The national Republican., 1862-05-05
o.oaor N. wssroN, Iolroa.
Mssday, May s, lssa.
THE PACIFIC nAILRoAD.

Not having had room 10 publish. any Of the
speeches (some Of which ere remarkably sblo)
explanatory Of the Pacific railroad measure ~
ported by the special committee Of the House,
we must 90 far regard the call made BY many
habitual readers Of QUE paper, - 10 Istaae
briefly some Of lie po'nts- .i.t
II. Ono i., 10 adopt as far - that Is possible,
lines Of railroad chartered BY The States, and
thus to diminish the exercise Of national 90.
thority to the narrowest limits consistent with
the exigencies Of The case. This conforms 10
the theory Of our political institutions, which is
TO leave local interests to local direction and
supervision. The general line Of Pacific
railroad must be determlned, Of course, by na-
tional considerations, or, more properly peak.
ipg perhaps, by national geography, but there
may be slight variations Of route within par
ticular States, Of no importance In national
point Of view, but Of deep interest 70 localities.
The Legislatures Of the States, 10 granting rail.
road charters, consider and they are the only
bodies which can properly considsr--thcse
matters Of local concern; and where they have
authorized certain companies to act, Congress
shoud abstain from any interference not abso-
lutely called for by the necessities Of the thing
10 be accomplished.
Another point Of the measure reported 70
the Uou-e, Is TO reserve to the nation, ~ repre-
srptcd by the executive authority, that control
of the main direction Of tho Pacific railroad.
which the nation ought 70 reserve, upoa many
grouods. and especially upon the ground that
i, Is the national credit aud means which are
10 contribute SO largely towards the construo.
ton of the road. The teryini upon the Nilsson.
II river and upon the Pacific coast being fixed,
there is still the question whether the road
shall he built through The South Pass, or down
az far az the Pixies Peak gold region, or shall
crcss the mountains at some intermediate point
This is very large question, remaining site
both teymin; ct the proposed road are fixed
and to be settled hereafter by some body, eithe
by the companies constructing the road, or b,
thc Government. which Is asked 10 aid 70 large
lJ in ito construction. The authors Of the mes
sure reported to the House judged, aud W
think wiseiy, that the control Of this matte
should remain with the nation, and they hav
secured this control by a provision, equal
simple aud efficient. THE provision Is, that
The companies representing the interests whic
may he antagonis!ical in this particular, do nc
agree rs 10 the point st which the 1924 merid
an ot loSg'.ude shall be crossed, the poir
shnll be subject 10 the determination by th
Sccretary Of the Interior. which, in both ia,
aud constitutional law, Is the determination ,
the President. II tho sntsgonis.ical interes
asree, IT will be in consequence Of geogrsph
cal Developments which will leave no room fo
two opinions. But II, as is more probabl,
they dissgree, then the National Executive
TO decide This point Of crossing the lo2
meridian Of longitude (tbe western bouudar
OF Keusas), determines all that is debateabl,
the ierniai being fixed.