The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-02
AGRAvE CONSIDERATION OF OUR INTERESTS ON

A GRAVE CONSIDERATION or OUR INTERESTS ON
THE PACIFIC-TIIE PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Itseems to be the general opinion that the Pacific
railroad bilhas been given the goby for the present
session of Congress This cannot be otherwise than
subject ofgeneraregret. Ithad occupiedin theSenate
nearly half of the present session. and should have
received a direction decisive of its fate as a public
measure. 1t is known to our readers that the main
provisions Of the bill reported from the special
committee by Senator Gwin, were stricken out, and
a substitute adopted which provides for proposals,
after public notice to build the road on the north
ern central and southern routes be referred TO the
next Congress for adoption or rejection.
tits not doubted that the bill of the committee,
amended before it was stricken out, would have
made the road but the principal difficulty grew out
of the location and entrusting such large powers to
the management of any named authority. That
Pacific railroad, in some form, commands ma
iory of fe votes of both branches of Congress was
made manifest by the discussion and votes of the
Senate. Indeed, the provisions of the bill We're
stricken out hastily, and without much concert OF
action If the vote had been taken the previous eve
ming it is confidently believed it would have been
order to give Senator Douglas who was absent,
an opportunity to vote, on the motion OF Mr..
Broderick, of California, the vote was. postponed
another day this other day was consumed in
the discussion, and the bill stricken out in its
main features late i'll the evening of the follow
ing day Senator Gwin has moved a reconsdera-
ton, and upon that motion the measure now stands
1t is not late yet TO give it vitality as practical
subject oflegisaton, if the Senate would reconsider
and adopt any of the features which thus far have
commanded majority of the votes of that body.
We submit to the democratic opponents of the
measure that there is no good for staving it
off, 1t is now fixed fact that railroad to the Pa
cilic in some form of government aid will be con
structed sooner or later. II is mere question of
time and the loss of time is a national calamity All
parties have gone too far on this subject, and raised
the expectations of the country too high, to be per-
mitted to recede. The democrats were thoroughly
committed to it by the resolutions Of the Cincinnati
Convention, and the letters and first message Of
President Buchanan to ignore it party measure.
Until disposed of by the adoption of measure,
it will be leading aud controlling question i'll every
presidential contest. II seems to lis, if the leading
southern politicians intend to vote against it, they
must perceive that true policy requires that il should
be disposed of before the next presidential cam
paign opens. Its existence then living issue
will materially affect political interests in that can
vass. We submit therefore, to the practical states
men in opposition to the measure that it is wiser to
pass bill under democratic auspices, which gives
the construction of the road to private contractors
than first to be beaten by the measure, and then to
have the road made through the action Of the rcpub-
lican party, by the direct agency of the government
government work.
No opponent of the road Of ordinary intelligence
can believe that the viii, in the course of
the next four years, fail of commanding majority Of
the votes of both houses of Congress Is il not the
duty of The statesman to give that wise and salu
tary direction which he cannot altogether prevent?
Such has been the policy of the great English states
for the last century, and it has s9ed the Brit
ish constitution and empire from wreck as disas-
trous as the French revolution. There is more in
the Pacific railroad than lies tho surface. 1t is
not the part of good sense to shut eyes to its
great political aspects and party relations
The measure has too much strength in the nature
of things to be ovcrslaughed with success or impu
nifty. In its national aspect it is as necessary as
| a work of national defence as all forts along
the sea border. 1t is asserted by all our military
| men, and admitted by every welinformed civilian,
that our sea-coast upon the Pacific, am extent of
600 miles cannot be defended in event of war with
out a railway communication. No other means of
transportation will answer the end To accomplish
it by Qualifications and garrsons would cost ten
The r,ilroaI and hon wpulu not