Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1853-12-19

territory belonging to the United States,
| 1t has for long course Of years, Begin
ming with the administration of Mr.. JEFF
iersen, exercised the power to cons truct
| roads within the territories, and there
are so many and obvious distinctions be-
tween the exercise Of power and that OF
making roads within the States, that the
former has never been considered sub
ject to such objections as apply to the
latter and such may now be consider
ed the settled construction of the Fede-
raj Government upon the subject.
Numerous applications have been and
no doubt will continue to be made for
grants of lands in aid of the construction
of highways. It is not believed to be
within the intent anil meaning of the Com
stitution that the disposition Of the Pub
lie Domain should be otherwise than
must be expected from prudent pro-
prietor, and therefore, that grants Of land
TO aid in the construction of roads should
be restricted to cases where it would be
for the interest of a proprietor Under
/ like circumstances, thus to contribute
to the construction Of the work. Fer
the practical operation of such grants
thus far, in advancing the interests Of the
State in which the lands are located and
at the same time the substantial inter-
ssts Of the other States. in enhancing
the value and promoting the rapid sale
of the Public Domain, refer you to the
report of the Secretary CT the Interior.
A careful examination, however, will
show that this experience is the result
of wise discrimination and will be far
from affording encouragement to reck
less or indiscriininate extension CT the
| principle.
/ ! cominend to your consideration the
men OF genius Of our country, VINO by
their inventions and discoveries in sci
ence and art have contributed largely to
the improvement of the age, without, in
many instances, securing for themselves
anything like an adequate reward. For
many interesting details upon this sub
Tject, | refer you to the appropriate re-
port, and especially urge upon your ear
ly attention the apparently slight, but
really important notifications Of exist
ing laws therein suggested.
The liberal spirit which has SO long
marked the action Of Congress in relation
to the District of Columbia will have
no doubt, continue to be manifested
The erection Of an asylum for the Dis
} trict, and for the Army and Navy of the
U. S. has been somewhat retarded by
II the great demand for materials and la
Dor during the summer, but full prepar-
j atien for the reception of patients before
j the return of another winter Is anticipated
:, and there is the best reason TO believe
Il that from the plan and contemplated ar
: rangemsnts which have been devised
f with the large experience furnished
within the last few years, in relation to
D the nature and treatment Of disease, that
. it will prove an Asylum indeed TO tn,
, most helpless and afflicted class of suf
iseiers, and stand as noble movement o.
wi,dons and mercy.
Under the acts of Congress Of Angus
81. 1852 and March Sd, 1858, design
! ed to secure for the cities of Washington
and Georgetown an abundant supply Of
good and wholesome water, according
to the report of the engineer who had
charge of the survey under the act first
named, the best if not the emily plan cal
) culated to secure the object sought, wa:
that which contemplated taking the wa
ter from the great falls Of the Potomac
and consequently gave it my approval
For tbs progress and present condition
of this i'm pertant work and for its de-
mands, so far as appropriations are con
cerned, refer, you to the report Of tht
Secretary of War.
The present Judicial system of the U
? nited States, has now been in operation
for SO long period Of time, and has, il
! its general theory and much of It's de-
tails, become So familiar to the country
and acquired so entirely the public con-
q iidence, that if modified in any res, ,ect
it should only be in those particular
! which may adapt it TO the increased ex.
tent, population and legal business Of
the United States. In this relation the
o organization of the Courts is now con.
fsssedly inadequate to the duties to b;
r performed by them, in consequences o
: Florida, Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas ane
e California ard districts of other states
are, in effect, excluded from the genera
' system by the functions of the Circuit
being devolvsd on the District Judge il
all these States or parts of States. The
. spirit Of the Constitution, and regare
for Justice, requires that all the States
of the Union should be placed OH ths
same footing, in regard TO the Judicia
tribunals. | therefore commend to youi
consideration this important subject
which, in my judgment, demands tht
/ speedy action Of Congress. | will pre-
sent to you, if deemed desirable, plan
which ] am prepal ed to recommend fol
f the enlargement and modification of The
present judicial system.
| The act of Congress establishing ths
Smithsonian Institute, provided that the
: President Of the United States and 9th.
err persons therein designated should
E constitute an establishment by tina
name, and that the members should
hold stated and special meetings for ths
supervision of the affairs of the Instit,
' ton. The organization not having ia
r ken place, it seemed to be proper tina. j
should be done without delay. Thi