The Arkansas Whig

THE GREAT QUESTION OF THE DAY-THE PACIFIC RAIL ROAD.

At the present time there is no question which bids fairer to be dragged into the next Presidential contest than that of the constitutionality of appropriating the National revenue to the payment of the expenses of the great Pacific Railroad; and if we are to judge from certain articles which have lately appeared in the Washington Union, it is not improbable that the Democratic party itself, may be divided in opinion upon the subject. One thing is quite apparent already, and that is, that Col. Benton is resolved, if possible, to thrust himself before the people, in some way or other, as a candidate for the Presidency in 1856, and that he will attempt to ride into power upon that hobby. It is equally evident that the Whig leaders will also fasten upon it; because no plan has ever yet been suggested for draining the public treasury, which did not meet with their cordial approbation. Should both these factions adopt a plan of constructing this road at the expense of the General Government, and make that plan the issue between parties in the coming Presidential struggle, the true Democracy will be left where they should be -on the right side of the question, nobly contending for the Constitution and the principles which they have always professed; and it may be, that the sooner the issue is made, the better. This we are lead to believe, from the fact that the Union of the 29th of July last, takes bold ground in favor of the plan, and leaves the inference that all other Democratic papers in the United States acquiesce in its views, unless they shall speak out in opposition to it, in good time; and, determined as we are to adhere to the original landmarks of the Democratic party, on this and all other questions of State and National policy, we take this early opportunity to enter our solemn protest against it, though we shall not, on this occasion, go into a long disquisition upon the subject. What new light the Union may have discovered in relation to it, we know not, nor shall we take the trouble to inquire, since the principle involved in that enterprise is the same which has been so repeatedly repudiated by the Democratic party, and one which can never be sanctioned by it, without a shameful departure from Democratic faith and practice. It is useless now to advert to the many instances on record, where the Democratic party has borne high and strong testimony against National appropriations for the furtherance of such works of Internal Improvements, or to call up the Constitution to show that such appropriations cannot be made, in accordance with its provisions; but at a future time, if necessity calls for it, we shall recur to both, and show that an advocacy of the Union's doctrine, upon this subject, is as preposterous and anti-Democratic, as any argument which the Whig papers have urged in behalf of similar appropriations, for the past twenty years. Our present object is only to let our Democratic friends, throughout the Union, know that we stand opposed to all such works at the expense of the General Government, and that it is our intention to war against any appropriation for this particular road, unless it can be made appear that its construction is absolutely necessary to the national defence; and believing that our cotemporaries and readers generally will understand the position we intend to occupy, we add no more at present.

Paducah Jour.