New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-12-07
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE, WEDNESDAY DecmMorn Z.

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ih''fh'p 'H"i'"e"l :" y""f 'nfldffe"r Nif ''v"'"'
spijap Which r ,ey judgment demands ihs sgsar aes
~ I"nF,ssa vii ptsanl ynu. " deemed desirable.
plan, which sm prepared ~ recommend, ~ no 90
IsTe"s"' and modification ~ 'e pfssen' judicial sysT'n
The sD 81 fDnef,as establishing tis u Hiligniap ina
tuition 4nvi,d ihai s Irsinnl ~ Tho United States. AM
oLe p,fsons ihofoia dslgnaoi ahoal constitute An "ea
ialfhmom ny thai name, aud that tho members sh aid
bold atsd aud spechi nfeingr Tor he auperyisin ~ No
nnslrH 81 tho Institution The organization no. having
iet'n place, seemed 60 proper iat IL -honl be- 81
ifcrd without delay. This has been done and an occr
ion thereby prs-ehtcd for n- Getting the condition ~
the Intuition and apprecatng 10 successful progress
thus far and IL high promise Of great aud general use
ulnoss.
have omitted 10 ak your favorable consideration for
the estimates Of works Of local character In twenty
Of the thirty one States amounting TO one mi5n seven
hundred and fifty four thousand i've hundred dollar De
cause independently Of the grounds which have 50 often
been urged against the application Of the Federal Revenue
works OF this character inequality with consequent IN
justice il inherent in the of the proposition and be-
the plan has proved entirely inadequate to the
complement Of the objects sought.
The subject of internal improvements, claiming alike
the interest and good will of ali has nevertheless been the
bssis Of much political discussion, and has stood as
deep craven line of division between statesmen OF eminent
ability and patriotism The rule Of strict construction of
all powers delegated by the States the General Govern
has arrayed tsel from time to time against the rapid
progress of e1pe ndtzres from the National Treasury
.orL 90 Iii chorac.r ,r;tb;n the States Nemorable
epoch in the history Of this subject is the Message OF
Preside Jackson, Of the eth OF May $780, whicn met
the system of internal improvements IN It's comparative
infancy but so rapid had been lis growth that the pro
eced appropriations in that year for works Of this charac
ter had risen to the alarming amount OF more than one
hundred millions Of dollars
In that message the President admitted the difficulty Of
bringing back tie operations of the Government 10 the
construction If the Constitution set upin 1928 and marked
t.fs
instrument with Flee vigilance, against the authority
OF procodens which had not the sanction OF ts most plain
y defined powers
Our Government exists under a written compact be
tween sovereign States uniting for specific objects, aud
with specific grants their general agent H. them in the
progress Of it, administration there have been departures
from the terms and intent of the compact it is and vail
be proper to refer back TO the fixed standard which
our fathers left and 10 make stern effort to conform
action TO IT, IL would seem tina, the fact OF principle
having been resisted from the first by many vi the wsest
and most patriotic of the Republic, aud
policy having provoked constant strife without ar
irving al conclusion which can be regarded sasfac
tory to it, most earnest advocates should suggest the
inquiry whether there may not be plan likely to DO
crowned by happier results Without pereeiying any
sound distinction, intending TO assert any principle az
opposed improvements needed for the protection of in
teInal commerce, which does not equally apply to i'm
upon the seaboad for the protection OF foreign
commerce submit 70 you whether may not be safely
anticipated that, II the policy were once settled against
appropriations by the General Government for local i'm
proyemens for the benefit 20 commerce, local ties ~
curing expenditures would no., by modes and means
clearly legitimate and proper raise the fund necessary for
such construction the safety or other interests OF their
commerce might require
Ii that can be regarded as a system which, in the
perence of than thirty years has az no time 50 com
marded the pablo Judgment az to give it the character OF
Of conceded Importance has been attended with an
expenditure quite dpoporonate to their vaue-and has
resulted in squanderng large sums upon objects wnch
have answered valuable purpose-he interests OF all
the States require TO be abandoned unless hopes may be
INDUCED for the future which lind no warrant Ia the
past.
With an ANXIOUS desire for the completion of the works
which are regarded by all. good citizens with sincere in
teres have deemed it my duty 10 AJAX at your hands
deliberate reconsideration Of the question with hope
that animated by a desire promote the permanent and
substantial interests of the country, your wisdom may
prove equal the task Of deyising and maturing plan
which, applied to this subject, may promise something
better strife the suspension OF the powers OF
local enterprise the exciting of vain hopes and the dis
appointment Of cherished expectations.
In eXpendDg the appropriations made Dy the last Oon
cress cases have arisen in relation works for the
Of harbors which involve question "a to the
night Of soil and jurisdiction and have threatened conflict
between the authority Of the State and General Govern
The right to construct breakwater, Jetty or
dam would SEEM necessarily carry with il the power
to protect and preserve such constructions This
only be eecuay done by having jurisdiction over me
soil Bot clause OF the Constitution is found on which
10 rest the claim OF the United States TO exercise uris
dicton the soil Of State except that conferred by
the eighth section Of the first article of the Constitution
1t IT, then submitted WHISTLER in all eases where con
the right Of soil should not first be obtained and essa
tive provision be made to cover all such cases:
For the progress made in the construction of roads with
in the territories as provided for in the appropriations of
the last Congress- refer you to the Report of the Sec
rotary of War.
There is one subject of domestic nature which from
its intrinsic Importance and the many Interesting questions
of future policy which involves cannot fail 70 receive
your early attention alude 10 the of communica
tion by which different parts of wide e1panse Of our
country be placed in closer connexoa for the pur
poses both Of defense and commercial Intercourse and
especially such aPpertan TO the OF
those giest divisions of the Union which lie on the op
posi,e sides of the Rocky Mountains.
That the Government has not been unminiful OF this
heretofore, is apparent from the aid It hes Afforded
through appropriations for mail facilities and other pur
poses But the general subject will now present ltse
Under aspects more imposing and purely national by
reason of the surveys ordered by Congress aud now IN
the process Of completion for communication by railway
across the Continent and wholly within the limits oil the
The power to declare war; to raise and support armies
to provide and maintain navy and 10 eau iorh the
militia 10 execute the laws suppress nsuecton. and re-
pe invssons conferred upon Congress as means 10
provide for the defense and 10 protect aterioy
and population now Widespread ana Vastly munP!el
As incidental TO and indispensable Tor the exercise Oh TINS
uower IL must sometimes be necessary 10 construct mill
sry roads and protect harbors OF refuge 10 appropa
tons by Congress for such objects no sound e9jecuon
can be raised Happily for country its peaceful pohcy
ard rapidly Increasing population impose upon US no ur
gent necessity for preparation, and leave but lew sess
deserts between assaable points and patriotic people
ready and generally able to protect them These
necessary links. the enterprise and energy OF our
people are steadily and boldly struggling to supply All
experience afIms that wherever private enterprise VIII
avail it is most wise for the General Government to leave
TO that and Individual watehfuness the location and exc
cuiion Of al means of communication.
The surveys before alluded 10 were designed 10 ascer
tain the most practicable and economic al route for Raj
road from the Mssssippito 10 the Pacific Ocean Parties
in the field making exporaiofs where previous
examinations had not supplied sufficient daa, anu whefc
there the best hope the object sought might
be found The and time being both llted II Is
not 10 be expected that all the accurate knowlee desired
L hat mi III