Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-12-17

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The subject Of internal improvements claiming
ALIKE the interest and good will of all has never.
thclcss been the basis ut much political discussion
i'u mas stood as deep craven line Of division be-
Iweeo statesmen ct eminent ability and patriotism
Inc rule ~ strict construction C all POWERS dele
gated by the States to the general government ba.
arranged Itself from time 10 tic against tho rapid
progress OF expenditures from the national treasury
on works of a local character, within the States
Mcmorabie as an epoch in the parties of this sub
lect is the message of President jackson of the
IF May, 1850, which met tic spirit Of internal i'm
ro,cmouts IN its comparative infancy but so rnpid
hai been its growth that the protected arpropria-
tons IN that year for works of this character had
risen TO the alarming amount Of more than one
hundred millions. In Hat MESSAGE the President
admitted tho difficulty Of bringing back the appro-
pralons Of the government to the constitution Of
the Cpnsttution set up in l79S, and marked it as
an administrative proof Of the necessity of guard
ing that instrument with sleepcss vigilance against
the authority Of pre'elcnts which had not the
sanction Of most plainly defined powers. Our gov
eminent exists under written contract between
sovereign States, uniting for specific objects and
with specific grants 10 their general agent lf then
in the progress Of its administration there have
been departures from the terms and intent Of the
compact, 1t is, aud will ever lie, proper to refer
back ta the 6xc stindtrd which our llthers left us,
and to make a strong effort to conform action to
IT, II would seem that the fact Of a principle hav-
Ing bccl rc5:sicl from the lrst by maLy Of the
wise a11 mo3t pl.riotij m,l Of thu republic and
policy having provoked constant strife without
arriving at n conclusion which can be REGARDED rs
satisfactory 10 its most earnest admirers, should
suggest the inquiry, whether there may not he
plan moro likely to be crowned by happier results
without p3rceiyiug any sound dtstn ction or cyi.
denccs 10 assert any principle ~ opposed to I'M.
prOyements needed for the protection of internal
commerce which docs not equally apply to improve
rents upon the seabonrd for the protection Of for
ogn commerce | submit to YOU whether il NAV
not he safely anticipated that if tho policy were
once settled against appropriations by the General
Government for Local improvements for the bcnc.
fit Of commerce. Localities requiring expenditures
would not by modes aud means clearly legitimate
and proper, raise the fund necessary for such cou;
structOns the safety other interests of their
commerce may require. If that can be regarded
rs system which, in the experience of more than
thirty years has ut no time commanded the pub
lie judgment to give it the character Of a settled
policy which, though it has produced some works |
Of conceded importance has been attended with an
expenditure quite disproportiouatc to their value, /
and has resulted in squindering large sums upon
oh;c3ts which have answered no valuable purpose. /
The interests Of all States require it to be oband-
oned, unless hopes may be indulged for the future
which find no warrant in the past
With M anxious desire for the completion of the |
works which are regarded by all good citizens with
sincere interest have deemed it my duty to ask
question with hope that animated by a desire to
promote the permanent and substantial interests Of
tue country, your wisdom may prove equal to the
task of dcyisng and maturing plan which il aI-
piled TO this subject may promise something better
than constant strife the suspension Of the powers
of local enterprise the exciting Of vain hopes and
the disappointment of cherished expectations.
In expanding appropriations made by the last
Congress, several cases have arisen in relation 10
works for the improvement OF liarbors, which iu-
wolves questions as to the right of local uris
diction. and have threatened conflict between the
authority Of the United States and general Govern
ments. tlrfri,tt ta ft.
The right to construct brclkwater, ietty, or
dan would seem necessary to carry with il the pow
or to protect and preserve such constructions. This
can only be eheetoally done by having jurisdiction
Over the soil ut no clause of the oonstitutiun is
found on which 10 rest the claim of the United
States 70 exercise jurisdiction over the soil of
state, except that conferred by the eighth section
OF the first article Of tho constitution. 1t is then
submitted whether in all cases where constructions
are to be erected by the General Government the
right OF soil should not be first obtained and cgis-
latlve provision be made to cover all such cases.
For the progress made in the construction of roads
within the appropriations Of the last Congress,
refer you to the report Of the Secretary Of War.
There Is one subject Of domestic nature from
which its intense importance and tho many inter-
esting questions Of future policy which it Involves
cannot fail 10 receive Your early attention. i al
lude to the means Of communication by which diff
terent parts OF the wide cxpunse of country are
70 be placed in closer connection for purposes both
OF defense and commercial Intercourse, and more
especially such as appertan to the communication
Of these great divisions of the Union which lies on
the opposite side Of the Rocky Mountains. That
the government has not been unmindiul heretofore,
Is apparent from the aid it has afford cd through APP
propriations for mail facilities and other purposes
but the subject will soon present itself under as
poets more purely national, by reason Of the sur
Neys ordered by Congress, and now in the process
OF completion for communication by Railroads
across the continent and wholly within the limits
of the United States.
The power to declare war, to raise and support
armies, to provide and maintain navy, and to call
forth the military to execute the laws suppress in
surrection and repcl inyasions was conferred upon
Congress, as means to provide for the common dc
ience, and n protect territory and population
now widespread and vastly multiplied
As incidental ana Indispensable for the exercise
OF this power il must sometimes be necessary to
construct military roads, and protect IIarbors of
Refuge.
To appropriations by Congress for such objects,
no sound objection can be raised. Happily for our
country, its peaceful policy aud rapidly increasing
population impose upon us no urgent necessity for
preparation, and leave fow tractless deserts be-
tween assailable points, and patriotic people ever
ready and generally able to protect them. These
necessary inks, the enterprise and energy of our
people are steadily and boldly struggling to supply
All experience allrms tiat wherever private enter.
prise will avail, it is most wise for the general gov
ernInont to leave to that individual watcllfnlness
The location and execution Of all means Of commu,
nicatiOn.
The surveys bororc alluded to wero designed ia
ascertain the most practicable and economical route
for railroad from the river Mississippi to the Pa.
e.fc Ocean. Parties are now In the field making
explorations Where previous examinations rad not
supplied sufficient data, and where there was the
best reason to hope the object sought might IC
found. The means anl time being both limited, il
edge desired will be obtained, but il IS hopel that
inuch and important nlormltion will be added to
the stock previously possessed and that partial il
not tit nsports Of the surveys ordered will be re-
ceived in time for transmission 90 the two houses Of
Congress on or before the FIRST Monday in Februa-
~ next as required in the act of appropriation.