Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-12-09

irurc policy which 1t cannpt fail receive your
by which different parts OF the wide expanse oil our cOuny
are placed In closer connexcn for purposes both of de-
fence and commercial intercourse and especially such
as nppertan the Of those great divisions
of The Unon which lie the opposite sides OF the Rocky
Mountains.
That the has not been unmindfa OF this here
tore s applent from The aid il has afforded through ap
preparations mail facies and other purposes Bot the
general subject will present itself under aspects more
imposing and purely national by reason Of the
ordered by Congress- and in the process Of completion
for communication by railway across the continent and
wholly within the limits Of the United States
The power TO declare war; 10 raise and support armies TO
provide and maintain navy and 10 call lorh the militia to
execute the laws suppress Instructions and Iepe nvasone
was conferred upon Congress- means 10 provide for the
common defence and 10 protect territory and population
widespread and vastly multiplied As incidental 10 and
indispensable for the exercise of This power il must
times be necessary 10 military roads and protect
harbors Of refuge TO appropriations by Congress for such
objecs sound objection be raised Happily for
country lis peaceful policy and rupidy increasing popua-
ton impose urgent necessity for peparaon and
leave but few acSess deserts between assaabc points
patriotic people ready and generally able TO protect
them These necessary links The enterprise energy
our people steadily and boldly struggling supply All
experience afrms that wherever private enterprise will
avail il Is most wise for the General Government 10 leave
that and individual wachulnes the location and exec.
ton Of ell means of communication.
The surveys before alluded 10 designed 10 ascertain
the most practicable and economical route for railroad from
The river Mississippi 10 The Pacific ocean, Parties are now
In the field making explorations where previous examina.
tons had not supplied sufficient data and where there was
the best 10 hope the object sought might be found
The and time being both limited 1t Is en-
pGcted that oil the knowledge desired will
Gined but il is hoped that much and important information
will be added 10 the stock previously possessed and that
PARTIAL not full reports OF The surveys ordered will be
eeived in lime for transmission the Houses of Con-
gress, before the first Monday in February next
required by the act Of appropriation The magnitude OF The
enterprise contemplated has aroused and will doubtless con-
nue 10 excite very general interest throughout The
Try. In lis political, its commercial, and its military bear
ine has varied great and increasing claims consdera
Nh, hnny tho HpIa and fftroa
fatality attending travel by either OF the sthmus roues
have demonstrated the advantage which would result from
nrcslcUra communication by such safe and rapid
railroad would supply.
These difficulties which have been encountered in perl
Oh Of peace would BE- magned and still further increased
time Of But whilst the embarrassmens already
counerei and others under contingencies TO be anlic
paed may srkingly to exhibit the importance OF
such work. neither these all considerations combined
have apprCcabe value, when weighed against the
obligation strictly to adhere to the constitution, and faithful
y HE powers it confers Within this limit and
the of the interest Of the government involved it
would seem beth eSpedent and proper an economical
and practicable route shall be found 10 aid By all consu
unal means, in the construction OF road, which will
unite by speedy transit populations of The Pacific and
Atlantic States. To guard against misconception il should
be remarked that although the power 10 construct or aid in
Of road within limits of territory is
embarrassed by that question of jurisdiction which
would arise within the limits OF State it Is never
tieIcss held TO be Of doubtful power, and Than
doubtful pEoprety. even within the limits of ter
rt0ry for the general government 10 undertake TO ad
minister the affairs OF railroad, canal o. other oaar
consucnn and therefore that ts connection with work of
this character should incidental rather than primary.
will only add present, that fully approaching the magn
ude OF The subject and socous that the AtIntc and Pa
cc shores Of The republic may be bound together BY in
separab!c ties Of interest, az well as OF common
ealty and attachment 10 the Union, shall be disposed 81
lar my action Is concerned, 10 follow the lights oil
The constitution expounded and illustrated b. those
whose opinions and cxposions constitute the standard of
my political faith in regard 10 he powers of the federal gov
ernIlcnt II it, trust necessary to say, that
deur of enterprise and no present urgent nducement pro-
or TO depart from that PATH which experience has proved
SAFE and which is radiant with the glow OF
perlty and legitimate constitutional progress We a
ford TO wa bit we cannot afford 10 overlook The ara OF our
security
is no part OF my purpose syo prominence any SUBJ
jer which may properly be regarded set by the
deliberate Judgment OF the people, But while the present
cgh with rTpElIse and The future foil Of demand and in
duceren Tor active intelligence The pact can
never be without useful Lessons OF admoniOn and instruc
,ion II its dangers beacons they will evident
ly fall TO fulfil hu object Of wse design. When the grave
shall have closed ALL who endeavorng
obligations Ut duly the year 1850 will be REQUIRED 10
period filled with anxious apprehension. successful war
had Jus! terminated. Peace brought with it vast augmen
talon OF territory Disturbing questions arose. hearing
upon the domestic institutions OF portion Of the cone
cracy and involving the constitutional rieha of the Stues
Bn notwithstanding differences Of opinion aud sentiment,
which existed in relation details and specific proyi
,iuas acqucsccncc Of distinguished citizens whose de-
yoon 10 the Union can never bo doubted has given renew
ed igor institutions and restored of rcpose
security &c the public mind throughout the conedeacy
That this cpOsc Is 10 euucr shock during my official
X have power TO avert IT, hosS VINO piacca mo Ie1
may DC assured The wisdom of men, who knew what indie
Dendcncc cost who had all stake upon the Issue OF The
struggle-ds2nsed of the subject 10 which
lier, the uny way consistent with tho union OF these
States and with the march OF IEG prosperity which
,as made what Is significant fact tina, from
he adopton OF the constitution until the officers and SOL
icrs O. the revolution had passed their graves through
he nfrIics OF age end wounds had ceased participate
actively in public aiilrs there was io merely quiet &C
luesccnce in but prompt yndcaOa or the constitutional
rights Of The States. The reserved powers scrupu0us
y respected No statesman put forth The We've OF
,asuiss justify Interference and agitation, but The sprt
The compact regarded % sacred in the o honor
Ind indispensable for the great experiment OF civil liberty
which, envroneI by Inherent difficulties, yet borne for
ward in apparent weakness by pow superior 10 all
lies. There is condemnation, which the voice OF
reedom will not pronounce upon US, should we
provo fahIess 10 This great trust. While men in.
,aailinc different parts of this vast continent can
10 more lie expected hold the opinions,
eiain Tie aama seGenlo than every variety OF climate
so be expected 10 furnish line agricultural pro-
Iucts they ga unite in object and sustain
no.: principles essential to the maintenance Of that object
rae gallant of the South aud the North could stand
ogclnor during the struggle Of The Revouon they could
uod gcher in The mnfo trying period which succeeIed
he cADgur Of rs their United vaor was adequate 10
The l;is Of The camp and dangers OF inc hed 30 telr
United wisdom proved equal 10 the greater ask OF otnoing
mon deem ana broad basis Institutions, which II has been
, privilege enjoy md VIII ever DC our most sacred duty
sustain but the feeble expression OF alh strong
nd universal 10 say that their gons whose blood mingled
~ ncn uDon Tie field during the of 1912, and
vho have more recently borne in triumph The flag OF the
,nunrv uoCn foreign soil, will permit the alienation
Il ferr 10 wcaken tho power of their united efforts
n,ernn dssensona 10 paralyze The great OF Freedom
,nlted for the vindicalion of seIi.2oVrrnmcni.
nave thug briefly presented such suggestions to
r csneci1y worthy cf your consideration. In providing
fir the precnt you hardly fail 10 avail yourselves oil The
oh witch The experience OF the past CASTS upon The lu
lure. -. :, =, |
s,Ioc ca;ccr OF national history, 10 point AT which
il well bchoose expand DIR vision over The vast pro-
ppcctive. =. H., 49, -, t.,
,don1n of lie cnnatUn have revealed law Of steady
orrrre5:i2e Development which may be stalled, In general
irrns as dupiclliJn every qnlrtercentury Carried
ior,rofJ from tho point already reached, for en- |
y eho! period Of time az applicable to tic existence nice
u nation this law OF progress, il cnc hecked, VIII
br;1g ~ 10 almost Incredible results: large allow !
1ncc or diminished proportional elect OF emgIn'iSn
wou,d not very materially reduce the estimate while Inc
nc,sed average duration Of human lc known 10 have oil
ready resulted TIC scientific and hygenc Improvements
n: Tho pcst fifty yeas will tend 10 Keep up through hc heI
~ or perhaps hundred The same ratio OF CROWN "hch
tcca thus revealed in pact progress and to Inc ia
of hese causes may be added The influx Of abornE
from crn Asia The Pacific eide oil our posses
sions together with probable Accession OF the p"puia'