Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-04-13

OF us own and the pOsitioh oi tut uoihoO-
racy, on the subject of building this great
Road That paper argues, at great length,
the constitutionality of aid from the gener-
al government, and concludes that there is
no authority to be found in the coDstitu-
ton to justify Congress in engaging in the
enterprise. 1t holds that the energies and
capital of private individuals, if left free,
will meet and supply all great necessities of
this kind, much more expeditiously and
economically, than if undertaken under the
management and direction, and at the ex-
peuse of the general government. Upon
these conditions, it espouses the project
with great zeal and fervor. 1t places the
Pacific Railroad question, on the same foot
ing with other internal improvements by
the general government and says that 'no
one can deny that the position of the DEM
ocratic party has been plain and uniform"
on that subject. This assertion is made in
the face of the fact that President Buchan-
an, the personifcation and exponent of the
democratic party and its principles, occu-
pies at this moment position diametrical-
ly opposite to that assumed by the Union
and american upon this subject-to say
nothing of the part taken by the late ad-
ministration in the survey of routes to the
Pacific at the national expense, and the
immense amount Of annual appropriations
by democratic Congresses, aiding improve
ment enterprises of far less national char
acter. 1t is singular that our neighbors,
well informed as they must assuredly be, of
the uniform" action of that party, should
gravely assert uniformity of position" on
this subject. 1t may be very true that it
has been declared "a distinctive feature"
in every democratic platform "since the
adoption Of the National Convention sys-
tenn" but what do platforms amount to,
when the distinctive" action of that party
has been the reverse. But our purpose is
not now, to enter upon a discussion of the
doctrines sought to be revived by our
neighbors; our present object being to re-
vert more particularly to opinions hereto
fore entertained by one, at least, of the
present editors of the Union and american.
In an article published some days since,
reviewing the course of the "old pilot" we
stated that in 1S49 he Fairly held that
Congress had the power to survey the route
and build the Road" to the Pacific. To
this he replied that he did not "think that
any fair construction of any thing in his
paper justified the statement" made by us.
We would be very far from attempting to
our neighbor, or to give even
an undue coloring to opinions he may at
any time have entertained. We therefore
furnish below, an extract from the Nash
vile Union of Feb. l. lS49 In consider
ing the Importance of the road, and the
various routes, which had already, at that
day been proposed, our neighbor said.
"But, while the vast Importance of such con-
necon is and felt by all sections of the ooun-
try that route which possesses the greatest natural
advantages, which will confer the greatest benefits
upon the whole country, and which offers the few
est obstacles, will be most likely to obtain the Jvor-
able consideration Of Congress if pressed upon its
attention in a proper manner by those most imme-
diately and directly interested in its success"
In the course of the article of which the
above is an extract, the editor introduces
a series of resolutions passed at the capitol
of the democratic State of Arkansas,
few weeks previously. His remarks con-
Gliding the article and introducing the re-
solutions were as follows:
Have we not said enough upon this subject TO
arouse the attention OF our citizens TO the mpor-
lance of this enterprise and to the necessity Of i'm
mediate actioni
The following arc the proceedings of q meeting
Of portion OF the citizens Of Arkansas, held at
Little Rock, upon this subject. Shall zee not coope-
rate nth them in their efforts to this great
and magnificent prize:
We here append one of the resolutions
which was deserving the Evaporation Of our
citizens" and from which it will be seen
that the Little Rock meeting anticipated
the position and line of argument at pre-
sent held by Mr.. Buchanan.
"Resoiued further, That we regard this as erea,
national work, fully pitkin the constitutional popey
Of Congress- for the that the proposed route
lies wholly within the limits Of the limited States.
or her territories not yet admitted into the U ion,
and will be needed as a government ros 4 for mill
tary communications and the transportation of |
troops and munitions Of war for the posts on the
western frontier aud shat incidentally il will be the
outlet for emigration TO those distant regions and
bring into market the newly acquired public do
main, which would otherwise remain uusod for |
ages; and besides opening a new highway for the |
foreign commerce of the eastern hemisphere, will |
afford encouragement and facilities tor vast 10 land
trade, between the people Of this Uuiou; and that
FOR tkis constellation re deem Il the dstV of Con.
PRESS to construct this road, and as the frst step
thereto 20 cause the route TO be serVeyed by COM
Detent crops Of engineers this meeting being salts
ied that upon . fair comparison with any other |
proposed route, the one from Memphis 10 Monterey
will be selected the 10 al respects the most
siigible aud feasible"
We repeat that we did not refer to this
subject in the outset for the mere purpose
Of convicting our neighbors of inconsis-
tency. 1t was to show the democracy of |
Tennessee, the uncertainty of their opin-
ons when formed upon this model, and the
Of their thinking for themselves.
American Mseuag.
We have not sufficient space room for