The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-12-07
RICE ONE CENT,

| t1s aitfeIn 1Afo1is Oh eAisi
action Of Can1rf which has 90 long mari al ., !.
Columbia will = e relation to the Distr;ct ~
manifested. w oount, continue to be
p;..r;,. &c eoI. - an asylum Tor the ;,,aane - .,
~, Ir,ad S.a,s. la ana Of the army and nav -
the great demand for mafer;aise ~uat retarded, by
the past summer; but full prena-s.,o laoof curing
ception OF patients before the ress. ioI tne re-
winter s anticipated and there i the u Ia. a,,o.ler
son to believe, from the plan and oese Iea-
rangements which have been deyised pls.eo .. ar
large experience furnished within Il. Ss l1a ehe
years IN relation to the nature and treat,nass ~
disease. that 1t win prove asylum indeed ~ " ,:
most helpless and afflicted class of sufferers III
stand as noble monument of wisdom ahd merrv
Under the act of Congress of August 81 la555
| and OF March 3, 1853, designed to secure for ths
cities OF w Washington and Georgetown an abundant
supply OF good and wholesome water, q became nv
duty 70 examine the report and plans of the engi
neer who mad charge OF the surveys under the aci
hrst named The best, if not the only plan, calcu
| lated TO secure permanently the object sought, was
that which contemplates taking the water from the
Great Falls OF the Potomac, and, consequently,
gave to Tiny approval.
For the progress and present condition of this
important work, and for its demands SO far as an
preparations are concerned refer you to the re-
port OF the Secretary ofWar
Ihe present judicial system of the United States
mas now been In operation for 80 long period of
Tune and has, in its general theory and much of its
DETAILS become 80 familiar 10 the country and ae
qulred 30 entirely the public confidence that if
medlned in any respect, it should only be in those
may adapt it to the increased ex
tent population, and legal business of the United
States In this relation, the organization of the
courts Is now confessedly inadequate to the duties
| 20 De performed by them; in consequence of which
| the States OF Florida Wisconsin Iowa Texas and
California and districts of other States are in ect
excluded from the full benefits of the general
tenn. by the functions of the circuit court being
devoived on the district judges in all those States
or parts of States.
The spirit of the constitution and a due re,ard
to justice require that all the States of the Union
should be placed on the same footing in regard to
| the Judicial tribunals. | therefore commend to
your consideration this important subject which,
| In my Judgment demands the speedy action of
Congress. will present to YOU ii deemed desra.
| Bile, plan, which | am prepared to recommend,
tor the enlargement and modification of the present
Judicial system.
The act OF Congress establishing the Smithsonian
institution provided that the President of tie Unit
ed States and other persons therein designated,
should constitute establishment" by that name
and that the members should hold stated and special
tor the supervision of the affairs of the In
stltuiion The organization not having taken place.
| 1t seemed TO me proper that it should be effected
without delay. This has been done aud an occa-
sion was thereby presented for inspecting the con-
oi1ion OF the institution, and appreciating its sue
cesstul progress thus far and its high promise of
| great and general usefulness.
thaye omitted to ask your favorable considera-
ion or the estimates OF works of local character
IN twenty of the thirty-one States, amount.
lns 70 one mliiion seven hundred and 6tty-four
thousand hve hundred dollars, because. inde
pendently ofthe grounds which have SO often been
urged against the application of the federal reve
| nue Ior works OF this character, inequality with
consequent injustice snherent in the nature of the
| proposllon and because the plan has proved en-
tireiy inadequate to the accomplishment of the OBJ
jects sought.
| The subject of internal improvements, claiming
alike the interest and good will of ALL has, never
| theiess, been the basis of much political discussion
ana has stood as deep craven line of division be-
tween state smen OF eminent ability and patriotism
The rule OF strict construction of all powers dele
gated by the Statessto the general government has
affayeo itsef from time to time against the rapid
progress OF expenditures from the national treaau
~ on works of local character within the States
Memorable as epoch in the history of this sub
Jeet Is the message of President jackson, of the
27th or May, 1880, which met the system Of inter
nal improvements in its comparative infancy but
so rapid had been its growth that the prof ected an
IN that year for works of this character
had risen to the alarming amount of more than one
hundred millions of dollars
In that message the President admitted the diff.
Guilty OF bringing back the operations of the govern.
ment to the construction of the constitution set IN
| In 1893, and marked it admonitory proof OF
the necessity OF guarding that instrument with sleep.
less vigilance against the authority of precedents
which had not the sanction of its most plainly de.
| fined powers
Our government exists under written compact
between sovereign States uniting for specific OBJ
jects, and with specific grants to their general
agent. IT. then, in the progress of its adrninistra-
ton, there have been departures from the terms
and intent Of the compact, it is, and will ever be-
| proper to refer back to the fixed standard which
our fathers left US, and to make stern effort to
conform our action to it. 1t would seem that the
fact ofa principle having been resisted from the
first by many of the wisest and most patriotic men
ofthe republic. and policy having provoked con.
stant strife, without arriving at conclusion which
can be regarded as satisfactory to its most earnest
advocates, should suggest the inquiry whether there
may not he plan likely to be crowned by happier
results. /. Without perceiving any sound distinc
ton, or intending to assert anyprinciple as o,pos
ed to impr oyements needed for the protection oil
| internal commerce, which does not equally apply
to improvements upon the seabcard for the pro
lection OF foreign commerce, submit to you
whether may not be safely anticipated that iftht
policy were once settled against appropriations by
the general government for local improvements fol
the beneht oil commerce, localities requiring ex
penditures would not, by modes aud means clearly
legitimate and proper, raise the fund necessary
tor such constructions the safety or other inte
| rests oil their commerce might require.
If that can be regarded as a system, which, il
the experience of more than thirty years has at ne
time SO commanded the public Judgment as Il
give 1t the character of settled policy,-which
| though it has produced come works of conceded
| Ads ocSI dtbSiiUtu Win an eApenQi
ture quite oisproportionate TO their value-and ha
resulted In squandering large sums upon object
which have answered no valuable purpose-tht
interests OF all the States require it be abandoned
| unless hopes may be INDUCED for the future which
ind no warrant In the past
| With anxious desife for the completion of thu
| works which are regarded by all good citizen
with sincere interest have deemed 1t my duty "a
ask at your hands deliberate reconsideration O
The question, with bope that, animated by desir
TO promote the permanent and substantial interest
OF the country, your wisdom may prove equal {,
| the task OF devising and maturing a plan, which
applied to this subject, may promise something be,
ter than constant strife the suspension of the oyye
OF local enterprise the exciting of vain hopes and
the disappointment OF cherished expectations.
In expending the appropriations made By the last
Congress, several cases have arisen In relation 10
works tor the improvement OF harbers which in
volve question TO the right to soil and jurisdiction,
and have threatened conflict between the authority
OF the State aud general governments. The right
| to construct breakwater, jetty, or dam, would
seem, necessarily, TO carry with It the power 10
protect AID preserve such constructions, This can
only be enectuaily done By having jursdction over
the SOIL But no clause OF the constitution u ieahd,
On which 10 rest the claim OF the unAed ctaNs 70
exercise Jurisdiction the soil OF sate except
that conferred by the eighth section OF the nrs ar
| Gle OF the constitution. 1t IS tnen, submnted,
whether In all cases where CONSTRUCTIONS are 70 W
erected by te seneral government the right Of soil
should not rst be obtained, and legislative proyis
/ ion be made ta cover all such cases
For the nrovress made In the construction OF
roads within The territories, a. provided Tor IN the
appropriations of the last Congress, refer you to
4 the renor. ~ the secretary OF War.