Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-12-03
Staunton Spectator.
STAUNTON. VA.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8. 1856.
DIE. Ruchanan on the Pacific Railroad.

WEDNESDAY,, DECEMBER 3. 1856.
Mr.. Buchanan on the Pacific Railroad.
The Democracy are painfully embarrassed oy
Mr.. Buchanan's letter in favor Of the proposed
Pacific Railroad. A few of the party newspa-
pers have spoken ont boldly in opposition to
Old Bucks views, while the largo majority have
preserved discreet silence on the subject. But
the most curious part of the business is al ar
tiole in the Winchester Virginian, which looks
like an effort to reconcile Mr.. Buchanans posi-
ton with the principles of the Southern Democ-
racy. Mr. Buchanan refers to the Cincinnati
Platform, and the Nirginian thinks his views
must be interpreted by that document. There
solution adopted at Cincinnati pledges the party
To exercise all the constitutional power OF the
Government to the construction OF military
and postal roads" to the Pacific, but does not
authorize or favor, says the Virginian, 1.-THE
building of a costly railway from ocean to
ocean," at the sole expense of government
Therefore, we persume,o our contemporary wouiu
have rs to believe that Mr.. Buchanan is opposed
to q government Railroad. Yet, with Mr.. Bu-
chanan's letter before him, he cannot exactly
saw so. but adds: "If, however, the letter which
spocested these remarks can fairly be construed
to Justify the construction Of railway to the
Pacific by the means and agents Of the federal
government, we are free to say that we differ
from him very widely" This is the awkward
dilemma into which intelligent men are forced,
who endeavor at the same time to hold on to
their protested principles and the President they
have just elected.
To show that Mr.. Buchanan does not concur
in the Virginian's Interpretation of the Platform
il il only necessary to refer to the California
letter. He says, "eoncgrriag eoith the Ooncef'-
ton, l am decidedly favorable to the construc'
tion"-not of military or postal road-but 20
the Pacific Railroad" And he further says
''In my judgement, Congress possesses the same
power to make appropriations for this road strict
" for the purpose of national defence, that they
have to erect Notifications" &c. Here the pow
er of Congress to construct works ofinternal I'M
provements is broadly laid down by the Demo
cratic President-elect, to the utter confusion o
his strict.constructionist supporters. No won
der that most of them hang their heads and 50.
nothing, and that those who attempt an apolog.
fall into absurdties.
1t is high time tho Southern Democracy wer
abandoning their impracticable notions abou
the constitutional powers of the government
They must do this or sever their connection
with the Northern and Western Democracy
from whom they also differ upon almost over.
other political question. The recent action
their party in Congress is against them, the Presi
dent of their own choice is against them, and
with great respect for the talents OF many of tn
leaders, common sense is against them. 10 con
cede to Congress the power to build lighthouses
and deny the power to improve harbors ant
rivers and construct Railroads, is consistene
beyond our comprehension. Our Southern Dem
ocrats must abandon their position. Congress
will continue to commence aud carry on
works of internal Improvement, and the only et
feet of Southern opposition is TO deprive tn
South of all participation in the benefits
While we agree with Mr.. Buchanan on tn
question of constitutional power, we concur to
great extent with the Southern Democracy 0
poetic - e"PeGivnVy. n great gov
eminent Railroad to the Pacific would be q
immense engine of corruption, producing wide
spread and lasting injury to the public morals
and we are not sure but it would be better 70
the country to permit California to cut loos
from the Union and form an Independent gov
eminent, if that be the alternative, rather tina
undertake the stupendous enterprise of construct
ing Railroad across the Western plains.