Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1856-12-03
The Pacific Railroad.
We publish below the letter of Mr.. Buchanan in
favor of tha poc;f;c RaiIroad


sources California entitled to high regard in reference
the proposed Pacific Railroad AS would be impossible
for them all deem it most proper and
pecul to address you general in your official
pacy In performing this duty to the citizens of Calfor
MIA, act in perfect consistency with the sefmposed re-
srction contained in my letter accepting the nomination
for the Presidency not to answer ntegaons raising
convention, because that has itself adopted
resolution in favor of this great work.
then desire to state briefly that concurring with the
vention decidedly favorable the Instruction of the
Pacic railroad and derive the authority do this from the
constitutional power declare war; and the constitu
ona duty "to repel invasons In judgment Congress
the to make appropriations for the
construction of this road strictly for the purpose fnaio
al defence that has to erect Qualifications at the mouth OF
the harbo of San francisco eed the necessity with
view repel foreign invasion from California great in
the one the other Neither will there be danger
from the precedent for is almost impossible to conceive
that attended by such extraordinary and unprec
edentcd circumstances again history
Yours, very respectfully,
To B. F. WASHINGTON, Chairman Dem. State Central
Committee, California.
We were at one time under the impression, and
SO stated, that resolution the subject was adop
ted by the Cincinnati Convention. We were misled
by the proceedings published in the Weekly
Washington Union, in which it was stated that the
resolution voted down, and further notice,
in those proceedings, taken of it. But We find,
in the official proceedings in pamphlet form-for
copy of which we indebted to Hon. Thomas Ruff
fin that the following resolution adopted just
before the Convention adjourned, by vote of 2O5
to 81, North Carolina voting unanimously against it
esoued That Democratic party recognize the great
importance political and commercial point of view, ofa
safe and speedy communicating through territory
between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of this Union and
that is the duty of the Federal Government to exercise
promptly all its constitutional powers for the attanmeno of
that object thereby binding the union of the States in
dssoube bonds and opening the rich of ASIA
overland transit from the Pacific to the Mississippi river
and the great lakes of the Norh.''
The Richmond Enquirer of Wednesday last
contains the following remarks the subject, which
have our entire approval. With the Enquirer. we
intend to stand by principles, without regard to
men and with that paper we "are resolved to ad-
here to our deliberate convictions, and to the time
honore6 principles Of the State-rights, strict-eon-
struction Democracy of Virginia" of North Carroll
na, and, we may add, of the country generally We
propose 10 add nothing to what the Enquirer has
said shall we, at this time, enter upon any dis
cusson of the Pacific Rail Road project. That
| paper while dissenting from Mr.. Buchanan's views
on the question, has done him entire justice; and
we repeat, We entirely concur with it, follows:
The silence which the Enquirer has observed in respect
to Mr. Buchanan recent Pacific Rail Road letter provokes
of the less generous contemporaries suspect
of motives of character Against the
or violent in criticisng the conduct of its own party
we have word OF protests the contrary readily
whatever Of odum involved in The mputaon TO affirm
that we dlssembe deny principles from motives of
party policy, to nsnu@te charge which we promptly
the integrity Of creed the welfare of the country, will
this paper occupy equvoca position albeit the avowa
of its opinion place it antagonism to the interests of
the most eminent individuals TO the policy prescribed
by the ascendant influence in the party.
Why then this part in dissenting from the
doctrine of Mr.. Buchanans Pacific Rail Road letter? In
the first place we frankly confess that we are always reuc
crticse the opinions the Chief party and
equally unwilling multiply the embarrnssmens
which he must encounter in the administration of the Gov
But to this nquTy we can reu.n more ssca and and
ayowed himself in favor of The Pacific Rail Road for the first
time in his recent letter California. gh affect
thing surprise resentment in our rcpudatien Of his
policy. Inasmuch, however, his nomination origi
nay opposed the ground that he advocated the con-
of ne Rail RGa by the "f ns
attesed by his declaration in public speechnaSmuch
m M me % Parry % "eSa nS nd IN Sroo % 70 s hs
cited resolution to the eject the proceedings
contend that Mr. Buchanan justly the
with which he is asailed BY Of his supporters
tble advocacy Of the Pacfc Rail Road He was elected
his approval of the resolutions of the Gin
cy recommended in his letter II is therefore idle and
candid in who supported Mr. Buchanan, and much
in those who claim the credit fh;s nomination. affect
indignation against letter which merely re-airms his well
known position. We cannot maintain consistency
BY s % nna ous
Buchanan at the expense of the party and so unquestiona
bly, 1t does, to a certain extent
In a strict the late not much
test between parties between sections The election did
turn upon the ordinary political issues, but upon
rovesy which overshadowed every other question by
unapproachable Importance. The Cincinnati Convcn
ton understood and wisely prepared for the emergency
Extremely olcitous regard TO the predominant issues
of the canvass it hat less eXactng respect of
parry challenged popular support for its foolish and
intoleapt principles On The other Black RcpnbIcanism
saked the result of the election the of the anti
slavery crusade against the South. These the pre-
dominant if not the exclusive issues ofhe canvass and in
obedience to their demands the Democracy made preara
tion for the struggle The slavery question foremost
in importance and to its eXgencies the Cincinnati Conven
on especially adjusted its action bath in The principles Of
the platform and the nomination of q candidate. As the
ordinary disputes of party subordnated to the mper
atve issue of the Moment Mr. Buchanan selected
reference rather his deyto the compromises of the
Constitution and his strength with the people, than because
his accordance with the Democracy in every point
of political policy speculative opinion Without COM
plce of action would have been impossible to
prime necessity, it essential postpone question
which involved serious discrepancy of opinion Rut,
oed his creed engaged to acquesce in any
outrage upon his principles. 1t only agreed that the
until the country rescued from the destroying grasp Of
Black Republca ism.
Such conception of the policy of Mr. Buchanans
nomination. 1t necessary to select who could
defeat the Black Republican partyvho was ncontestiby
the interests of the SoutbwhO faithfully represent
ed the essential principles of the party and in whose char
acer found promise Of wise and patriotic ad
minStraon 1t agreed that JAMES BUCHANAN the
man for the crisis.
By this of Mr. Buchanans position in respect
to the Pacific Rail Road and the conditions Of his nomna
nation. is established that his recent letter him
Just imputation of bad ah or inconsistency But
is equally we'll established that the party has contracted nc
follow him in his policy For ourselves we
distinctly that while intend to support the in
of zeal and ability command, in regard to this
measure of Pacific Rail Road resolved to adhere