Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1850-12-14


Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. 1t is a mistake to
regard expenditures iudiciously made for these
objects as expenditures for local purposes
The position, or site of the work, is neecessari-
ly local; but its utility is general. A ship Ca
nal around the falls Of ST. Mary ofless than a
mile in length though local in its construction,
would vet be national in its purpose and its
benefits, as it would remove the only obstrac- |
ton to navigation of more than thousand
miles, affecting several States, us well as our
commercial relations with Canada. So, too, |
The breakwater at the mouth of the Delaware
is erected, not for the exclusive benefit of the
States bordering on the bay and river OF that
name, but for that of the whole coastwise navi-
cation of the United States, ant, to a consider
able extent also Of foreign commerce.
If ship be lost on the bar at the en-
trance of southern port for want of sufficient
depth of water, it is very likely 10 be Il north
ern ship: and it steamboat be sunk in any
part of the Mississippi, on account Of its channel
not having been properly cleared of obstrac
tions, it may be boat belonging to either
of eight or ten States. l may add, as some
what remarkable. that among all the thirty
one States, there is none that is not, to
greater or less extent, bounded on the ocean,
lakes, or the Gulf of Mexico, or one of the
great lakes, or some navigable river.
In fulfilling our constitutional duties, fellow
citizens on this subject, as in carrying into
effect all other powers conferred by the Con-
stitution, we should consider ourselves as de-
liberating and acting for one and the same
country, and bear constantly in mind that our
regard and our duty are due, not to particu-
lar part only, but to the whole.
! therefore recommend that appropriations
be made for completing such works as have
been already begun. and for CON mencing such
others as may seem TO the wisdom of Con-
gress to be of public and general Importance.
The difficulties and delays, incident to the
settlement of private claims by Congress
amount in many aases to a denial of Justice
There is reason TO apprehend that many un-
fortunate creditors of the Government have
thereby been unavodably ruined. Congress
has such business of public character, that
it is impossible it should give much attention
to mere private claims, and their accumulation
is now so great that many claimants must dcS-
pair of ever being able to obtain hearing.
1t may well be doubted whether Congress,
from the nature ofits organization, IS proper
ly constituted to decide upon such cases. 1t Is
impossible that each member should examine
the merits of every claim on which he is COM
PEELED to vote: and it is preposterous to ask
a Judge to decide case which he has never
heard.
Such decisions may, and frequently must
do injustice either to the claimant or the gov
ernment, and perceive no better remedy for
this growing evil than the establishment OF
some tribunal to adjudicate upon such claims.
III beg leave therefore, most respectfully, to re-
commend that provision be made by law for
the appointment of commission to settle all
private claims against the United States; and,
as an er parte hearing must in all contested
cases be very unsatisfactory, / also recon-
mend the appointment ola Solicitor, whose
duty it shall be to represent the Government
before such commission, and protect it against
all illegal, fraudulent, or unjust claims, which
may be presented for their adjudication.
This District which has neither voice nor
vote in your deliberation, looks to you for pro
lection and aid, and commend all confidence
J that you will meet them not only with justice
but with liberatity 1t should be borne in
: mind that in this city, laid out by Washington
and consecrated by his name, is located the
= Capitol of our nation, the emblem of oul
e Union and the symbol of our greatness
Z Here also are situated all the public building:
: necessary for the use of the Government, anC
! all these are exempt from taxation. 1t shoulc
e be the pride of Americans to render thi:
place attractive to the people of the whole
> Republic, and convenient and safe for thC
e transaction of the public business and thu
n preservation of the public records Tht
e Government should therefore, bear Gbera
! proportion of the burdens of all necessary ant
e useful improvement. And, as nothing coulc
;, contribute more to the health, comfort, ant
: safety of the city, and the security of th,
: public building and records, than an abundan
t supply of pure water l respectfully recon-
: mend that you make such provisions for oh
It tanning the same as in your wisdom you ma,
deem proper
The act passed at your last session, maxim:
certain propositions to Texas for the settlin!
Il disputed boundary between that State ant
the Territory of Mexico was, Immediately o.
{ its passage, transmitted by express to til
0 Governor of Texas, to be laid by hin
: before the General Assembly of its agree
! ment thereto. Its receipt was duly acknow
lodged but no official information has yet bee
received of the action of the General Assem-
! bly thereon; it may, however, be very 500
expected, as, by the terms OF the proPositioh
9 submitted, they were to have been acted upor
! on or before the first day of the present montl
e It was hardly to have been expected tina
9 the series of measures passed at your last ses
sion, with the view of healing the sectiona
: differences which had sprung from the SLAYER.
and territorial questions, should at once hav
= = realized their beneficial purposes. All mu
tual concessions, in the nature OF a compro
e mise must necessarily be unwelcome to mel
of extreme opinions And though withou
{ such concession, our constitutions could no
have been formed, ard cannot be firmly sus
: tained.-yet we have seen them made th
subject of bitter controversy inboth sections o
the Republic 1t reqnirc'
e many month of discussion and dcliberatoI
d to secure the concurrence OF a majority of Con
gress in their favor 1t would be strange
, they had been received with immediate aP
; probation by people and States. prejudicc'
! and heated by the exciting controversies q
I