The Nevada journal., 1858-04-16
OBJ Neoaoa gourual.
PACIFIC RAILROAD.

railway has been evinced on more than
one occasion since the project was seri-
ously broached, not indeed by words, for
that were not policy, but by acts that
are palpably hostile. Under the guise
of friendship to the measure the most
fatal stab is given. When Mr. Buchan-
an wanted the vote of this State, he
wrote railroad letter SO when the
party wants to make point, we hear of
railroad bills, and very few of the party
at such times utter word of opposition
TO the measure. When Mr.. Gwin plays
the role and tries sparingly to call up
his railroad bill, the Senators cannot
help laughing outright. 1t was exceed
insly funny, this game of imposing on
the credulity of the friends of the rail
way.
But the bill of Mr.. Gwin has feasibility
in it and altogether too much merit If
allowed to stand as the only bill before
Congress, sometime in the uncertain fu-
ture it is possible that square vote
might be had on it. This is a contin-
gency to be dreaded, and some provision
was necessary to avert it. Mr.. Phelps,
as will be seen by reference to the tele-
graphic news in another column, has de-
vised plan which ought to be canon
lied i'll the annals of the party. His
project is that the States of Missouri and
California build the great work, each
State half! Mr.. Phelps has "s:ruck it"
and the democracy ought to rejoice.
He has made a most wonderful discov-
cry; nothing less than way to obviate
the constitutional scruples ever enter
tanned by the dominant party as to the
power of the general government over
internal improvements. Mr.. Phelps as
chairman of the committee having the
Pacific Railroad under consideration, has
his old doubts not yet removed, if we
are TO judge by his proposition. The
want of constitutional power on the part
of Congress to build the road is to be
obviated by shifting the work off on the
powerful States of California and Mis-
souri,, and let Uncle San. pay said States
certain triAing "stipendiary emolu-
ments," as Mr. Micawber would say, to
help them along and by way of encour-
agement.
By the project, the States are to get
at most not over $4,000 per mile, while
the road will cost at least $50, 900 mile
over and above that sum-a nice little
outlay for bankrupt State to make,
whose paper is selling at ruinous dis
count. What rational man can counte-
nance the idea for even moment, of the
State of California undertaking to build
the great railway from San Francisco to
the 10Sth degree of west longitude ? 1t
is the most irrational proposition ever
made in American politics. The State
of California is not able to-day, nor will
she be in ten years, (the time allowed
by Mr.. Phelps to complete his railway.)
to build railroad of any length She
is headlong in debt, and much as the in
terests of the State demand a road across
the continent, and much as her citizens
are eager for its speedy completion, the
State would not and could not undertake e
the mighty work. Men of intelligence
in Con gress know this as we'll as we do.
They know it and hatch up some foolish
expedient, it would seem, purrosely, to
prolong as far as possible discussion on
the subject, and postpone to the latest
period definite action upon a bona fde
railroad bill.
1t is evident Buchanan's administra-
tion is to be frittered away in legislat-
ing upon subjects unimportant to us, and
when the 4th of March shall arrive an
nounced by demonstrations of joy that
new president is to assume the reins
of government from his feeble hands,
our interoceanic railway will be where
1t is nova few crooked lines upon a
map, timber growing in the forest, thou
sands of tons of iron in the mines of
England, and ideal pictures of locomo-
tive and train butting a buffalo bull of
the track in the Businesses of a country
where scheming politicians intend the
whistle of an engine shall not be heard
during the continuance of the nineteenth
century.
Ice u. ID. Havens, the well known
ice man. brought into the city a few
days since, tie first lee of the season.
1t is of the finest quality Sherry cob
blers from George Lewis Saloon proved
this fact to our gratiied palates yester-
day afternoon. Hayens will sunnIv tho