Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-24


maintenance of which, our federatiye system
would long since have become centralized, and
the constitutional rights of the States absorbed
in its despotic power.
In this series Of principles, coeyal with and
derived from the Constitution, the Internal
Improvement question was second to none in
Importance. From the very nature of the sys-
tenn ITSELF it was dangerous and seductive
ever present with its tempting rewards to al
lure the statesman from rigid fidelity to his
trust Early in the history Of the present Ad-
ministration, the great Pacific Railroad seized
upon the public mind, and threatened to en-
gulph principles and parties in the magnitude
Of the enterprise. Many of our frmest friends
seemed to falter in the faith, and to be Devil
dered at the immense project presented to their
gaze. The Washington Union, the acknow-
lodged organ of the Administration, was the
first to waver and give back before this excite
ment, and at length yielded to what it believed
the popular pressure upon this subject. 1t
became the enthused advocate Of this nam
moth internal improvement scheme, and grew
so wild in its labor of love that the veteran
editor of the National Intelligencer, in reading
one of its profound lucubrations upon the
subject accompanied his congratulations to the
editors of the Union with the enviable compli-
ment that he was reminded of the brilliant
efforts of Henry Clay in defense of the same
system!!-a system, the principle of which, the
first annual message of Franklin Pierce an
nounced as unconstitutiondlVi
The Washington Sentinel, on the other hand,
believed the proposition to construct the Pa
cifc Railroad with government means-thereby
making it q government work-to be not only
violation of, and palpable departure from,
the principle Of strict construction of the Con.
stitution, but also inexpedient and dangerous,
as creating giant federal monopoly, not less
fearful in its results or odious in its features
than monster bank ofthe United States I'm
awed by this excitement, the Sentinel, therefore,
met this scheme at the very threshold with the
most unqualified opposition. In this earnest
effort to prevent the abandonment of one of
the most valued elements in our party organi-
cation it had the hearty cooperation of al
most ecery State Rights Journal in the countryl
How stands the contrast upon this important
question?
Again: When the nation was convulsed with
excitement-when rancor and bitterness formed
the daily elements of legislation upon the Ne.
braska bill in both branches of Congress.
when for a time we hoped as against hope, for
the triumphant vindication of the principles it
contained and for its ultimate passage to our
statute book-when the presses and statesmen
| and people of the Southern States, almost with
out distinction ofparty, united with one voice in
demand for this emphatic recognition of con-
stitutional nghts-when the noble men of the
North and northwest, headed by Douglas, Bright
Brodhead, Richardson, and host ofother gallant
and undaunted spirits, magnanimously forget
tingthe peril (which it might expose them, we're
giving the weight Of their great names to the &C.
complishment Of this patriotic measure-when
the brave needed cheering and the faltering en-
couragement-when every patriotic nerve was
stretched to its utmost tension in the COM
mon struggle for this great measure-who
does not remember the tortuous and devious
course Of the Washington Union? Who does
not remember, when the very destiny Of the
measure itself, seemed to hang upon single
vote, the article in the Washington Union, qir-
ing absoIation in adpance TO the Democrats who
from want of nerve, or less creditable reasons,
we're fainting by the wayside? Who does not
remember that article which pronounced before
the vote was taken, the Nebraska biIl-the
chief, as it is up to this time, The measure of
the present administration be no test of
Democratic orthodoxy
No test Of Democratic orthodoxy 10 ad.
init the clear, constitutional rights of one
half Of the States of this great confederacy /
No test Of Democratic orthodoxy to support
measure which recognizes the principle Of
popular sovereignty and which the Washing
ton Union afterwards, in its issue Of June I'd,
1854, does "not hesitate 10 enroll" Hanaong
the proHdest triumphs in tie Democratic party,
Franklin Pierce himself 10 his credit be ii
said, as in the case Of the Pacific Railroad,
again rebuked and denounced SO monstrous an
assertion Of his own organ. We deem it I'M
necessary TO give this article here, as the con-
sternation Introduced at the time is fresh in the
minds Of all,
Time and space are not at our command to
continue the contrast Of the respective positions
of the Sentinel and Union during our first year,
though we could I'll dozen columns with the
most fragrant and scarcely less grave inconsis
tencies which have distinguished the Washing
ton Union. The Washington Union has been
pleased 10 ignore the Sentinel, and since il
knows we have no ambition even TO rival il in
administration favor, we are left to infer that II
is because II finds us sometimes troublesome
neighbor in exposing its unhandsome way
wardness. We have done much, and often at
some trouble and Inconvenience, to keep our
neighbor in the right track, and We flatter our