Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1853-12-15

securing for themselves anything like
an adequate reward. For many inter-
esting details upon this subject refer
you to the appropriate reports, and es-
pecially urge upon your early attention
the apparently slight, but really impor-
Itant, notifications of existing laws
therein suggested.
The liberal spirit which has so long
marked the action of Congress in rels-
ton to the District of Columbia, will,
have no doubt, continue to be man.
ifested.
The erection of an asylum for the in
sane of the District of Columbia, and OF
the army and navy of the United
States, has been somewhat retarded, by
the great demand for materials and Ia
Dor during the past summer; but full
, preparations for the reception Of pa
tients, before the return of another win
ter, is anticipated; and there is the best
reason to believe, from the plan and
contemplated arrangements which have
been devised, with the large experience
/ furnished within the last few years in
relation to the nature and treatment oi
the disease, that it will prove an asylum
indeed to this most helpless and afflicted
class of sufferers, and stand as noble
monument of wisdom and mercy.
Under the acts of Congress of Au-
gust 81. 1859, and of March 8, 1858
designed to secure for the cities ol
Washington and Georgetown an abun-
: dant supply of good and wholesome wa
ter, it became my duty to examine the
report and plans of the engineer who
had charge of the surveys under the aci
first named. The best, if not the only
plan, calculated to secure permanently
the object sought, was that which con
templates taking the water from the
Great Falls of the Potomac, and, con
sequently. / gave to it my approval.
For the progress and present condi
ton Of this important work, and for it:
demands, so far as appropriations art
concerned, l refer you to the report o
the Secretary of War
The present judicial system of the
) United States has now been in opera
, ton for so long period of time, and
has, in its general theory and much oI
its details, become so familiar to the
country, and acquired so entirely the
. public confidence, that if modified in
any respect, it should only be in those
particulars which may adapt it to the
increased extent, population, and legaI
business of the United States. In this
relation, the organization of the courts
is now confessedly inadequate to the
duties to be performed by them; in con
. sequence of which, the States of Flori.
da, Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas, and Cali
fornia, and districts of other States, are
IN affect excluded from the full benefits
of the general system, by the functions
of the circuit court being devolved Oh
the district judges IN all those States,
or parts of States.
The spirit of the constitution and q
due regard to justice require that al
the States of the Union should be placed
on the same footing in regard to the in
dicial tribunals. therefore commend
to your consideration this important
subject, which, in my judgment de-
mands the speedy action of Congress
| win present to you, if deemed desira-
bic, plan, which am prepared to re,
commend, for the enlargement and
modification Of the present Judicial sys-
TEN.
, The act of Congress establishing the
Smithsonian Institution provided that
/ the President of the United States, and
other persons therein designated, should
constitute an establishment" by that
name, and that the members should
f hold stated and special meetings for the
supervision of the affairs of the Institu-
ton. The organization not having ta-
ken place, it seemed to me proper that
J it should be effected without delay.
. This has been done; and an occasion
was thereby presented for inspecting the
condition of the Institution, and appre-
ciating its successful progress thus far,
and its high promise of great and gene
raj usefulness.
l have omitted to ask your favorable
consideration for the estimates of works
of local character in twenty-seven of
the thirty-one States, amounting to one
million seven hundred and ffty-four
thousand FIVE hundred dollars, because,
independently ofthe grounds which have
so often been urged against the appli-
cation of federal revenue for works OF
this character, inequality with conse-
quent injustice is inherent in the nature
of the proposition. and because the plan
has proved entirely inadequate to the
accomplishment of the object sought.
The subject ofinternal improvements,
claiming alike the interest and good
will of all, has, nevertheless. been the
basis of much political discussion, and
has stood as deep craven line of divis-
ion between statesmen of eminent abii-
ty and patriotism. The rule of strict
construction of all power delegated by
the States to the general government
has arrayed itself, from time to time,
against the rapid progress of expendi-
lures from the national treasury on
works of local character within the
States. Memorable as an epoch in the
history of this subject is the message of
President Jackson, of the 97th of May,
1880, which met the system of internal
a.,