Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-04-23

BY RITCHlE G DUNNAVANT.
FRIDAY. April. 23, 1853.
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THE PACIFlC RAILROAD AND VIRGINl.
DEMOCRACY.
The article in the "South" of Monday, furnishes OF
cason for oursory review of some of the multiforl
propositions from different quarters, as to where an
how the Federal Government shall lend it's aid TO IN
construction Of Pacific railroad
First, We have the proposition which contemplate
the construction OF the road entirely Mt Government
! expense and by Government agency. This PROPOSE
tion has one merit. 1t presents tho naked, palpabl
question OF constitutional power and governmental
e1pediency, unembarrassed by pretended precedents
by evasion, or concealment Of any kind. IL the ad
vocates OF internal Improvement development o
territories, military expedency &c, would con
sent to unite Oh this radical platform, we, OF
the old fashioned school of States rights anc
strict construction, would be saved an iniinity
Of trouble. We would be enabled TO meet the
question on its unmistakeble de,ners, and would
be obliged to batter down variety of shams and
pretencea, before attacking the latitudnaran mon
ster lurking behind the screen. Moreover, we can
not believe that the Chief Executive would lend coun
tensnce to any such Wholesale extension of federal
power and increase of federal expenditure.
Nor do We expect that plan of governmental sub.
ventiou, in the shape of contracts for public trans
portation, the real intent of which will be bounty
sufficient of itself to secure the constructions will re.
ceive much favor either from the Executive or from
the Legislature.
The only form in which Pacific railroad bill will
pass, If It passes at all, must embody the fashionable
contribution OF alternate sections Of land This system
will necessarily be fsvorte one among land specu.
ators and will cost less political capital 30 far NJ the
"watoh dogs of the Treasury are concerned Indeed
it will rally to the ride Of latitudinaran construction
all the consumptive elements Of corruption, specula
ton, peculation and demagogue economy.
But 1t seems that, apart from this question of the
method of subvention, there is TO be struggle be.
tween the Northern and Southern lattudinarians az
to the route to be adopted. Mr. Jones, of Iowa, in
sists on Northern route. Mr. Brown Of Mississippi,
"ntends to vote for the most Southern terminus
Mr.. lverson, of Georgia, "proposes al least parti.
ton of the patronage CT the Government between a
Northern and Southern route"
In this state Of things, the path to be followed by
Virginia Democrats is too plain to need finger post
State Government neither to temporizs nor to tamper
with any method or route by which to secure uucon.
stitutional patronage
"The South sets out with this broad grouuI OF
total abstinence from the forbidden lemptation.-
Our own representatives 'shoud content themse
with simple vote against every thing connected
with the Pacific Railroad" From its subsequent re
marks, 1t is evident that our coiemporsry does not
mean to inculcats silent opposition by ts recommen-
dstion of ''simple vote" sgainst every Railroad
scheme Our representatives to flight it at every
point"
II 1.-THE South" had 9toppei here, we could offer it
the asaarance Of hearty ac4uiescence in its views
But the same newspaper afterwards withdrsws from
this position Of absolute negstion:
"But all Southern men should rally to tle rescue OF
Senators Brown and lversoD, and others who demand
fair application Of the public il the Road shall
be made at all. 1t is perfectly parliamentary 10 vote
for amendments to make a proposition obnoxious to
its friends, az little possible TO those who are
opposed toi. Let then Southern Representatives 90
in and fight this question manfully. IL rney can de.
feat it, then the system OF Southern Railroads uniting
at and West of Memphis will make the only pathway
to California If they cannot defeat it, they may ri
least secure come measure of equ ality and Justice in
The application OF the public means.'
=
mends a course Of action which Virginia Democrats
will not fail to rspudiate with proud contempt. Ina
gine such instructions Issuing from the General AS
sembly and addressed to Our Senator's "Prevent IN.
constitutional approprations-preve public plcn
der, Il you cam but, if you cannot :hen take care tc
secure for Virginia due proportion of the unlawful
spoils." May our old Commonwealth be preserved
forever from such questionable expediency--such a
worse than questionable morality!
We have good earnest that the State Of Virginia
will never permit her representatives thus to degrade
her sovereign dignity and cast blemish upon her
antarnished honor.
1t has not heen permitted to her Democratic re-
presentaves to secure any such 'measure of equal
ty and justice in the application Of the public
When the Federal Government ventursd to make an
unlawful distribution Of common fund, instead OF
insisting on this equalization of Dlunder, Virginia re-
fused, and still persistenty refuses to draw one arh
ing's value from such "applcstion of the public
means." And her refusal stands before the world
the proudest earthly monument Of public integrity.
Shall Virginia Senators and Representatives now pro
cesd to stultify and nulify this act of signal honesty
by course Of action dametrically opposed to the
precedent thus established Moreover, 'The South
is pursuing the course, hetter adapted than any
other, to secure the ultimate adoption Of Pacific
rail road scheme. If Southern men to "rally tc
the rescue of Senators Bregn and Iverson," in the
manner proposed by "Tbe South" we may well take
1t for granted that they will offer hearty eectu
al opposition to the final passage Of Pacific raj
road bill. When the honor and conscience OF
Virginia Democrats shall become thus blunted 10 a
sense of principle, they will easily persuade them
selves that all opposition to such is utterly
impractcabls. No. Our Senators ard representa-
tives have but one course 10 pursue. The honor o.
their State requires that they shall not only oppose ar
illegal distribution Of common property in land OIL
money; but that they aha also, in Any event. abstain
from every effort to apply to their use, the use
of the State. any share whatever of public plunder
-sSs-
MIR EVERETT.
The sympathies and regrets OF the many friends
OF Mr.. Everett, will bs painfully excited by the Pc
rusal Of the following GARD:
A CARp.-The subscriber, having this day receiv.
ed letters rem his family, which again make it
ssry for him to return home, begs leave in this way
to express to the public bodies and committees which
have honored him with invitations to repeat his sd
dress ION the character of Washington" his deep
regret that he s obliged, second time, to postpone
the ful6llment Of his engagements.
Charleston, 8. c., April 18th, l858.-l Charleston
Mercury.