The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-12-17

MI buGldhaH having toHie oul III Id'oi Vi lite
general government aiding in the construction
Of railroad from the Mississippi to the Pacific
The Richmond Enquirertries to smooth the mat
ter over, by declaring that the democratic par
ty are ID no way responsible, and therefore can
not be held accountable. for the peculiar views
entertained By Mr.. Buchanan. That his eleva
ton to the presidency cannot be strictly termed
a democratic triumph, as be was centered OF
and supported by all those who were opposed
TO the northern sectional movement of Fremont
That he was not nominated by the Cincinnati
convention oil account of his known adherence
to the principles of the democratic party; but
on the contrary, received the nomination be-
cause ofhis greattalent. experience, known con-
sentative character, and personal Popularity
The Cincinnati Enquirer. the leading democra-
tic paper in tie western country, goes further
and says: e5as
Those who have always regarded Mr.. Buch-
anan as one Of the truest of that class of states
men, who adhere with answering fidelity to the
good old doctrine which has protected this re-
public from so many perils and evils, and pre-
served it in al? its vigor and harmony tothe pre-
| sent moment-f-the doctrine of the strict con-
structon Of the constitution the Limitation Of the
/ powers OF the federal government to such sub
lects as are expressly referred to in the const-
tuition, and the preservation to the States and
to the people Of all powers not so granted
will regard with incredibly the declarations of
this letter { Mr.. Buchanan's 10 the people OF
California; thatcongress hos poueer TO construct
railroad TO the Pacific ocean, as emanaline
from the inveterate opponent of banks, tariffs
| and internal Improvements by the general gov
eminent The first important speech ever made
by Mr. Buchanan in congress was in favor of
president Monfoe's veto of a scheme OF internal
Improvement not SO grand. extensive. nor Of
such clear unconsttutionalItF as the Pacific rail-
road scheme. MIR. Buchanan then gave his full
support aHd sanction to the views OF Mr. Mad
ison, John Randolph and others, that the fed
eral government had no poaeer to construct roads,
canals or other works, 10 facilitate commerce,
to aid in the transportation OF mails, or for any
of the purposes for which said works were de-
signed: and that nothing could be more dan
gerous than to vest the federal government
with this enormous power, this terrible means
OF corruption and invasion of the sovereignty of
the States. John Randolph, in his felicitously
illustrative style, compared this power to CON
ssruct highways TO vagrant that had been
kicked fron parish TO parish, and was driven at
last into that general asylum of all doubtful
powers-"the general welfare clause" X
Ii was established as the true doctrine of the
democratic party, that there was no author
ity whatsoever in the federal government TO
construct public roads and canals passing thro'
the States, and that the exercise of such pow
er would be full of danger to our whole svs- !
TEN. We cannot imagine a clearer case of the !
danger OF such system than is presented in !
this grand scheme of constructing railroad, .
which will cost $500, 0Oo, O00, and the control .
OF which vii. place in the hands of the general
government d more powerful patronage and in
t1uence than were dreamed of even by the old .
iederaLsts, or the advocates of the great Amer
lean system in the time of the second Adams.
We cannot n ow 60 fully into this question: but
will enter our protest against anHesuch con-
struction of The federal constitution as will give
he government this enormous power. The
question came be lore the democratic conven-
ion which sal in this city, and there was de-
,ided majority against The right and power to
construct this work, and in the committee on,
resolutions there was we have heard, a unani-
nous vote against it. A vague and indefinite
resolution IN sarcr; OF the measure was howev-
r. forced upon the convention by the pertina-
'lty OF the California delegates, and was passed
owards the close of the session, when the tenn 4
Der OF the bocy was notvery favorable to calm !
elaboration and wise decision. In the final t
'ote Pennsylvania voted against it, in spite of
he menace. of tho California delegation and
heir Withdrawal Of their vote from Mr. Buch- .
nan. in the canvass for the nomination. The
esoiuton Was no fair expression of democratic T
pinion, and is at war with the settled princi-
les of the parity. It's object can never have Il
ur assent oraPprovaI'
The Memphis Appeal endorses all the Gin K
innati Enquirer says; but believes that the let
iris base forgery" unmindful OF the awk- c
ard position in which the insinuation places f;
efore the world 'tthe democratic executive a
9mmittee Of California" to whom the letter =
as addressed ;by whose authority it was it
lbshed 9.
The statesrishts journals of South Carolina, a
eorgla and Alabama are fully as violent in ii
cir denunciatious Of Mr. Buchanan's letter. =
rgeteins in theirire the fact that secretary jeff ii
avis the living personifcation of their .enets hi
me three years ago openly advocated the con- HI
ruetlon BY the general government ola rail til
ad TO the Pacific. and stroye to make the en- di
rprise one OF The grand features of the Pierce &C
mnstration; bat was thwarted through the 50
nerity and vaciIlation of the president and Sc
atary Marcy. Mr. Buchanan presents to the -.
'rld the singular Anomaly OF president-elect, "
en- before be assumes his oficiasautiex a3vo- 10
ling principles which the leaders of The party as
at elevated him TO power repudiate and de- -,
re 10 be wholly at variance with the doc ="
nes OF their party. A few short weeks ago -
same gentlemen declared that Mr.. Bueh- Pf
an was The purest type of democracy extant: 81
It his every word and action was democratic
w they tell Us thai they protest against any Oe
III construction OF ihe federal constitution, or
he puts upon it, Democracy appears to be-a Pc