortion. Besides, it would
increase the already too great patronage
power OF the government to an almost I'M
limited extent. These objections to its
construction by the government, are too
weighty to be overcome by even the ne
cessity ofthe great work. But if this
road will pay, as we believe it will, the
government can give it sufficient aid to
secure for it enough of individual CAPT
tai to complete and put it in operation
without violating the feelings of the most
sensitive upon the subject and this is
probably the idea of those Democrats
who are advocating the measure.
We object to the granting of unusual
privileges to some gigantic company to
make the whole road-similar to the pro-
position to give strip of land ten miles
wide along the whole line of the work
no less than to its construction by the
government. If person will sit down
for fifteen minutes, and make a calcula
ton of the immense wealth and power
that proposition would give company,
a slight idea can be formed of the vast
monopoly which would be created, and
the tremendous influence which it could
WELD against the Government. The
United States Bank would be pigmy
beside the giant aul if that institution
came SO near debating terms to the g o
vernment, how will it be able to resist
this? IL ViU never DO !
The plan which seems to us as the mos
feasible and the least Objectionable, BY
which this road can be made, is to hole
out inducements for the formation o
five or six separate and distinct compa
MES to construct the work. This would
give each company some three or foul
hundred miles--enough in all conscience
and let the inducements be something
like giving them the services of the Uni
ted States Typographical engineers for tn,
purpose ofmaking surveys, locating the
road, &c; protecting them from the In.
. dians, by her soldiers, by treaties, or By
} offering inducements to settlers in tn,
shape of donations Of land, or some Other
way ; giving them good mail contract
similar TO that given to the Collins line O
!, steamers, and Unnecessary, material aid
in donations of pu lie lands, since Con.
gress seems determined to squander thes,
lands upon every object that comes befor,
it. They had better be appropriated to
wards the construction of this road, thar
+ for the purpose of bOlstering up ever,
bankrupt corporation in the country.
/ We have no doubt that the assembled
wisdom of Congress can devise some plar
by which the great consideration of the
construction of the road can be secured
without interfering in the least with a
| tsStrict construction of the Cnnst;tnt;o. u