Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-02-22

YOU have taken ground against the eSpediency,
practicabtv and constitutonality OF building,
the Pacific Railroad by the General Govern
mcnt The idea seems To prevail that what
ever the Administration may choose to recoin-
mend Or urge should he supported, right or
wrong. wise or unwisc. by all friends and
friendly journals 1t would be wiser and
safer rule to see that the Adminstra-
ton is clearly right MS to the constitu-
tionalitv and cxpediency Of questions, and then
il would be the duty Of all friends and friend
" journals to give their support with hearty
| good will
In the hope that the Pacific Railroad would
prove God-seni TO the Democratic party,
many Democrats and Democratic Journals
pitched in. and aricntly supported almost
anv plan Il Mt was presented for the accom-
plishment of the work. not looking to the fact
that the creates. principles Of conservatism and
constitutional right were involved in such
schemes. and that the establishment Of such
precedcnts by the wiScst and safest political
party of the country might eventually result
| in tho practical subvcrson and abrogation of
our dearest and only secure constitutional
rights and privileges. Let. then. the Demo-
cratic party, and the South. particularly. bv
| MI me.rs, stand fast to q strict-a rigidly
INSTRUMENTATION Of the Constitution. The
| only security and safety Of the Sonth and
Southern institutions will be found in this: and
sure destruction to the Democratic nartv will
! result from anv other courec That the Pacific
railroad will ultimately be made, there is little
doubt; and in many points Of view there
are good reasons whv it should he done az
soon as practicable But let il he done by pri.
vatc enterprise The General Government
rnight-and 10 doubt woull aid hv donations
| Of public lands. Noparty. in NV judgment. can
have this project Of making the PaGfc Railroad
! br the General Government plank in i's
platform without becoming the advocates Of,
I and heinz committed 10 4 liberal. nay moro.
/ latitud;no,ls construction of the Constitution.
! And sucl, party, feel satisfied will never he
| sustained by the American people. The sub
| icct. however. is no doubt disposed Of for the
present session Of Congress. and it is not he
! ceSsarv. therefore. now TO refer 10 1t except in
| general terms. But keep the scheme before
the people. and they will speak out. That the
"Enduircr' would raise its voice against the
scheme, a. presented, was TO have been cx-
pcctec. and spor your continuing TO do 50 rc
NAV confidently rely
There is at this time before Congress, another
! topic or subject 81 far greater magnitude.
allude to the acquisition Of Cuba. ! notice that
on this point, too the Enquirer" is giving MS
! some iuiicious and conservative articles. The
Democratic party and the country should act
with Thought and great prudence in regard 70
| this matter.
We were all Texas men. q mean all sound
! National Democrats Governor Wise. my
choice for the next Democratic candidate Tor
the Presidency. was, think, good and true
Texas man. Let some Of his frien1s who are
sompe,cnt to do so. tell lis all about his partici-
patton on this point; and the Governor will not
he injured. and the people will be enlightened
and cdifed.)
But TO eturn Texas was an Independent
Rarublic: her people were bone OF our bone
an flesh OF our Hcsh," and it was natural that
she should desire to come into our boSon
ard that we should desire to annex her And
though we clearly had the right to do so. still
q war that cost Us much. both in blood and
treasure, was incidentally, ii not directly. the
! consequence We were, nevertheless, Texas
men, and would be again. under circumstances
at all similar. But 20 be for Texas. and to be
| for Cuba, are quite two things. Cuba belongs
! Ia Spain, and We have no right to take her II
we could and II We could. without war
with Great Britain. France and SPain--and
such case Is not at al probable nr reasonable
--trc We prepared 10 Nayit would be ahSisaole'
under all the circumstances and contingencies
Of the case: But a' this case wilPncvcr. IN
all probability. be presented in this shape 1t Is
scarcely necessary 10 think Of it in this point
Of view. The on practical ard perhaps. cor
rcrt view VIC can take OF this Gu1otion, Is this:
/ Cuba belongs to Spain. and Spair. for various
/ considerations will not bc likely 70 sell; and
! the only way We can get Cuba. II spaln Will
not sell is to take the Island. hold il. and then
il recesSarv-aS. no doubt. it would oe-hght
about it afterwards A majority of our people,
! humblv conceive will never consent Ia do
anv such thing lie: us, then, let Cuba alone.
Some Of our Young America New York jour
rals will, no doubt. take his TO be an old fosy
view; but object 70 being either led or dri.
| ven bv any journal or journals in q matter oi
surh grave import.
Let MS NOT, then. take position unless we
arc prepared to sar wc will give our lives and
money freely to Sustain it. and fully 20 accom-
nlish the cni in view am fully persuaded
that the American people are not prepared to
sav that thev desire any journal or journals to
promise their lives sni money in such way.
! And all journals will do wei. 10 wait till they
| find il necessary, in order "a rcH,t: roPnt1r
! sentiment. to proclaim that We must have Cuba
..pcaccably il we can f,rcibly ii we must.
f, There is too much demagosnisn> in our poll.
ties: too much said and done for "Euncombe.
| II may suit the bulls and bear" in the stock
market, to have q war panic every i:1onih or
! two But these WAT Ianics deeply injure many
! Of our greatest intcrcSts-and war that
rni.,ht and would likely result from the acGul'
| sition Of Cuba. would he ruinou, 10 our grea;
! commercial ami mercantile interests; rulnaus
: 10 orr l,reat tobacco and cotton planting inter.
! ests. rninous to national and State credit, and
: runous to Us, almost. in every point OF view;
| for verify believe that if We drift into war
! about Cuba il will be bloody one. The
sword once drawn will not, probably, be sheath
cd again till our flag covers the whole Of North
America Let us, then, closely watch and keep
off the breakers, to which We may be drifting.
The American people, am persuaded WILL
with one voice almost. agree 20 annex Cuta
when she is willing to be annexed, or to pay
! Srain 800 900, 900. or even 5000, ,OoO.D .Do".
whenever she is ready 20 sell. but till such an
end can be accomplished, with equity and
! honor. I.. ns rather stand still in regard -
+ Cuba.
The "Enquircr'S' recent articles parucu'ar-
" those over tie signature o! -. H.: seems
to stir up the bile Of the New York Herald,
- NAV be seen from the following article from
to-day'S issnc:
/ Tur Rrcuvox, "ExqriErR" os THE crH- HTts'
-.cy.--Thc Richmond Enqrircr, :n' Ge'otcd or
gan Of the Democrats Frireigl', q t2..Tno, NJ
ierr- rr rlI;ing FIRE on tie Nha 1"r.s "il!,loi.
! Of !a.e .r:iclc ou the 'rba question, marked No
s.. yay. My mind is Impressed "tt III? r'ntc'e.,
! conyiior :ha, ;he ~i;cie -ch.e both N y: o',-c,,
L.. ~. ,,o, t;,,y .ay. :, rerh:rs :h.rc may ae =
rhange in iii. inu,ic Tho "Ena'iirsr'' ra' so'n'-
rha, cor,emp:ror-,y rerrdia;c'; the eadr. re'nri-
,ncndation> Of tho Pr,siden!'s n:e>sace including;
those in reference 10 the I'hc kail koad- Fev:i"e
.a-i,y General hankrrr !--; Mexico, Genital Ans-
| =. - 81. r.. sI.nnih a ncrocrA.c torcra.