The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-07-16

tion," based upon the plea of sentiment
| confess ! do not see the force OF tins
characterization. 1t seems to me 1t Is
cminontly practical. james Buchanan
WAS i'm favor Of the construction OF the
Pacific Railroad by Government, and his
friends had TO so assure the California
delegation to the National Convention
in Cincinnati in 1856, before he could
get their support And yet Mr.. Buchan-
nan was Pennsylvania standing Demo-
cratic candidate for the Presidency long
| before his election. Even Mr.. Calhoun
! who was the impersonatioD and essence
| of State rights, and was ever the most
/ Jealous guardian of the Constitution, was
/ of opinion that when rivers ran through
| TWO or more States the General Govern
mcnt might appropriate to improve them.
Indeed, if the States are unable to com
plete work, and it is necessary to be
done. the power to do So Mr., Calhoun
held, was implied. His reason was
that the States were unable to do II, ana
therefore unless the General Government
did it, necessary work is left unmade
and unfinished. And so, by a parity OF
reasoning, where great highway, IN
its benefit to the nation and State were
to participate, Government could build 1t
or aid in completing 1t. Thus the
General Government has claimed the
right to survey the deep seas. The States
had no money and could not do it, vet
the interests Of commerce required 1t to
be done. 4 part Of the Pacific, between
our country and Japan, was thus sur
viewed by the United States Navy, under
the authority of the General Govern
mcnt The demands of commerce and
the development of the resources OF our
country unite now to liberalize and prac-
ticaliZe the public sentiment on this
question. And if Mr.. Calhoun's doctrine
be right, how irresistible is the conclu-
sion upon the power where, as in the
case Of the proposed Texas and Pacific
/ Railroad. iii to unite the States to the
! Pacific coast, more than ZOO miles
through the Territories OF Tue United
States? Why, friend Wittc, aman who
Is gravcly repining on the constitution
al power of Congress in this, the last
/ quarter Of the nineteenth century, Is
/ simply Il lenient d"scrudent Of old Kip
| Van Wrinkle! | verify believe IN estray
has lcapcd into your editorial senctum
perpetratrd this Solecism.
And here let me say that the South
crn people are practical enough to make
/ application for Government aid only to
/ laudabr enterprises necessary to the
amrioration of their condition, the re-
yIval OF their industries, the advance
ment in the value of their lands, the
| development Of their vast mineral re-
/ sources, with which, in all their varied
| character. these States abound, and they
consider that this application is founded
in simple Justice and equity. 1t Is no
"cmotional legislation that we ask.
That's the last thing We want. We
want hard sense "hurd pan, legislation.
1t was not CONDITIONAL legislation that
has given hundreds of millions Of
money and. of acres OF the public lands to
construction of the Northern and Cen
trail Pacific railroads and their branches,
but il will be- worse than emotional
LEGISLATION TO allow that combination
of powerful porations, with their three
hundred million bank in San Francisco,
lO TclnulA IlbH'l'llsLS VI AhS Shii h'S
way to the Pacific coast! Let our North
ern Democratic friends look to this, and
to the cheap transportation question in.
yolved in il. and then ask themselves lift
is unreasonable for Us to ask for Il
Southern Pacific line to the golden
cuu,t?
The rehabilitation of the Southern States
in their pristine power and constitution
al sovereignty is Il contamination devout-
" to be wished, and for the help our
Northern Democratic friends have given
in this direction, and intend to give Us
in the future, we are profoundly grateful.
Bat this Is great country-ocean
bound. and each section of it is great in
it.clf-the whole must act, therefore
fairly and justly for each, and each for
the whole. Otherwise such auniOn, such
copurtuery, wonld be worse than 4
49,,
Very truly, your,