Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1853-12-13

il be abandnnrd. unless hopes may be- induI-
ged in The future which finds no warran, in
ihr past.
With an anxious desire Sor the completion
of these works which are regarded by all
good ciIizens with sincere interest. | have
deemed it my duty 10 ask al your hands
reconsideration Of The qurslion. with hope
that. animaed by desire to promote ,be
per nancnl and substantial interests Of the
country, your wisdom may prove equal 10
the task OI devsing and maturing plan.
which. applied To this subject may prom
mise something better than conshn, strife,
The suspension oflhe powers of local enle.
prise, the exciting OF vain hopes. and the
disappointment ol cherished expectations.
ln expending The appropriations made by
last Congress, several cases have arisen in
relation 10 works for The Improvement Of
ha:bors. which involve a question as lo the
right of snil and jurisdiction, and have
threatened conhlcls between The authority of
The STATE and General Governments. The
right TO conslrncl breakwater, jeuy, or dam,
would seem, necessarily, TO carry with il
The power 10 protect and preserve such con-
struc'ions. This can only be effeclually
done by having jurisdiction over the soil,
But no clause Of The Constitution is found.
on which 10 rest the claim Of The Uniled
States 10 exercise jurisdiction over The soil
of state, except that conferred by The 8lh
secli"n Of the first article of the Constitution
|. is. then, submitted, whether, in all cases
where constructions are to be erected b. lhe
General Government, The right of soil should
NOT first be obtained, and legislative provis'
ion be made TO cover all such cases.
For the progress made in the construction
of roads within the territories. as provided
Tor in the appropriations Of the last Cun
gress, refer you 10 The report Of the Secre
tary OF War.
There is one subject ola domestic nature
from lis intrinsic importance, and The many
interesting questions of future policy wihcf
it involves, cannol fail TO receive your early
attention. allude 10 the communication
by which different parts Of the wide ex
panse oi our country are 10 be placed il
closer connection for purposes both Of de-
Tense aud commercial intercourse, and NOR
especially such as apperlain to The communi
ca'on of those great divisions Of the Union
which lie on The opposite side of the Rock!
Mountains,
!, That governmenush as not been unmind
luI OF this heretofore. is apparent from The al
it has afforded, through appropriations fc
mail facilities and Other purposes. But III
general subj CT will now present ilstlf unde
aspects more imposing and more purely ma
lional, by reason Of The surveys ordered b
, Congress, and now in process Of completion
ipr CO nmuncalion by railway across tn
5 continent, and wholly within the limits {
. The United States.
, The power to declare war, TO raise tn
support armies, to provide and m ain,ain
= navy. aud 10 call forth a militia 10 execu
. the laws. suppress insurreclions. and rep
i invasions, was conferred upon Congress,
;. means 10 provided for common deltns
+ and to project territory and q populate
!, now wide spread and vastly multiplied.
$ As incidental TO and indispensable for II
. exercise of this power, it must sometime
be necessary to conslruc, miimry roads an
+. protect harbors of refuge To appropri
u lions by Congress for such obj,cls no sour
:. obj 'c,ion can be raised Happily 70, o.
n country, lis peaceful policy ant rapidly il
!. creasing population impose upon US no IL
e gent necessity Tor prepa' alion, and leave }
d a few trackIess deserts between assaiaE
:. points and pa,rioIic people ever ready al
v generally aul- 10 protect Them. These ne
h essary links, the eneHrise and energy
Sc our people are steadily and boldly sruggli
10 10 supply All experience atfirms lh
wherever private enterprise will avail, il
: most wise for the General Government
NJ leave 10 that and individual wnlchlulne
III The location and execution Of all means
~ communication.
N The surveys before alluded 10 are desig
lie ed to ascertain the most practicable and &c
, nomica route for railroad from Ihe riv
n, Mississippi to the Pacific ocean. Parties d
$, now in the field making explorations, whe
H. previous examinations had not supplied 81
nj licienl data. and where there was the b
as reason to hope Ihe object sought might
,t found The means and Iime being both limit
IN il is moi 10 be expected that all the accuri
n. knowledge desired will be Obtained, but il
n. hoped that such and important inIormaIi
m, will be added to the stock previously p,
or sessed, aud that partial. If not full reports
he The surveys ordered will be received, in iii
ed for transmission 10 the Two houses OF Ct
gress, on or before the first Monday in Fl
he uary neat, as required by The act Of app
OF prlalion. The magnitude of The en.erpr
he contemplated has aroused. and will doubu'
IT continue to excite, very general inter
of throughout. The country.
10. ln lis political, its commercial and its mill
~. ry bearings, il has varied. great and incre
i,s ing claims 10 consideration. The neavy
n. pense, The great delay, and, allimes, fatal
en- attending travel by either OF The iSIhn
els routes, have demonstrated The advaI.a
ral which would result from inter-lerriIol
nd. communication by such safe and ra
res means US ralro ID would supply.
ca. These difficulties which have been
ck counlered in period of peace, would
eli magnifed and sill further increased i
,ur time Of war. But while the embarrS
ment already encountered, and others un
,Ie new contingencies 10 be anticipated, n
nv serve s,rkingIy 10 exhibit The imporu
he OF such a work, neither these nor all
m. considerations combiRed. can have an
nm prrclable value, when weighed against
il, obligation sncIly 10 adhere 10 The Cons'
irv tion, and faithfully 10 execute The power