Eastern times., 1853-12-15

leaSe 10 that and individual watchfnlnass she
location and execution Of all means of conmu-
nication. .g - 3s3
The surveys before alluded to were designed
to ascertain the most practicable and ecoIo-
mlcal route for railroad from the river Miss.
issippi 10 the Pacific Ocean. Parties are now
In the field making explorations, where preti-
ous examinations had not supplied sufficient
data, and where there was the best reason to
hope the object sought might Be- founds e
1hs means and time being both limited, il is
not to be expected that all the accurate knowl-
edge desired will be obtained, bat il in hoped
that much and important Information will be
added TO the stock previously possessed, and
that partial. if rot full reports of the surveys
ordered will be received, in, time for transmits
sion to the two houses Of congress, on or before
the first Monday in February next, as required
BY the act Of appropriation. III flJse5i
The magnitude Of the enterprise contempla.
ted has aroused, and will doubtless continue "a
excite, very general interest throughout-the
country. in its political, its commercial, and
iis military bearings, it has varied, great. and
Increasing claims to consideration. The heavy
expense, the great delay, and, at times, fatality
attending travel by either of the isthmus routes,
have demonstrated the advantages. which would
result from interterritorial communication oy
such bafe and rapid means as a railroad would
supply. aot,''ti nao o. nii '.'o.,li -.
These difficulties, which have been ercopr:
tered in period Of peace, would be magnined q
and still further increased in time of war. 'bus
whilst the embarrassments already encounter
cd, and others under new contingencies 60 BE-
anticipated, may serve strikingly to exhinltlthe
Importance Of such work, neither these, nor
all considerations combined. can have an appre-
ciable valxe. when weighed against the obllga-
tien strictly to adhere to the constitutiop, and
faithfully to execute the powers 1t coptfrs: -
Within this limit and to the extent OF the In :
terest Of the government Involved, It would
seem both expedient and proper, if an econcm-
deal and practical route shall be found, to aid,
by al constitutional means, in the construction
OF road which will unite, by speedy transit,
the populations of the Pacific and Atlantic
States. To guard against misconeeption, it
should be remarked that, although the power
20 construct or aid in the construction of road
within the limits of a territory is not embar.
raised by that question of jurisdiction which
would arise within the limits of State, it is
nevertheless held to be Of doubtful power. and
more than doubtful propriety, even within the
limits of territory, for the general government
to undertake to administer the affairs of a
railroad, canal, or other similar construction,
and therefore that its connection with work
of this character should he incidental rather
than primary. will only add, at present, that
fully appreciating the magnitude Of the subject.
and solicitous that the Atlantic and Pacific
shores of the republic may be bound together
by inseparable ties of common interest, as well
as Of common fcalty and attachment to the
Union, shall be disposed, so far as my own
action is concerned, to follow the lights of the
constitution, as expounded and illustrated by
those whose opinions and expositions constitute
the standard of my political faith In regard to
the powers of the federal government. II is,
trust, not necessary to say, that no grandeur of
enterprise, and no present urgent inducement
promising popular favor. will lead me to disre-
gard those lights, or to depart from that path
which experience has proved to be safe, and
which is now radiant with the glow of prosper
ity and legitimate constitutional progress. We
can afford to wait, but we cannot afford to
overlook the ark Of our security. is2i~ eai
1t is no part of my purpose TO give promi.
nence to any subject which may properly be
regarded as set at rest by the deliberate judg-
ment of the people. But while the presentis
bright with promise, and the future full Of de-
mand and inducement for the exercise of active
intelligence, the past can never be without USE
ful lessons of admonition and instruction. n If
Its dangers serve not as beacons, they will eyi:
deRtly fail to fulfil the object Of wise de-
sign. When the grave shall have closed over
all who are now endeavering to meet the ohli-
cations of duty, the year 1850 will be recurred
to as period filed with anxious .apprehen-
sion. A successful war had just terminated.
Peace brought with il vast augmentation Of
territory. Disturbing questions arose, bearing
n,Uo the daunaaf;o ;nafiFutior.o nf ono v,nr,sor
of the confederacy. and involving the eonstitu-
tional rights of the states. But notwithstand-
ing differences of opinion and sentiment which
then existed in relation 10 details and specific
provisions, the acquiescence of distinguished
citizens, whose devotion to the Union can new
er be doubted, has given renewed vigor to our
and restored sense Of repose and
security to the public mind throughout the
confederacy. That this repose is to suffer no
shock during my official term, if have power
20 avert it, those who placed me here may be
assured. The wisdom of men who knew what
cost-who had put all at stake
upon the issue Of the revolutionary struggle
of the subject to which refer, in the
only way consistent with the union of these
States, and with the march of power and pros
perity which has made us what we are. Il is
a significant fact, that from the adoption of the
constitution until the officers and soldiers of
the revolution had passed to their graves, or i,
through the in6rmaties of age and wounds, had
ceased to participate actively in public affairs,
there was not merely quiet aequiescence in.
but a prompt vindication of the constitutional
rights of the states. The reserved powers were
scrupulously respected. No statesman put
forth the narrow views Of casuists to justify in
ference and agitation, but the spirit of the con-
tract was regarded as sacred in the eye of hon
4 10 ~.
of civil liberty, which, ienvironed by inherent
was yet borne forward in apparent
weakness, by power superior to all obstacles.
There is no condemnation. which the voice of
freedom will not pronounce upon us, should we
prove faithless to this great trust. sfeE
While men inhabiting different parts of this
vast continent can no more be expected to hold
the same opinions, or entertain the same senti-
mentS, than every variety of climate or soil can
be expected to furnish the same agricultural
products, they can unite in common object
and sustain common principles essential to the
of that object. The gallant men
of the south and north could stand together
during the struggle of the resolution they
could stand together in the more trying period
which succeeded the clungor of arms. AS their
united valor was adequate to all the trials of
the camp and dangers of the field, so their uni
ted wisdom proved equal to the greater task of
upon a deep and broad basis, insti-
tutions which it has been our privilege to en-
Joy, and will ever be our most sacred duty to
sustain. 1t is but the feeble expression of a
faith strong and universal, to say that their
sons, whose blood mingled SO often upon the
same field during the war of 1872, and who
have more recently borne in triumph the Hae
Of the country upon foreign soil, will never
permit alienation of feeling to weaken the pow
er OF their united efforts, nor internal disseri.