Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-11-28
MIR. BUCHANAN AND THE PACIFIC Rail


ROAD.
The silence which the Eaq"'r'r has observed III
respect to AR. Buchanans recent Pacific Rail R"a1
letter, provokes some OF the less generous o! orr
roptemporarics to suspect OF motives of no praise
worthy character. 4 ;arst the Justice OF the ac
cusarion that tine Enquirer i. never precipitai"
or violent in crcisins tho Conduct Of liz
own party, we have M word ol protest; on
the contrary, We readily acknowledge the truth
Of IN. charge. and chreriulIy incur whatever o!
odium is involved in the imputnon 10 afiirm that We
dsse.nhe or deny principles from motives {" par
ty policy ia to ilsnuae charge which we proihpu!
and emphatcaIy repei. 10 respect to no measure
nfecny the integrity nf creed or the we!'nr" of
the country. will this paper occupy All cquivoca! po'
sitiou albu: the avuwal of its opinion may place i!
in au.apouism to thr interests OF the most eminent III
dvidua., or to the policy prescribed by the ascen
dant influence in the party.
Why then this reserve Oh our part in dissenting
from the doctrine Of Mr. Buchanan's Pacific Kali Road
letter! In the first place We frankly conesa that We
mr.. aIwsvs reluctant to crcise the opinions Of the
Chief Of our partv and we are equally unwilling tn
nu,,,ply the elnbarrassmen,s which he must encoun
ter in the administration of the Government.
N,
and perhaps a more satisfactory answer. ii Mr.
| Buchanan had avowcd himself in favor OF the Pa
cic Railroad for the tlrt time III llis recent letter I"
| California we might gtt-c. something of rnrprs" anG
resentment in our reputation OF his policy Inns
,nucb. however As h- nomination was originally op.
| posed upon the ground that hs advocated the con-
sruction Of the Pacific Railroad by the agency OF the
Federal (iov-rnlnvur-,he truth of which accusation
was ate-ed by bis own declaration in public speech
iuasmuch the opposition party urged this "nIectoh
10 his election in the progress OF the chnVass, ana IN
proof of the charge, cited areso'aton to the same e
feet among the proceedings of the Cincinnati Con
ycpron-iu view Of these facts We contend that Mr.
Buchanan is not justly obnoxious To the cen=ure win
which h. is assaiIrd by some OF his supporters lie
wss nominated by the Democracy despite his incon-
| tcstibl. advocacy of the Pacihc Railroad. he was
elected notwithstanding his approval ol the reso'u-
tons nf the Cincinnati Convention, OF which ono pro-
pounded the very policy recommended IN his letter.
Ii il. therefore, id. and uncandd in us, who support
ed Mr. Buchanan, and much more - in those VINO
,ap I'M. credit of hi, nominations to affect indignation
a,sir.t q LITTER which merely TT alirms his we'll
known pnsition We cannot maintain our own con-
.i-,ency by irfcting undrservtd reproach upon an
other.
To thi. statement some will object that It acqnlts
Mr.. buchanan Mt the expense of the Party. And 70
nnaucstionubly it does 10 n GER ain extent.
I'm a strict .,n.e the late canvass was not 80 much
c,ut.st between ns.ries as between sections. lh'
election did no, turn upon the ordinary political Is
...s bu; upon a controversy which overshadoweo
every other Gue-,inn by il "~n unapproachaGe I'm
,,-,sncc Tn. Cincinnati: Convention understooI
,ud wi-.ly prevsr.d for he emergency. EA!remeI!
.,ci,ous in regard to the predominant issues of TIT
,,nvo.s il was son.whs. less enactiug in respect
.,b,rd,nat. matters. On the one hand the hno"
y,bir, marty challenged popular support for its ow
foolish and ntolrrant principles. on IN" othe'
Black Reconsideration stnkrd the result Of the elec
! zion OIL III. OF the an!i-slavery crnsad
sy,iu.t the South These were the predominant.
not the exclusive ssues of the canvass, and in ODE
d;emr. Ia their d.mand3 the Democracy made prspa
! ration Tor tho struggle. The slavery question wa
l,r-ncs, in importance. aud TO ia e1igrncirs tn
Cincinnati Convention especially adjusted ita action
both in the principles Of the platform and the nomi
, nation Of candidate. AZ the ordinary disputes O
party were subordinaed 10 the imperative issue o
the moment SO was Mr. Buchanan selected n refer
.nre rather To his fidelity to the compromises of h
Constitution and his strength with the people thar
becpuy, of hs exact Accordance with the Democrac,
in every point of practical policy or speculative opin
on Without complete concert OF action 1t woul'
have been impossible TO avert the overthrow Of tn
party and to provide for that prime necessity,
waa essential 10 postpone every question which 10
vn!ved any serious discrepancy of opinion. But. NJ
man renowned his creed. engaged to acquesc" IL
sny outrage upon his principles. 1t was only agreed
that the settlement Of mattera OF inferior interes
should be deferred until the country was rescued
from the destroying gra.p of Black Republicanism
Such wa. our conception of the policy of Mr.. Bac
hnuau'- nomination. II necessary TO select
man who could defeat the Back Republican party
who was inconte-.ibly true 10 the interests OF tn
Surth-who faithfully represented The essential prn
cir lea Of the party, and in whose character wss toun
every promise Of wisc and peirintio Admlnlstra
ton Ii was agreed that JAMES BUCHANAN wsa tn
man for the crisis.
Re this statement Of Mr. Buchanaus position II
re.pec, TO the Pacific Rail Road and the conditions
h, nomination. ii is established that his recent letter eS
poses him 10 Just mpu;a'ion of bad faith or neon
sisency. But, it is equally well established 'h"' 10
party has contracted no obligation to follow MN i
his policy. For ourselves, We distinctly announce
that while intend 10 support the incoming Admln
istration in all its great objects, with whatsoever
, zeal and ability we commend, in regard 10 TIL
measure Of Pacific Rail Road. va are resolved
adhere To our own deliberate convictions, and to th
time h nored principles of the State Rights, Strict
, Construction Democracy o! Virginia.