Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-12-22


conceded importance, has been attended
with an expenditure quite dispropor,ion.
ate 10 their value, and has resulted in
squandering large sums upon objects
which have answered no valuable pur-
poses, The interests of all the States
require IL TO be abandoned, unless hopes
may be INDUCED for the future which
find no warrant in the past. With an
snxious desire for the completion OF the
works which are regarded by vi good
citizens with sincere interest, ! have
deemed ]. my duty 10 AJAX a.your hands.
a deliberate reconsideration Of the ques-
,iob. with hope that animated by a
desire to promote the permanent aud
substantial interests of the country, your
wisdom may prove equal to the task oil
devising and maturing plan which, APP
piled to this subject. may promise some
thing better than constant strife---ihe sus-
pension of the powers of local enterprise,
the exciting of vain hopes, and the dis
appointments of cherished expectations.
In expending the appropriations made
arisen in relation TO works for the i'm
provemen, of The harbors which involve
questions as 10 the right OF the soil and
jurisdiction. and have threatened conflict
between the authorities OF The States and
General Government. The right to
consifuc! breakwater, jesiy or dam.
would seem necessarily to carry with il
the power TO protec. and preserve such
construction. This can only be effect
ually done by having jurisdiction over
The soil. But no clause of the Consti.
tuition is found on which 10 rest the claim
of the United States to jurisdiction over
the soil Of Stale, except that conferred
by the 9Th section of the Is. article of
the Constitution. II is, then, submitted,
whether in all cases where constructions
are to be erected by The General Gov
eminent, the right of soil should not at
frs, be obtained, and legislative prc:is-
ion be made to cover all such cases.
For the progress made in the con-
s,ruction of roads within the Terrilo-
ries. az provided for in the appropria-
atoms Of the last Congress, | refer you
10 the repor. of the Secretary OF War.
There 10 one subject of Domestic
nature, which. from it's intrinsic import
ance, and The many interesting qaes-
tons Of future policy which il involves,
cannot fail to receive your early atlen.
ton. allude to the means of commu
nica,ion by which different parts OF the
wide expanse of our country are 10 be
placed in closer connexion. for purposes
both of defence and commercial inter-
course, and more especially such as APP
pertain to the communication oil The
grea. divisions of the Union, which lie
ON the opposite side Of the Rocky Noun.
tains. s- hae
Tha, the Government has mol been
unmindful of this, heretofore. is appar-
eni from the aid II has afforded through
appropriations for mail facilities and
other purposes. Blu. the general sub.
jecl will now present itself under aspects
more imposing and more purely nation
vi, by reason OF The surveys ordered by
Congress, and now in the progress OF
completion, for communication BY rail-
way across the continent, and wholly
within the limits Of the United States.
The power TO declare war, TO raise and
support armies, to provide and maintain
a navy. and to call forth the militia TO
execute The laws, suppress Instructions
and -epel invasions, was conferred upon
Congress, as means to provide for the
common defence, and 10 protect terri
tory and a population now widespread
and vastly multiplied. As incidental TO,
and indispensable for the exercise of this
power. il must sometimes be necessary
TO construct military roads and protect
harbors Of refuge. To appropriations
by Congress for such objects, no sound
objection can be raised. Happily for
our country. its peaceful policy and rap
idly increasing population impose upon
US no urgent necessity for preparation,
and leave but few trackless deserts be-
tween assailable points, and patriotic
people are ever ready, and generally
able to protect them. These necessary
links, the enterprise and energy of our
people are steadily and boldly struggling
10 supply. All experience afiirms, that.
whenever private enterprise will avail.
i, 10 mos, wise for the General Govern
ment TO leave to tina. and individual
wa,chfulness The location and execution
of all means of communication.
The surveys before alluded to. were
designed to ascertain the mos, practica,
BILE and economical route for railroad
from the Mississippi to the Pacific 0
cean; parties are now in the field, max
ing explorations where previous exami.
nations had not supplied sufficient data,
and where there was the best reason TO
hope the object sought nigh. be found.
The means and time being both limited,
i, ia not TO be expected that all the accu.
rate knowledge desired will be obtained,
but i, is hoped that much and important
information will be added TO the stock
previously possessed, and that partial. if
not full, reports of the surveys ordered
will be received in time for transmission
TO the two houses of Congress on or be.
fore the frs. Monday in February next,