Mountain Democrat., 1858-01-09
TIL. par,Oc Ra,.v,n,I.
In relation to The Pacific Railroad the Pres.

grcss Is the only true, as well as the only safe the
Ory Of the Constitution. Whilst this principle
shall guide my public conduct, consider il clear
that under the war-making power, Congress may
appropriate money for the construction Of militia
ry road through the Territories Of the United
States, when this 10 absolutely necessary for the
defense Of any Of the States against foreign nva-
sion. The Constitution has conferred upon Con-
gress the power "tO declare war;" "tO raise and
support armies" "to provide and maintain q
W, ;" and to call for the militia to repel invSsiOns.
These high sovereign powers necessarily involve
important and responsible public duties and among
them there 10 none sacred and 90 imperative
that Of preserving our soil from the invasion Of
foreign enemy. The Constitution has, therefore,
lei nothing this point to construction, but ex
pressly requires that "the United States shall pro-
tect each Of them (the States) against invasion" 3"
Now, II military road over own territories be
indispensably necessary to enable to meet and
repcl the invader, 1t follows necessary cOnse-
quencc, not only that VIC possess the power, but
II is our imperative duty 70 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 70 1t the only
means Of reaching and defeating the enemy at the
frontier. Without such road it 10 quite evident
We cannot 'prOtect" California and our Pacific
possessions tfagainst invasion. - We cannot By
any other means transport men and munitions OF
war from the Atlantic States in sufficient time
ccssfCly to defend these remote aud distant por-
tiOns Of the Republic.
Experience has proved that the routes across
the Isthmus Of Central America are at best very
uncertain and unreliable mode Of communication.
But il this were not the case, they would at
be closed against US In the event Of war with
blockade the ports at either end Of these rOutes.-
After all, therefore, can only rely upon militia
ry road through own territories and ever since
the origin Of the government Congress has been in
the practice Of apprOpriAting money frUm the pub
lie treasury for the construction Of such roads.
The difficulties and the expense Of constructing
military railroad to connect our Atlantic and Pa
| ciHc States have been greatly exaggerated. The
iafn fha he
lei Of north latitude, between the western bOunda
| ~ Of Texas on the Rio Grande, andth eastern
boundary Of California on the Colorado, from the
best explorations now within our knowledge, does
not exceed four hundred and seventy miles, and
the face Of the country IT, 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 bcnc-
Hcial for the country. Provisions might thus be
made not only for the sale, rapid, and ccOnOmicaf
transportation u troops and munitions Of war; but
also Of the public mAils The commercial interest:
be greatly promoted BY such road and, above all,
| IL would be powerful additional bond Of uniOn.-
And although advantages Of this kind, whether
postal commercial, or political, cannot confer con-
stitntiOnal power, yet they may furnish auxiliary
arguments in favor Of cxpcditing work which, in
my Judgment, IL clearly embraced within the war
| making power.
l
consideration Of Congress the subject Of the Pacific
railroad, without finally committing myself tO any
particular route.
| This recommendation embodics the same
views expressed by Mr.. Buchanan in his letter
to the Chairman Of the Democratic State Cen.
trail Committee, before the last presidential
election. The genuineness of that letter was
then denied by his opponents, and bis motives
for writing it numerically assailcd. We have
now a forcible argument from the President
earnestly advocating in his official character,
the construction of that work so desired by
Californinns. The President wisely rcfrains
from committing himself to any particular
route. Numerous surveys and explorations
for the purpose of ascertaining the most advan-
tageous and practicable route have been made,
and the reports Of the officers who made them
will be laid before the present Congress. We
trust that no unavoidable delay will be per-
mitted in making the selection, and that the
! work will be undertaken upon such terms as
will secure its most speedy completion. Lib
eral aid from the government must be extend
| cd, and doubtless will be. Our delegation will
permit no trifling difference of opinion in re-
gard TO details, to deter them from united en-.
deavOrs to secure q beginning of the enter
prise. 1t matters very little what places are
chosen rs the termini Of the road. We have
our preference of course, and 30 have others.
Honey Lake settlers want q sight at the iron
horse, and San Bernardino's people { those Of
them who have not gone to Brigham Young)
point to their plains as peculiarly adapted as o
| course for that stced We should rejoice ex-
ceedingly to see him rushing along in this vi
cinity, but we cannot all be accommodated at
first. Once construct tue connecting trunk
road between the Atlantic and Pacific, and the
construction of branch roads will speedily fol-
low. The contentious of spectators must be
disregarded, their schemes thwarted, practi-
cable route selected, and the work COM
menccd under such encouragement as will in
sure its completion.
Experience teaches that Mr.. Buchanan is
right when he says that the work should not
be undertaken by the government itself,
through its own agents. No government can
have work done for it. or purchase material at
the same price that the same could be obtain
ed by private individuals besides, the i'm
mense power and patronage it would place in
the hands Of the government should be avoid.
ed, not only in this instance, but in all others,
where the concentration of patronage in the
hands of any branch of the government, how
ever pure it may be, con be dispensed with.
We shall cheerfully collect for our readers
oil information of the movements of our dele
CATION in the furtherancc of this great national
enterprise.