The Placer herald., 1859-03-12
From the Washington Union, Feb. I'd.
A Grave Consideration of our Interests on
the Pacific--.The Pacific Railroad.

1t seems to be the general opinion that
the Pacific Railroad bill has been given the
go.by for the present session of Congress-
This cannot be otherwise than subject of
universal regret. 1t had occupied in the
Senate nearly half of the present session,
and should have received direction decisive
Of its fate as public measure. 1t is known
to our readers that the main provisions of
the bill, as reported from the special commit
tee by Senator Gwin, were stricken out, and
substitute adopted which provides for pro-
posas, after public notice, to build the road
on the northern, central and southern routes,
to be referred to the next Congress for adop-
ton or rejection.
1t is not doubted that the bill of the COM
mittee, as amended before it was stricken
out, would have made the road, but the prin-
cipal difficulty grew ont of the location, and
entrusting such larse powers to the manage
ment of any named authority. That
Pacific Railroad, in some form, commands
majority of the votes of both branches of
Congress was made manifest by the discus
sion and votes of the Senate. Indeed, the
provisions of the bill were stricken out hastily,
and without much concert of action. If the
vote had been taken the previous evening it
is confidently believed it would have been
adopted by a majority OF five or six votes;
but, in order to give Senator Douglas, who
was absent, an opportunity to vote. on the
motion Of Mr. Broderck, 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 in the
evening of the following day. Senator Gwin
has moved a reconsideration, and upon that
motion the measure now stands. 1t is not
too late yet to give it vitality as a practical
subject Of legislation, if the Senator 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 reason
for stavng it off, 1t is now a fixed fact that
railroad to the Pacific in some form of
government aid will be constructed sooner
or later. 1t 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 permitted to recede. The Demo,
Gratis were thoroughly committed to it by
the resolutions of the Cincinnati Convention,
and the letters and first message of President
buchanan to ignore it as party measure.-
Until disposed of by the adoption Of some
measure, it will be a leading and controlling
question in every Presidential contest. 1t
seems to us, if the leading southern poIiti-
clans intend to vote against it, they must
perceive that true policy requires that it
should be disposed of before the next Presi-
dental campaign opens. It's existence then
as living issue will ma erialy affect polti-
cal interests in that canvass. We submit,
therefore, to the practical statesmen in oppo-
stion to the measure that it is wiser to pass
a bill under Democratic auspices, which
gives the construction of the road to private
contractors, than first to be beaten bv the
measure, and then to have the road made
through the action of the republican party,
by the direct agency of the government, as a
government work.
No opponent of the road of ordinary in
teligence can believe that the measure will,
in the course of the next four. years, fail Of
commanding majority of the votes of
both houses of Congress. Is it not the
duty of the statesman to give that wise
and salutary direction which he cannot al
together prevent! Such has been the policy
of the great English statesmen for the last
century, and it has saved the British Consti
tuition and empire from wreck as disastrous
as the French revolution. There is more
in the Pacific railroad than lies on the sur
face. 1t is not the part of good sense to
shut our eyes to its great political aspects
and party relations. ...
The measure has too much strength in the
nature of things to be ovorslaughed with
success or impunity. In its national aspect
it is as necessary as a work of national de-
fence as all our forts along the sea border.
1t is asserted by all our military men, and
admitted by every we'll informed civilian,
that our sea coast upon the Pacific, an ex-
tent of 1900 miles, cannot be defended in
event of war without a railway communca-
ton. No other means of transportation
will answer the end. 10 accomplish it by
Notifications and garrisons would cost ten
times as much as the railroad, and then would
not answer the purpose half as well. If
railroad is necessary as means OF national
defence, there is as much warrant IN the
Constitution for its construction by the
government as for the erection Of fort or
a shp-of.the-lne Nor is there any more
objection to undertake it in time of peace,
as means of preparation, than in construct
ing fort, casting cannon, or collecting ma
terials in our navy yards for vessels-o of-war.
If the road be necessary as means OF
national defence, it is certainly no objection
to it that it will be a powerful agent in the
commerce and general business of the coun-
try; that it will give to the United States
the control of Asiatc commerce, and make
it the centre of population and trade for the
whole world: besides cheapening its mail