The Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1852-1853, 1853-12-21

alton, however. will show thatthis expefienee isI
the result of iasl dissemination, hnt VIII he lar|
from afotding eneohTsgement 70 o rtck 'eSs or IN
discriminate extension Of he prnepl-,
| commend 10 your favorhble cansid-Iation the
men Of genius OF our coun,y, who, by their in
ventions and discoveries IN Sciener ard at. bave
contributed largely to the Improvements of theage
without, in many instances, scouting for Them
selves anything Ike an adequate reward. For
many interesting details upon This subject, Teier
you 10 the Appropriate reports and rSp-cialynrsr
upon your early attention tlis apparently Slight,
but really important, notifications Ot existing laws
therein suggested.
The liberal spirit which has so long marked the
action Of Congress-, in relation 70 the District OF
Columbia will. | have no iodbt continue 10 be
manif red.
The erection Of an asylum for the insane OF The
District of Columbia aud Of the army md navy Of
the United States, has been s0mew hat retarded, 10y
the great demand for mate nal atd labor daring the
past summer; but full preparation for the rect p
ton of patients before the return of another wu
ter; is anticipated, and there is the best reason to
believe, from the plan and contemplated arrange
mGntS which have been devised, " tn the expert
ence furnished within the last few years in relation
to the nature and treatment Of the disease, that
will prove a'ylum indeed 10 this most helpless
and afflicted class of sufferers, and stand as no.
Dle monument OF wisdom anI mercy.
! Under the acts Of CoHgIeSs Of August 81, 1852,
and Of March 3, 1858, designed to SecuIe for the
cites OF Washington and Georgetown an abund
ant supply OF goo and wholesome water. 1t be-
came my Guty 10 examine the report aud plans Of
the engineer who hal charge of the sulyeyS under
the act first named. The best ifuot the only plan,
calculated to secure permanently the object
sought was that which conte mpiatrs taking water
from the Great Fails Of the PUtUlna :, aud, cOuSt
| quently, gave it my approval.
nryu Acc a .,,t nfi
important work, and for It's demands, so iar as ap
propratons are concern-d. reIrr yuu TO HE Re-
port OF the Secretary of War.
| The present Judicial system of .he U. States has
now been in operation fu so leir period of time,
and has, in its general theory and much of lis de
tails, become so familiar to the country, aud ac
lqured so entirely the pubic confidence, that il
modified in any respect, Il should only be in those
particulars which may adapt to The increase, ,rx-
tent, population, an legal business of the United
States.
In this relation, the orgn2ation Oft the courts
is now confesSedly inadequate to the duties to be
performed by them; in consequence of which the
States of Florida, Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas and
California, and districts Of other States, are, in
effect excluded grom the full benefits of the gen
eral system, by th- functions Of the circuit court
being devolyed on the district judges in ali those
States or parts of States
The spirit of the constitution and due regard
to justice require that all the States of the Union
should be paced on the same footing III rcpard tt
the judicial tribunals. | therefore commend tC
your consideration this important subject, which,
In my judgment demands the speedy action o
Congress. | will present to YOU, il deemed de-
sirable, plan, which | am prepared to recon-
mend for the enlargement and modification of The
present judicial system ..
The act of Congress establishing the Smithso
man Institution, provided that the President o
the United States, and other persons therein de
signated, should constitute an "eStablishmen
by that name, and that the members should hoIt
stated and special meetings for the supervision
OF the affairs of the institution.
90 The organization not having taken place,
seemed to me proper that it should be effected
without delay. This has been done; and all oc
caSion was thereby presented for inspecting tn
condition of the lnS tuition, and appreclating it
success thus far, and its high promise of grea
and general usefulness.
have omitted to ask your favorable conSdera
ton for the estimates of works Of local charac
ter in twenty of the thirty one States
amounting to one million seven hundred aud fit
ty-four thousand five hundred dollars, becauS
independently of the grounds which have so OF
len been urged against the application Off the fed
eral revenue for the works of this character, inc
quality with consequent injustice is inherent vi
lhe nature o the proposition, and because th
cOmplishment Of The objects sought.
The subject of internal improv ementS, ella i'm
ing alike the interests and good will of all has
nevertheless, been the basis of much pOlltlCa
discussions and has stood as deep craven lint
OF division between statesmen of eminent abilit
and patriotism The rule of strict construction
of all powers delegated by the States to the gen
eral government has arrayed itself from time t.
time, against the rapid progress Of expenditure
from the national treasury on the works of 10
cal character within the States.
Memorable as an epoch III the history Of thl
subject is the message of President Jackson, 0
the 7th Of Mayf $50, which met the system of in
ternal improvements in its comparative infancy
but so rapid had been its growth, that the proiec
ted appropriations i'll that year, for works of th
character, had risen to the alarming amount 0
more than one hundred millions of dollars.
In that message the President admitted the difficulty
bringing back the operations o the government 10 The col
structon OF the constitution set up 1885, and marked
as an admonltoy proof Of the necessity OF guarding tina
instrument with seepless vigilance against the authority
precedeItS, which had not the sanction of its most panl
defined powers.
Our government exists under written compac
between sovereign States, uniting for specific ob
jectS, and with 81 ecfc grants 10 tbeir genera
agent. Ii, then, IN the progress Of its admins
tration, there have been departures from the term
and intent OF the compact, II is, and Will ever be
proper 10 rtler back to the fixed standard whic
our fathers left US, a. 10 make u stern effcrt t.
conform our Ncuon toit
1t woul seem that the fact of principle hav
ing been resisted from the first by many OF the wi
srSt and most patriotic men Of the republic, and
poicy having provoked constant strife, without ar
rlving al conclusion which can be regarded q
satisfactory to its most earnest advocates, Shoult
suggest the inquiry whether there may not be
plan Likely to be crowned by happier results
Without percelving any sound distinction, o
intending 10 assert any principle as opposed to i'm
proyementS needed for the protection of intelna
commerce, which does not equally apply to i'm
provementS upon the sea board Tor the protection
of foreign commerce, submit TO you, whether
may not be safely anticipated that, if the polio
were once settled against appropriations by tn,
general government for local improvements or th
benefit of commerce, locaInleS requiring expendt
ures would not by modes and means clearly leglt
innate and proper, RAISE the fund necessary 70
such constructions as the safety or otnsr interest
Of their commerce might require.
If that can be regarded as system, which il
the experience Of more than thirty years, has at III
time so commanded the public judgme nj as TO givt
it the character OF settled polIcY-whlch, thougl
it has Produced some works OF conceded impor
tance, has been attended with an expenditure quit,
disproportiOnate 10 their value,-and has resulted
in Squaudering large sums upou objects whicl
have answered no valuable purpoSe--he interest
of all the States rec uie it 10 Abandoned unIes
hopes may be INDUCED for the future which flint
no warrant in the past. AUDI. ..... .,
With an ANXIOUS desire for the completion o
The works which are regarded by all good citizen
with sincere interest, have deemed it my duty tC
ask at yoar hands d deliberate reconsideration
the question, with hope that, animated by a de-
sire 10 promote the permanent and substantial in
pE .TfFu