The Nevada Democrat., 1858-01-06
rhe pacinc RniIrond.

The following extract from the Message Of
President Buchanan, in regard to the construc-
ton of the Pacific Railroad, will be read with
interest
Long experience has deeply convinced me
that strict construction Of the powers granted
to Congress is the only true, as well as the only
safe, theory OF the Constitution. Whilst this
principle shall guide my public conduct, ! con-
slider It clear that under the war-making power,
Congress may appropriate money for the con-
struction of q military read through the Terri
tories of the United States, when this is absO-
lutely necessary for the defense Of any Of the
States against foreign invasion. The COnstitu-
ton has conferred upon Congress power "to
declare war" "to raise and support armies"
"to provide and maintain q navy" and TO call
for the militia to "repel invasions." These
high sovereign powers necessarily involve i'm
portant and responsible public duties, and
among them there is none so sacred and sc i'm
perative as that OF preserving our soil from the
invasion Of foreign enemy. The Constitu-
ton has, therefore left nothing ON this point to
construction, but expressly requires that "the
United States shall protect each Of them the
States1 against INVASION" Now, II military
road over our own Territories be indlspensably
necessary 10 enable us to meet and repel the il-
vader, it follows as necessary consequence,
not only that we possess the power, but II IS our
imperative duty to construct such road. 1t
would be an absurdity to invest government
with the unlimited power to make and conduct
war. and at the same time deny to it the emily
means Of reaching and defeating the enemy at
the frontier. Without such road 1t 10 quite
evident we cannot protect California and our
Pacific possessions against invasion. We can
not by any other means transport men and mu-
ntions Of war from the Atlantic States in suffi-
cisnt time successfully to defend these remote
and distant portions Of the Republic.
Experience has proved that the routes across
the Isthmus OF Central America are at best but
q very uncertain and unreliable mode of COM
munication. But even il this were not the case,
they would at once be closed against us in the
event OF war with o naval power so much stron-
ger than our ewn as to enable il to blockade
the ports at either end Of these routes. After
all, therefore, we can only rely upon military
road through our own territories; and ever
since the origin Of the government Congress
has been in the practice of appropriatng men
ey from the public treasury for the construc
tion Of such roads
The difficulties and the expense Of construct
ing military railroad to connect our Atlantic
and Pacific States have been greatly exaggcra-
ted. The distance on the Arizonia route, near
the 32d parallel Of north latitude, between the
and the eastern boundary OF California Oh the
Colorado. from the best explorations now with
in our knowledge, does not exceed four hun
dred and seventy mles. and the face Of the
country is. in the main favorable. For obvious
reasons the government ought not to undertake
the work itself by means OF its own agents.
This Ought to be committed to other agencies,
which Congress might assist either by grants Of
land or money, or by both, upon such terms and
conditions as they may deem most beneficial
for the country. Provision might thus be mad
not only for the safe. rapid, and economical
transportion of troops and munitions of war,
but also of the public mails. The commercial
interests Of the whole country. both East and
West. weuld be greatly promoted by such
road and, above all, it would be powerful
additional bond Of union. And although ad-
vantages of this kind, whether postal. CONNER
Cial or political cannet confer constitutional
power, yet they may furnish auxiliary argu-
ments in favor of expeditng work which, in
my Judgment. is clearly embraced within the
war making power.
Fer these reasons commend to the friendly
consideration of Congress the subject Of the Pa
ciic railroad. without finally committing my
self to any particular route.