Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1859-11-09
PACIFIC RAILROAD.

The history Of the halfway legislation
by Congress in relation to the construc-
ton ola railroad to the Pacific, impress>
es the belief upon the public mind, that
there has heretofore been no sincerity in
the reiterated professions Of political
parties and public men in favor Of the
project. To stranger to our system of
government, the tact that both political
parties, in a national canvass, proclaimed
to the world that, in the event Of sucs
cess, the speedy construction of this all
important improvement would become
q leading measure Of policy, and the no
less undenable fact that these promises
have not been fulfilled, must certainly
have the effect of lessening respect for
a representative Democracy. Neither
political party per Sc is chargeable with
this derclicton. Both are amenablc to
public censurc, as both were equally
pledged to the performance Of the prone
ise made in their respective platforms.
The Republican party, in its platform
adopted at Philadelphia in 1856, em>
braccd the following resolution:
Resolved, That railroad to the Pas
citic by the most central and practical
route Is impcrative!y demanded by the
interests of the whole country, and that
the federal government. onght to render
Immediate and efficient aid in the con,
struction, and as an auxilinry thereto,
the immediate construction of an emf,
grant route on the line Of the railroad.
The Democratic party, in Its platform
adopted by the Cincinnati Convention,
Included the following:
Resolved, That the Democratic party
recognizes the great Importance, ia a POI
litical aud commercial point Of view, Of
safe and speedy communication, by
military and postal roads, through our
own territory, between the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts Of the Union, aud It is the
duty OF tho Federal Government to ex>
ercisc promptly all its constitutional
power for the attainment Of that object
1t will thus be perceived that similar
pledges were made by each party more
than three years ago, and vet, notwith.
standing within that period each party
has had an asccndcncy in the popular
branch Of the government, no provision
has been male for giving aid to this
great improvement.
The speedy construction Of line of
railroad from the Mississippi River to
the Pacific Ocean is measure Of vital
Importance to the entire trans Mississin-
pi portion Of the territory Of the United
States. 1t 10 not to be disguised that
delay has been the consequence Of a
contention about routes. But explora-
tons and surveys have been made, and
Congress can not plead ignorance of the
feast bili,y Of the respective lines, as an
excuse for future p ocrastination. No
one who is Influenced by . patriotism
which is not circumscribed by local
interests, but which embraces the whole
Union, will embarrass decisive action,
merely because the line Of road will not
run through his State, his county or his
farm. This contracted view has been a
stumbling block 10 the way Of the reali-
sst'on Of this important consummations
But the time has now arrived Tor prompt
action. 1t is to be hoped that another
session Of Congress will not be permitted
% pas, without vigorous effort be ino
mads By oil parties to discharge an OBJ
LEGATION which each owes to the country
aid Tor the ful6llment Of which each has
given il plighted faith.
Il the contest between the respects