The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-07-21
THE ATTITUDE OF NATIONAL PARTIES
PACIFIC RAILROAD.

late 10 the furnishing of national aid to the con-
struction OF railroad TO the Pacific and to the
Iermini and location of such road. The pro-
posed work is gigantic, and its consequences, in
controlling the course of population and trade
are intellectually great
In proportion TO the Importance of the subject
IS the importance of exhibiting the attitude
towards a Pacific railroad, of the two parties
which divide the country.
The Pacific railroad question occupied the CHIEF
attention of the Senate, during the first part OF
the late session of Congress. The debates were
protracted and the votes numerous. IL does not
come within the range OF the present paper, TO
exhibit these debates and votes in minute detail,
nor is it necessary to do so, in order to under
stand the general course and purposes OF the two
parties upon this subject.
The original Pacific railroad bill, which was
the foundation Of the debates and proceedings in
the Senate, and which had been agreed upon 10y
a select committee, provided for national aid,
chiefly in the form of land grants, for a road COM
mencing at some point between the mouth of the
Sioux river and the mouth of the Kansas river,
and terminating at San Francisco. On the face
of the bill aud looking merely to the two term-
ni named in it, what contemplated was a
Central road Indeed il may be admitted, that
no road, not central in its location, would be
likely 10 be actually constructed between San
Francisco and point on the Missouri river lin
Sioux.
IT, therefore the proposed national aid had
been made contingent upon the completion OF a
road between such point and San Francisco,
the centrally of the intermediate location might
have been regarded as substantially secured.
But this was not the condition upon which the
bin proposed to give national aid to the work,
and from the nature of the case, could not be
The precise ground upon which national aid was
solicited, was that the work was beyond the
range of private enterprise and private means.
To deny national aid, until the road was built,
was to deny national aid altogether. What was
necessary, and what was admitted on all hands
TO be indispensable was, that national aid should
be afforded as the work progressed; so much
land, or much money, or both, for so many
miles Of road constructed. Hence it was, that
lhe bill reported TO the Senate by the select com
mittee really determined nothing beyond the
starting point of the road. That was limited be-
tween the months Of the Sioux and the Kansas
but all beyond that was at the discretion of the
contractors. They might pursue Central route,
looking to San Francisco as Il Pacific terminus,
or they might follow diagonal line down to the
thirtv-second parallel of latitude, looking to San
Diego, or Guaymss, "a Pacific terminus. Ia
either event the, would receive the whole bene-
fit of the provisions secured 10 them by the bill
an proportion To the miles of road constructed.
II was of no consequence, that the bill, on the
face of il, seemed TO contemplate road TO San
Francisco. because there was nothing in the
terms Of the Diil tending 10 insure such a result
San Francisco was in the title of the bill, but
nowhere, in any one of the sections of it, was
anv security provided for the construction of a
road to that point or even towards il. In fact,
the hill not only left unrestricted discretion
TO the contractors in respect TO the route TO be
taken. bat offered them bounty to take a route
which was not towards San Francisco, and which
would never terminate there. IL was by the
diagonal liue, running down to the thirty-second
parallel Of latitude, that the contractors would
have a route tor the longest distance through the
best country. and consequently obtain the most
valuable land grants. Beyond any reasonable
question IL was this Diagonal line which WIS
Ieally contemplated 10y those who framed the
DILL Not only isit safe to i0ier, that precisely
that was intended, which the peculiar provisions
of the bin would certaiuly bring about, hut this
inference has all the verify Of demonstration,
when II i remembered that those who controlled
the framing of the bill, represent political aud
geographical interest, OF which one OF the dar-
ling objects has long been Southern railroad
route To- the Pacific Ocean.
1t is not necessary, and indeed is of;rn worse
than useless 10 resort Ia the declarations oi par
ties as set out in what are called platforms, a
means OF determining what they will do if in
trusted with power. In the ordinary concerns
others solely from their declarations, and act
apon Judgment SO formed, would Toe set down
As mailman. In private affairs, we Judge OF the
probable conduct vi those with whom We trans
act business. by considering their position and
their interests The same rules hold good in
public affairs, ia private. Mere declarations
are of little consequence ut the best and of none
at ALL when at variance with known intentions
and fixed interest,".
sI;s ,natta. of railro.1 10 The Pacific II
Is certain that the free States must desire one
upon a Central route terminating upon the Bay Of
San Francisco. They must desire it, because II
is geographically convenient for them, because
il promises them commercial advantages, and
because it harmonizes with their political views
by expanding population in their own temperate
latitude and of cast of civilization substantially
like their own. 1t is equally certain that the
States upon the Gulf of Mexico, which control
the policy Of all the slave States desire a Pacific
railroad as far as possible To the South, and IL
terminate at San Diego, at Guaymas or at Ma
ZAtian
In this case the conduct of parties has been
exactly in accordance with the policy which
would have been anticipated from considera-
zion of their geographical interests. The Repuh-
licaR party which represents the free States
pronounced distinctly for "A Central Pacific rail
road In their platform adopted at Philadelphia
IN 1856 IN so pronOuncing, it only gave express
sion in words 10 "A policy which inevitable
and which can never be altered far as tina
party is concerned. The Democratic party, OF
the other hand has been for Southern Pacific
road from the first, and must SO continue, because
such a road is for the interest of the States whicl
control il. Two successive Administrations a
Washington, representing that party, have de
voted their whole energies to fixing the Pacif
railroad upon a Southern route. The Gadsdei
Purchase, made five years ago at cost of tel
millions of dollars, was for that admitted pur
pose aud the policy which then controlled Gen
Pierce, has since controlled Mr.. Buchanan. in es
tablishing the overland wagon mail to the Pa
ci6c upon the thirty-secOnd parallel of latitude
by a clear usurpation of power not conferred
upon him 10y law. Indeed, there is abundant rea
SON for believing that the present President o
the United States has lent himself to "a pocl
which looks to a Pacific railroad much farthe
20 the South than was contemplated at the perio,
of the Gadsden Purchase, and that the Obtainin,
of a route for such a railroad is a leading obec
IN those further acquisitions of territory iron
Mexico which be l. known to favor
This general sketch of the position of parties
will explain the views which were entertained i,
the Secate, upon the presentation of the railroa,
project OF the select committee.
That committee, in the composition of the ma
iority of it. represented the Democratic party
The chairman of il, MIR Gwin, although nomi
nally Californian, was of the extreme South il
his origin and associations, snd according 10
belief which if ill-fonnded, was at any rate, gen
.sral had no interests in California beyond TEN
Porary, political ones, and was looking TO a re
nova! from the State, so soon as these interest
should terminate. Another Democratic membe
of the committee from the free States Mr.. Doug
las. was under heavy suspicion of being in tn
interest of the South from variety of motive
well understood and not necessary TO be detaile
here. The constitution of the committee was, /