Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-12-04


each oil them Sovereign Powers. The Legislative
authority OF the whole is exercised by Congress
under authority granted them in the common Con- |
shtu'ion The legislative power Of each State is |
exercised by assemblies deriving their authority |
from the Constitution of the State. Each is soye
reign within its own province. The distribution |
oil power between them presupposes that these |,
ouh orines VIII m,ve IN harmony with each other. |,
ne mem oers OF the State and General Govern !
ments are all under oath 10 supnort both and ale
glance is due to the and TO the other The
case OF a conflict between these two powers has
not been supposed; nor has any provision been
made Tor II In Our institutions; as a vrtuous Ma
ton OF ancient times existed more than FIVE CEN
turtles without a law FOR tho punishment ofpar-
ricide.
More than once, however, in the progress ofour
history, have the People and the Legislatures OF
one or more States,i moments oil eXcteincnt, been
instgated TO this conflict and the means OF effect
ing this impulse have been allegations that the
acts oil Congres 10 be resisted were uiconstitu.
f,onot. The People OF no State have. ever
delegated TO their Legislature the power OF pro-
nouncng an act Of Congress unconstitutional; but
they have delegated TO them powers, by the exer-
else OF which the execution Of the laws of Congress
within the State may be resisted. II we suppose
the case OF such conflicting legislation sustained
by the corresponding Executive and Judicial au.
tho'ities, Patriotism and Philanthropy turn their
eyes from the condition in which the parties would
De placed, and from that of the people of both,
which must b. its victims.
he reports from the Secretary of War ard
from the various subordinate offices of the resort
oil that Department. present exposition OF the
public administration OF affairs connected with
them, ,ro the course of the current year The
present state OF the army, and tho distribution OF
the force OF which it is compo led, will be seen
from the Report Of the Major General Several
alterations in the disposal OF The troops have been
iound expedient in the course of the year. and the
discipline OF the army, tho entirely free from
exception. has been generally good
ne attention OF Congress Is particularly invited
TO that part OF the Report OF the Secretary of ar
which concerns the existing system OF our rcIa-
ions with the Indian tribes. AT the establishment
OF the Federal Government, under the present
Constitution Of the u s., the principle was adopt
ed oil considering them as foreign and independent
powers; and also as proprietors OF lands. I hey
we're, moreover, considered as savages, whom 1t
was our policy and our duty to use our influence
IN converting TO Christianity and in bringing with
III the pale Of civilization.
Asindependent Powers, we negotiated with
mem by treaties; as proprietors, we purchased OF
them all the lands which we could prevail on them
to sell; as brethren Of the human race rude and
ignorant, we endeavored to bring them TO the
knowledge OF religion and of letters The ultimate
design was to incorporate in own institutions
that portion of them which could be converted 10
the state of civilization. In the practice OF Eu.
ropean States, before Revolution, they had
Deem considered children 10 he governed; as
tenants at Discretion 10 be dispossesscd occasion
might require; as hunters, to be indemnified by
rfhihg concessions for removal from the grounds
upon which their game was extirpated. In chang
ing the system, it would seem as if al full contem-
pIatlon oil the consequence Of the change had not
oeen taken We have been far more III cccssiui
Ill the acquisition OF their lands than in imparting
TO them the principles, inspiri ny them with the
spirit oil civilization. But in appropIiatng to our
selves their hunting grounds,w have brought up.
on ourselves the obligation of providing them with
subsistence; and when we have had the rare good
fortune OF teaching them the arts OF civilization
and the doctrines OF Christianity, we have unex-
pectediy found them forming, in the midst of our
selves, communities claiming to be independent OF
ours, and rivals OF sovereignty within the terrific
RES OF the members OF OUR Union This state of
tnings requires that remedy should be provided
remedy which, while il shall do justice TO those
unfortunate children of nature, may secure to the
members oil our confederation their rights of SOW
erelgnty and OF soil. As the outline of project
to that effect the views presented in the Report OF
the Secretary OF w ar recommended to the con-
sideration OF Congress.
The Report from the Engineer Department pre-
l Sents comprehensive view of the progress which
mas peen made IN the great systems promotve OF
the public interest, commenced and organized
under The authority Of Congress, and the effects
OF which have already contributed to the secu-
my; dS they WIN hereafter largely contribute to
the honor and dignity of the nation.
The first OF these great systems Is that of forti-
ncauons commenced Immediately after the close
Oh our last war, under the sautary experience
winch the events OF that war had impressed upon
H.
der The auspices OF my immediate predecessor, il
has been continued with the perseveIine and lib
erai encouragement OF the Legislature /; and com
Dined with corresponding exerlions for the grad
"ai increase and Improvement OF the Navy, pre-
Parcs Tor our extensive country condition OF de-
fence adapted 10 any critical emergency which
inc varying course OF events may bring forth
Oar advances in these concerted systems have
iCr the last ten years been steady and progress
slve ; and in few years more viii be so compile
TED as 10 leave o cause for appre en- sion thai our
sea-coast will again offer theatre OF hostile
inv dsion
The nexto these cardinal measures of policv
Is me preliminary 10 great and lasting works oi
pubhc improvement, III the surveys OF roads, ex
animation Tor the course Of canals and tabors for
lhe removal OF the distractions OF rivers and
harbors, first commenced by the Act OF Congress-
OF Goth April, 1924.
The report exhibits in one table the funds an
Prop'iated at the last and preceding Scss ons OF
Congress, Tor all these Notifications SURVEYS and
works oil public Improvement; the manner i'm which
'hese funds have been applied, the amount ex-
pehceu upon the several works under construc-
ton, and the further sums which maybe ueces-
sary 10 complete them. In second the works |
projected by the Board of Engineers, which have
not been coInD' need, and the estimate of their
cost
=, in Third, me report of the annual Board of
VIsiters at the Military Academy al West point
For thirteen Notifications ere cted on yario,s points
OF our Atlantic coast from Rhode Island TO Louis
iand' tne aggregate expenditure of the wear has
fallen little short o, one million ofdollars.
fof the preparation OF five additional reports of
reconnossances anu surveys since the last Session
oil Congress, for the civil constructions upon ib;r
ty.seven different public works commenced. eight
others for which specific appropriations have been
maze ny Acts OF Congress, and twenty other Incl
pient surveys under The authority given by thf
&c, OF 5olh Aprii, 1874 about one million more oil
OflaFa hou l,.4...