Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-12-15

u
ginning with the administration Of Mr.. Jefer-
son, exercised the power to construct roads with
| in the territories and there are 50 many and
obvious distinctions between this exercise Of
| power and that Of making roads within the
states, that the former has never been consider
ed subject to such objections as apply to the
latter, and such may now be considered the set
tied construction Of the power Of the federal gov
cnmeut upon the subject.
Numerous applications have been made, and
no doubt will continue 10 be. made for grants of
land, in aid Of the construction of railways It
Is not believed 60 be within the intent and mean
ing of the constitution, that the power 20 dispose
of the public domain should be used otherwise
than might be expected from prudent propri-
etnr, and, therefore, that grants of land 10 aid
in the construction OF roads should be restricted
to cases where It would hc FIR tie interest of a
proprietor, under like circumstances. thus %
contribute o. the construction Of these works.
Fo- the praetical operation Of such gran 8 thus
far. in advancing the interests Of tie states in
which the works are located and at the same
tine the substantial interests OF all The other
states, Ivy enhancing the value and Promoting
the rapid sale Of the public domain. | refer YOU
@ the report of the secretary of the interior. 4
careful examination, however, will show that
this experience is the result Of Just discrimin-
ati3n, and will be far from aflorng encourage
the irincill e.
commend 70 your favorable consideration
the men OF genius Of orr country, Who by their
inventions and discoveries in science and art
have contributed largely TO the improvements Of
the age without, in many instances, securing
for themselves any thing like an adequate r.
ward. For many interesting details upon this
subject | reicr You to the appropriate reports,
aud especially urge upon your early attcnti N
the apparently slight. but really mpjrtaut, mod
iications Of existing laws therein suggested
The liberal spirit which has 50 long marked
The action of congress in relation 90 the district
ot Columbia WILL have no doubt, continue to
be manifested
he erection Of an asylum for the insane Of
tle district of Columbia. and of the army aud
navy %. tie United States has been son cwhat
retarded by the grelt demand for materials and
LABOR during the past summers but full prepare
atan tor the reception of patients, before the re-
turn VI another winter, is anticipated aud
there is the best reason to believe, from the plan
and contemplated arrangements which have been
devised. with tine large experience furnished
, within the last few years IN relation 10 the na-
ture aud treatment 90 the disease, chat it viii
prove au asy lum indeed 90 this most helpless and
afflicted class OF sui ror7. and stand as a noale
monument oi wisdom and mercy
JnGur the acts cl congress of August 8
o., ts
ias the cities of Washington aud Georgetown an
abundant supply 81 good and wholesome water,
it became my duty 10 examine the report and
/, plans o The engineer who had charge of the SUR
ytys under the act first named The best il not
tie only plan. calculated to secure permanently
tie object sought, was that which contemplate
taking tic water from the Great Falls Of the
potomac and, consequently, | give TO it my az
b lrNal.
{ dor The progress and pfesant aenditiaa Of tlis
ID important work. and for its dcmmds 50 far as
d populations aie concerned, reler you TO the
IMPORT ri che secretary of war
( The present .iadicial system Of the United
States has ulw been in operation for 50 long a
period OF tne aud has, in its general theory
ana muoh OF Its details. become SD familiar "a
tte country, and acquired So entirely the public
confidence. chat ID modified in amy respect, il
t. should ouiy he ia those particulars which may
, adaIt Il o. the increased extent, population and
Z legal business ui the nited States. la tlis re.
lation, the organization Of the courts is now con-
iosspiiy Inadequate u tie duties 10 he perform
! ed II hem; In Consequence 81 which, tie states
oi II lida. W Wisconsin. Iowa. Tex. s aud Califr-
uid, and districts Of other states are in effect
excluded from tie lul benefits If the general
I system, ly lie functions OF the circuit cour, lo-
ing deyoNed on the district Judges in all those
states, and parts oi states.
Inc fllllt ul iIHt cons ltNtlIn ana a cue re-
gard to Justice require tLat all tie states of the
Unian (. uId be llaecl ON he same lootinr in
: rcerd O. the Judicial tribunals. | therefore
! commend go your consideration this important
: subject, which, in my judgment. demands the
+ speedy action of congress | will present ia
u you, IL deemed desirable. a plan, which | am
prepared 10 recommend. for the enlargement and
= modification Of the present judicial sys EN-.
The act Of congress establishing the Snithso-
= MAN Institution provided that the President Of
the United States and other persons therein de-
sgnuted, should constitute an establishment -
/ by that name, and that the members should
= hold stated and special meetings for the super
vision Of the affairs of the institution, The or
y guniation not having taken place, il seemed "a
" me proper that it should he effected without de-
+ lay. This has been done and am occasion was
: thereby presented for inspecting the condition Of
the institution ana approaching its successful
: progress thus far, and its highest promise %
great and general influence.
| have omitted TO ask your favorable consider
e alton for the estimates OF works OF q local char
! acter in twcnty-seyen Of the thirty ono states
II amounting 70 one million seven hundred and fit,
ty-l0ur Thousand five hundred dollars because
. independently of the grounds which have so Of
d ten been urged against the application of the
federal revenue d0r works of this character, inc
quality with consequent injustice i. inherent in
/ tue nature OF the proposition, anu because the
plan has proved entirely inadequate to the ac-
! complishment of the objects sought
The subject Of internal improvement, claim
ing alike the interest and good will Of all, has,
! nevertheless, been the basis Of much political
discussion, and has stood a deep craven line
of division between statesmen of eminent abili-
ty and patriotism. The rule Of strict construc-
! tion Of all powers delegated by the states 10
the general government has arrayed itself from
! time to time, against the rapid progress of ex-
penditures from the national treasury ON works
i of local character within the states Memoir
, able as an epoch in the history Of this subject
is the message Of President jackson, of the 9th
OF May 1890, which met the system of inter;
. nal Improvements in lis comparative infancy
but rapid had been its growth, that the pro-
ieetcd appropriations in that year for works Of
this character had risen TO the alarming amounr
OF more than one hundred millions Of dollars.
Q In that message the Pr sdent admitted the
u difficulty of bringing back the operations of the
e government to the construction Of the cOnsttu-
. ton set up in 1898, and marked 1t as an admon-
s itory proof of the necessity OF guarding that
instrument with sloepess vigilance against the
c authority of precedents, which had not the
sanction OF its most plainly defined powers.
0 Cur government exists under written com
, pact between sovereign states, uniting for speci.
{ lie objects, and with specific grants TO their
general agent A. then in the progress of lis