Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-12-09


+ usdietlon over the soil at Il Stst. ''fe
/ conferred by the eighth section - = '1e't
/ OF the constitution. II i. H.. 49, =
+ whether, in all cases where constf555,. H'ha
be erected by the general goter,t.s.' avn, %
/ OF sol should not first be obtained - 'Ae
/ provision be made Ia cover all su.l 's.,
FOR the progress made in the Con-
roads within the territories, as l.ro..1
{ the appropriations of the last Ca,,,'l''''u "a
+ you to the report of the Secretary sfl,.
here Is one subject of "a domestic '''
E from lis intrinsic Importance and H.. WI
tcresting questions Of future rulicy NIL .'@lt
+ wolves, cannot fail 10 receive vo6r .'
ton. ! allude to the means Of Gu Al
i by which different parts of the wid. inca
] our country are to be placed in cIa..r NP'hs
for purposes both of defence and g.. ''4le
i tcrcourse. and more especially such s'' els
10 the communication of those gre,.t !, a.
the Union, which lie on the opposifa s:J ''''1
Rocky Mountains. nuts
That the government has not been n,..
ofthis heretofore, is apparent from t5a ' '.i
afforded, through appropriations fer ,' 'ti
i ties and other purposes. But the o,,,,..
ject will now present itself under ss,',ip
imposing and more purely national. H. WIS
the surveys ordered by Congress. and NUS ,yos
process of completion, for comn,. i''" IL
railway across the continent, and Will,
the limits of the United States. MI
The power to declare war, to rai.o...,
port armies, to provide and maintain : ,,a
to call forth tue militia to execute the l','
/ press Instructions. and repol invasion.
conferred upon Congress, rs means 10 =,
for the common defence, and to protect -, t''
ry and population now wide spread and
multiplied. As incidental to and inG.r.
for the exercise Of this power, it must .d,,'s
+ be necessary to construct military roads sn5
tect harbors of refuge. To appropriate
Congress for such objects, no sound oIia..
can be raised. Happily for our con,.
peaceful policy and rapidly increasing ponn..
impose upon us no urgent necessity Tor nrqs'
ton, and leave but few trackless desserts Lo,a
assallable points and apatriotic people ever
dy and generally able to protect them m
necessary links the enterprise and ens
OF our people are steadily and boldly struaaa
to supply. All experience affims that. uIs'
er private enterprise will avail, it is most vi.a
the general government to leave 10 that and
yldual watchfulness the location and eyecptim
all means of communication.
The surveys before alluded to were dcsins,
ascertain the most practicable and ecouon
route for railroad from the river Missi>spa
the Pacific ocean. Parties are now in the ID
making explorations, where previous eyam,I
tions had not supplied sufficient data. and WIN
there was the best reason to hope the OH
sought might be found The mean, and "a
being both limited, it is not to be expected 4,
all the accurate knowledge desired will he /
tained but it is hoped that much and import
information will be added to the stock preym
{ nn-S4sSaI mud tbo4 = FL
the surveys ordered will be received in time
transmission to the two houses of Congress,
or before the first Monday in Feh1narv ne1t
required by the act of appropriation lheml
mtude OF the enterprise contemplated has arou
and will doubtless continue TO excite ycryg
eral interest throughout the country in lis 1
litical, It's commercial, and its military beard
1t has varied, great, and increasing claims 10 d
sderatlon. The heavy expense, the great deiI
and, at times, fatality attending travel by eit1
OF the lsthmus routes, have demonstrated thu
vantage, which would result from intertcuitn
communication by such safe and rapid means
Il railroad would supply.
These difficulties, which have been cncouaa
ed IN period of peace, would be magnifed a
stu further increased in time of war. But wLH
the embarrassments already encountered, Al
others under new contingencies to be antici@1
may serve strlklngly to exhibit the importa
OF such work, neither these, nor all CONSIDER
+ uons combined, can have an appreciahlc yll
when weighed against, the obligation strictly
adhere to the constitution, and faithfully to e.
cute the powers it confers. Within thi, lin
and to the extent of the interest of the COVER
ment involved,it would seem both expcdiaa
proper II an economical and practicable ra
shall be found, to aid, by all constitutional mal
IN the construction of a road. which will ua
by speedy transit, the populations of the Pad
ana Atlantic States. To guard against mi.q
ception, it should be remarked that although
power to construct or aid in the constitution
road within the limits of "A territory i, not
barrassed by that question of iuri sdiction VIII
would arise within the limits of STATE. tits n
ertheless held to be of doubtful power, and nt
than doubtful propriety, even within the LIND
OF territory for the general government 10
dertake to administer the affairs Of a railroad
canal or other similar construction, and thTl
thatlts connection with work of this charael
should be incidental rather than primary.
l would only add, at present that fully app
eIatlng the magnitude of the subject. and ,ol|
tous that the Atlantic and Pacific shores Of
republic may be bound together by inscparai
ties of common interest as well as of common ti
/ ty and attachment to the Union, / shall be d.
! posed, 50 far as my own action is concerned
follow the lights of the constitution, rs cspoaa
ed and illustrated by those, whose opinion, al
eNpositions constitute the standard of my poita
faith in regard to the powers Of the federal s1
eminent. Ii is, | trust, mot necessary to say tia
no grandeur of enterprise, and no present ursaa
mdncement promising popular favor will lead u
to disregard those lights, or 10 depart from TIL
path which experience has proved to be ,ate.a
which Is now radiant with the glow of pro,pfHi
ana legitimate constitutional progress. We ca
atfordEto wait, but we cannot afford t. oyefe
the ark of our security.
1t Is part of my purpose to give promlne94
to amy subject, which may be properly rogar33
as set at rest by the deliberate judgment OF d
people. But while the present is bright with If
nlse' and the future full of demand and indig
m'nt for the exercise of active intelligence, j
80 l. f