Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-21

d
They are committed 10 ii by the Cincinnati
and by their consistent support Of similar inca
Is in degree, and 50 iar in degree cnly a. this
consistently supported have been sectional and
local
Mr. Buchanan has discharged hi, duty N
recommending, in both Of hi, annual messages
To- Congress, the early construction ofa railroad
To the Pacific He ha> wisely LETT the debate Of
thc mode o. il. construction TO Congress
What i, ilic spectacle now presented to the
country: The warmcst admirers Of the Presi-
dent, tho>c who aided in Inserting this plank in
the Cincinnati platform, those who stand idcn-
tled with his administration, now perscyerc in
maintaining ".niro,is silence on this subject
|, il bccali,c tic bills wlii.h have been present.
/ cd heretofore. and those now before Congress
arc defective: Ii 80 amend them. Is it because
the principle involved is not sanctioned by the
( Constitution: II 80. il Is iirir duty to oppose
il und let their constituents know why it is that
! they .'lnnoi carry ou; Measures which they
have recommended and 20 which q Democrats:
administration stands p!cased.
Y one Of the people. | oannn: understand
tie position our representatives in Congress
occurv on this subject. | readily under
stand ~hy il is that they 10 object 10 soInc
i,aturc ~ features Of the yar0u, bills which
hay. l.crn presented Tor the constructors Of
( T. raiiru,l t. the Pacific: but have scsn II"
! cori un their part, To perfect or to aii in the
perfection Of any bill for ihal purpose. or To
give til, measure any conn,enancc o,' support.
If Cnngrcs, have not the power to give land cr
money 10 aid in the construction of thi, road
then they should oppose ii; they shouldnot per-
nit their admiration for Mr. Buchanan or any
one else, oi The success of this or any other Nd
mini>!raticn deter them from faithful dis
charge of their duty To themselves and 10 their
Con- titucncy.
/ ar, greatly at !o,: /, account for the rca-
Snr> which have governed and controlled their
coarsc on thi, subject. cannot hcl"ve that
I they hold that CongrcS, ha. not po:"cr 10 give
I alternate sections al lard for rail road and
! other purposes, when see BY their votes, that
they pat The S:.Ir" construction on that clause
! of tie Constitution which :::vcs Congress pow
( or over the territories that do, and, ! may add
| the Dcmoc::.tic party 10. see that they have
vctCi tor alternate secd1nG q! andS n the
State, ior internal improvements; and, see
! they have voted ~ all lac States, admitted IL
the last lil.cun wears Lands lcr school and cdu-
ca!icnal purposes; | zoe thai they haze giren
millions Of acres nf land tn old soldiers, and
hcrcc | conclude that they put the same con
S;rrct;on on this cla'iSs CT the Constitution
that | do: congress las the power to dispose
al and ma,.c all necd(nl rules and regulations
respecting TERRITORY Of other property belong
ng 10 the United State t'nGcr this clause
,,,, t,l pI | 1t
! thev canno: give alternate sections of land
through the territory io7 the construction Of
thi, road They have already given 10 .hrkan-
si> Missouri and Caliiornia land Tor this purpose
Texas Iii, given large grants Of land for this
purpose. and all they now ask from congress is
a liberal grant ii land and & subsidy in money
smaller than rhr, which Your Atlantic steamers
criov, 10 s.aa, til, gFnt enterprise beyond tn"
possibility OF taiiiIrc sill nur Representa-.
tives and Senators do ma, aii ;:,is great ,nea-
sure.
! Thi, POSITION 81; atire IA, i;'l;i,.t.; u" 10
enquire into AMI cxim;nr. IN -cr whether |
>,ood Oh the Democratic side of the question.
| hive. since the pra..r'a;ion"f Asa Whitney :
n!an fcr 4 p,ci.ic Railroad ia l>ie. been il u
,or q! tn, measure: 1ud n it was ADVOCATED
then hv Democrats. did Tot suppose that it
=
ca,,lcd NV aicG..1rr VI il - ;ndrni!!yuc my
self with that party which has "ver claimed for
: Congress power {" carry Oh = general system
Of internal improvcm'rr. To tho exercise II
such pGw"rl ~ Congrc>>. have ever been op-
pc>",l hold ti,. Federal Government strict
IL /" the exercise e that power which hi>
been gwen 70 il .v the Consstution; leaving to
the STATE. and the people all power which has
ncr thus been delegated. belong to the
+ strirt.rnnStructon school "f politicians. and
h.i supposed that twas long since settled that
Congress had constitutional power to appro-
pirate the public moacy for works Vi internal
mproycrnrnt "f rational character.
There hl-, | gran, been difference oi ol'in-
ion between political parties Ill this country IN
regard IL the Constitutions! power 81 Congress
10 make appropriations for works Of internal
impro, o,cnrul-- the ,ne desired the Government
10 engage in rli:nans system "i local improve
,ucn;S. within the States. The Cumberland
or National road. which Was designed 10 con
ne; the t.a>t with wha; was then the far W c-t.
a, iirs. sanctioned br Mr.. Jefferson. 1t wa
arprovcl iv all our Democrats" Presidents
I down to Mr. Polk. Yet q new light has spr'in:
upon the Representatives .! Virginia, discover
in. that there Is ~ Constitutional power to d"
;hal which 'hcy. il approving the tincinnnt
platform recommended AMI which II! the apoS-
Ties ot Democracy have sar"ticrcd. DO the" not
stand ronmi;tcd 10 such measures. when they
vutc anE,in! appropriations for the removal OF
ol,,tructiou- 10 the i,a,-atiDn oi the Ohio,
Miss;s.,.si and Missouri rivers: They are con
.isient IN this wi.ii 'hr irvariahl' usage ri ilc
penoc.a,i: rartr These are national high
WAYS; and rs such. Congress under that pro
vision of the Constitution which makes 1t the
duty Of Congress :" pr"vid" for the national
defence and general ~rliirc, makes these ap.
preparations.
7 hcy nuiSt in order 81 Justify their present
rn,;tiori. ASSUME that tn" work is not national,
I and. consequently. dncs not come within the
p,lrvcw Of the Constitution; "r that II IS not
! of sufficient interest, 10 the nation or Virginia,
To- command Their attention; or their strict
construction views will uot allow them to grant
! alternate sections Of land for its construction.
! | propose. first. I" show that II Is national,
! and that il doe, COM. within the pury!cw ol
! the Con >titntinn a, admitted hv The apostles "'
| Democracy.
ID That it is of more Importance IN the
! Mon and Virginia than any other subject o'
domestic policy whc! ha. ever engaged the al
tenticn ef Congress.
: 3D. That every Democratic ADMINISTRATOR
stand. committed to the principle upon which
it is proposed TO construct this great work.
! Shall now refer to the opinions Of the lead
crs of the Democratic party. and propose to re-
view their course from lSi6 10 the present
I time OH this subject.
In April, lS4G, a bill WAS introduced in tbs
Senate hy the Senator from Michigan, ("en;,
CaS>. to apply certain alternate sections ol
muhlir land toward the completion Of works OF
internal Improvement in the State OF Michigan
and for other purposes. The I'LL proposed to
ran, To the State OF Michigan alternate see
tions for the construction boz. oi rail road and
canal. In support Of this hill. Mr.. Calhoun
said:
AS far As the Michigan hill wa, concernrd
he understood tic principle was simply giving
alternate sections Of the public land for th,
n,,rr,s, of enhancing the value Of th. remain