The Nevada journal., 1857-04-17
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Friday Morning, April ~.
PACIFIC RAIL ROAD.

of rail road to the Paci-
fc All Californians, we are told, must
feel highly gratifed at the views ex-
pressed by Mr.. Buchanan on this inter
esting subject.
How those who are anxious about the
matter can draw any consolation from
the inaugural, we can't possibly see.
1t is remarkably strange that Mr.. Bu
chanan has said so many favorable
things of Pacific rail road, without
m entioning the word Grail road" at all.
He don't tell us that Congress has any
right to build a rail road for the pur-
pose of enriching the country, and ben
citing our citizens, either here or on
the other side; but he only gently in
sinuates that it may possibly have pow
er to assist in constructing a military
road in order to protect California, and
our other Pacific possessions" from the
terrible assaults OF some powerful ene-
my, who may possibly, at some indef-
mite period in the future, invade U.S.
J. ow. military road may necessarily
mean rail road-but we never heard
il called by that name before. If Mr..
Bucba anan had intended to announce
that Pacific rail road ought to be built.
and that the General Government ought
0 build or assist in building it, why
didn't he say so in plain English? AS
1t Is, all this expression of qualification
on the part of his California friends is
b., "a swelling fabrication on a small
fact" He speaks, to be sure, about
more speedy communication; but in
comparison with the present means of
travelling across the plains, any improve
ment at all, by way of a wagon road,
or any facility on the route, would be
an increase of speed. There is not one
single sentence, nor any combination of
sentences, in the whole inaugural, which
indicates the construction of a rail road
by the Government.
But suppose that a military road, in
Mr.. Buchanan use Of words, does mean
a rail road; what false and unworthy
course of argument, does his friends
compel him to adopt What do we
want a rail road for! Ask any intelli-
gent man in the community, and "mili-
tary defense" would be the last reason
he would think of giving. We want
rail road to "promote the general well
fare" This, every man knows and
Mr.. Buchanan knows it. For this pur-
pose, however, Mr.. Buchanan says,
Congress has no power to build one
But" says the same strict construc-
zionist, Congress has the power to con-
struct road for military defense; ="
therefore we'll build a road to promote
the general welfare" but we'll let on
that it is for military defense" This
is truly most dignifed position for a
President of the United States to take
before the world. The only way he
gets round the peculiar and absurd no.
tions of his party on the subject, is by
perpetrating virtual falsehood in his
argument. Truly what reverence
this school of politicians have for that
constitution which they profess so strict
ly to guard.
The fact is, Mr.. Buchanan belongs to
a political party which has alweys de-
MED that the General Government has
any such power as would be necessary
10 the construction of this road, and he
cannot favor it without being inconsis-
tent, and false to the established creed
of that party. Before a Pacific rail
road is built by the Federal Govern
ment, party must be in power, which
believes that government is not a mere
negation but an active agent for pos
tive good. The machinery must be
managed by those who think that the
whole duty of government does not con-
sist ia mere protection, in keeping one
man from cutting another mans throat,
and in putting the country in state Of
" military defense but that govern
ment has power to do some acts for the
promotion of the general welfare, and
the development, and benefit of the in
dustrial interests of the country The
Americans are practical and money
making people, and they think more a
bout increasing their substantial good,
than "seeking the bubble reputation at
the eannen's mouth" The interest
which Californians take in increased
emigration from the states, and the
trade of the East, is much greater than
any dread they have of a " foreign in
vasion." If protection by way of mill
tary defense were the only object in
building Pacific rail road, there would
be but few men in the country, who