Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-12-09


The erection Of an asylum for the insane o
the District of Columbia, and OF the army and
navy Of the United States, has been somewhat
retarded BY the great demand for materials ana
labor during the past summer, but full pfephfa-
ton for the reception Of patients, before the re-
turn of another winter, Is anticipated and there
: the best reason to believe, from the plan and
contemplated arrangements which have been de
yised, with the large experience furnished within
the last few years IN relation to the nature ana
treatment Of the disease, that It Will prove an
asylum indeed to this most helpless and afflicted
class Of sufferers and stand rs noble monu-
ment Of wisdom and mercy.
Under the acts of Congress Of August 81 1852,
and Of March 3, ls53, designed TO secure for the
cities of Washington and Georgetown an album
5ant supply Of good and wholesome water, 1t be
came my duty to examine the report and plans
If the engineer who had charge of the surveys
under the act first named. The best if not the
my plan calculated to secure permanently the
object sought, was that which centempates ia
king the water from the Great Falls of the Po-
tomae and, consequently, gave to it my appro-
val.
For the progress and present condition of this
important work, and for il demands, so far rs
appropriations are concerned, refer you to the
report of the Secretary Of War.
The present judicial system Of the United
States has now been IN operation for 20 long pc
riod Of time, and has in its general theory and
much Of its details become 50 familiar to the
country and acquired 50 entirely the public CON
fdence, that if modified in any respect, it should
only be in those particulars which may adaptit To
the increased extent, population and legal busi-
ness of the L. States. In this relation, the or
ginization Of the courts is now confessedy mad
cquate to the duties TO be performed by them; in
in consequence of which, the States of Florida,
Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas and California, and dis
ricts of other States, are in effect excluded from
the full benefits of the general system, by the
functions of the circuit court being devoved on
the district Judges in all these States or parts Of
States.
The spirit of the constitution and a due regard
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 10
your consideration this important subject which,
ia my Judgment, demands the speedy action of
Congress. | will present to you, if deemed de-
sirahle, a plan, which am prepared to recon-
mend, for the enlargement and modification Of
the present Judicial system.
The act of Congress establishing the Smith
sonian Institution provided that the President of
the United States, and other persons therein de-
signated, should constitute an establishment"
by that name, and that the members should hold
stated and special meetings for the supervision
Oh llle uldlfS OF tne INSTITUTION. | ne OfgnllZd-
ton not having taken place, it seemed to me
proper that it should be effected without delay.
This has been done and an occasion was there
by presented for inspecting the condition OF the
Institution, and approaching its successful pro-
gress thus far, and its high promise of great and
general usefulness.
have ommitted to ask your favorable consid-
Grafton for the estimates Of works of Il local
character in twenty-seyen Of the thirty one
4
and ffty-four thousand five hundred dollars, be-
cause, independently of the grounds which have
So often been urged against the application of the
federal revenue for works of this character, in
equality with consequent injustice is inherent in
the nature of the proposition, and because the
plan has proved entirely inadequate to the ac-
ompishment Of the object sought
The subject of internal improvements, claim
ing alike the interest and good will of all, has
nevertheless, been the basis of much political
discussion, and has stood as Il deep craven line
OF division between statesmen of eminent ability
and patriotism. The rule of strict construction
of all powers delegated by the States to the gen
cral government has arrayed itself, from time to
time, against the rapid progress of expenditures
from the national treas ON works of local char
acter within the States Memorable as an epoch
in the history Of TIN, subject is the message of
President jackson, of the 27th May, 1880, which
met the system of internal improvement in its
comparative infancy; but so rapid had been its
growth, that the projected appropriations in that
year for works of this character had risen TO the
alarming amount Of more than one hundred mil
lions of dollars
In that message the President admitted the
difficulty of bringing back the operations of the
government to the construction of the constitu-
ton set up in lbs and marked it as admontory
proof OF the necessity of guarding that instru-
ment with >leepless vigilance against the author
lty ct prcccdents which had not the sanction of
its most plainly defined powers.
our government exists under written com
pact between Sovereign States, uniting for speci-
hc objects and with specific grants to their gener-
raj agent. If, then, in the progress of its admin
istration. there have been departures from the
terms and intent of the compact it is and will cv-
or be, proper TO refer back to the fixed standard
which fathers left us, and to make stern eff
tort to conform our action to it. 1t would seem
that the fact of principle having been resisted
from the first by many of the wisest and most pa
trlotie men Of the republic, and policy having
provoked constant strife without arriving at con
'Iuslon which can be regarded as satisfactory to
IT'S most earnest advocates, should suggest the
inquiry whether there may not be plan likely to
he crowned by happier results. Without perceiv-
ing any sound distinction, or intending to assert
any principle as opposed To improvements needed
FOR the protection of Internal commerce. which
docs not equally apply to improvements upon the
Seaboard for the protection Of foreign commerce.
submit 10 you, whether may not be safely an
ucipated that, if the policy were once settled a.
gaInst appropriations by the gen gov for local i'm
proyements for the benefit OF commerce. localities
requiring expenditures would not by modes and
means clearly legitimate and proper, raise the
lld necessary Tor such constructions a. the safe
~ or olherlnterests of their commerce might re-