American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-11-29
From tAs Am<rieaa Organ.
a Sound Southern Democrat.
A VERY PRECIOUS EpIsTLE.

Southern, Jetersonidn, strict construc-
ZIONIST Democrat, James buchanan,
President elect, must be an exceeding
ly gratifying document for the Hun
ters, Masons, Toombses, Stephens, and
the fire-eating gentlemen generally Of
the South to peruse, who deny the or
thodoxy of any man that votes to up.
propriatc money from the National
Treasury, to improve river or har-
Dor for the benefit and advantage of
commerce, or who votes to cede any
portion of the public domain for rail-
roads through tho. government lands,
whereby the value Of the residue is
made worth twice as much as the whole
quantity would be, without the rail.
road. ....
Here is the precious document, which
was sent to California to influence the
election in that State. Read it ye
Southern strict constructionists, and
shout the praises of your President c.
lect:
Wheatland, (ncar Lancastcr,) Pa.
"Wednesday, Sept. II, 1856.
Sir: / have received numerous COM
munications from sources in California
entitled to high regard, in reference to
the proposed Pacific Railroad. AS it
would DO impossible for me to answer
them all, deem it most proper and
respectful to address you general an
swcr in your official capacity. In per-
forming this duty to the citizens of
California l act in perfect consistency
with the self-imposed restriction con.
tanned in my letter accepting the NOM
inat;on for the Presidency, not to an
swer interrogations raising now and
different issues from those presented
by the Cincinnati Convention, because
that Convention has itself adopted
resolution in favor of this great work.
then desire to state briefly, that
concurring with the Convention, 1 am
decidedly favorable to the construction
Of the Pacific Railroad; and I derive
the authority to do this from tho con-
stitutional power "to declare war;" and
the constitutional duty "to rcpel inva-
sions." In my judgment, Congress
possesses the same power to make APP
preparations for the. construction of
this road, strictly for the purpose of
national defence, that it has to erect
Notifications at the mouth Of the har-
Dor of San Francisco. Indeed, the nc
cessity with view to rcpel foreign in
vasions from California is as great in
the ono case as in the other. Neither
will there be danger from tho prccc-
dent, for it is almost impossible to con-
ceive that any case attended by such
extraordinary and unprecedented Cir
cumstanccs can ever again occur in our
history. Yours, very respectfully,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
TO B. +. WASHINGTON, Esq, Chairman
of the Democratic State Central
Committee of California.
That's great letter-no man can
dispute this point--a great man wrote
tho man can doubt that, for wo are
informed on good authority that the
writer is six feet high, and weighs two
hundred and twenty five pounds, aUith-
ont 6oots!! But observe-the road
is to be made strictly for the purpose
Of national defence )" not a man must
travel on it, except in case of war, nor
unless he wears cpaulcttcs, or shout
ders q muskct And observe, also,
that Mr.. Buchanan says "thcre will
be no danger from the precedent, for
it is almost impossible to conceive that
any case attended by such extraordi-
nary and unprecedented circumstances
can ever occur again in our history p
There is no other place like California!
The Territories of Washington and Or
cgon may be invaded and Welcome
who cares? There is no necessity of
railroad to defend them!
Texas may be invadcd-but there is
no necessity for railroads to defend
Texas; Florida may be invaded, but
no railroads are required, for her de-
fence; Utah may set up for herself,
and establish the empire of Mormon
dom--but We want no railroads to send
troops to Utah; we may acquire the
whole of Mexico at some future day
but no railroads will be wanted for the
defence OF our acquisitions thcre-no
such case as California can crer occur
again! Really, Mr.. Buchanan must
have expected that his election would
depend on the vote Of California
Now, plain, practical man, like.
oursclf, would be apt to conclude, that
if a railroad can be constitutionally
constructed to California by Congress,
for acar purposes, it may be consthu.
tionally constructed wherever Congress
may decide that such road would be
useful for the purposes Of national
defence"
Our notion is that. upon Mr.. Bucho.