The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1853-12-14

tioual Communication by such safe and rapid
means as a n. n would supply. These diihcni
tics which have been encountered in a period OF
peuee, would be magAiHed and still further in
creased in time Of war but while The embaFFass-
ment already Encountered, and others under new
contingencies to be anticipated, may serve strik-
iBgly 10 exhibit the Importance ofsueh a worn,
neither these nor all consideration oombined
can buve norapprociable value when weighed
against the Obligation strictly 70 adhere 70 the
constitution and faithfully to execute the powers
IL coniers within thlsslimit, and to the extento OF
the interest OF Tie Government II involved, III
would seem'bdt exPedient and proper II an eco,
nomical and practical route shall be found 70 aid
by ali consttutionats means in the construction
ofa road which will unite BY speedy transit theu
populations of the Pacific and Atlantic States.
10 guard against misconceptieD, il sho'dbe re-
marked tn t.alihough the power to construct or
aid in the construction Of road within the limits
Of territory is not embarrassed by that question
Of iurisdiction which would arise within the I'M
lis Of a State, is nevertheless held to be doubt
fnl power, and more than doubtful PROPHECY even
within the limits Of antcrritory for the several
governments to undertake to, administer the affairs
Of a roilroad or canal, or other similar constrnc-
tons, and therefore that its connection with a
work Of this character should be incidental rath-
err than primary. | will only add at present that
fully uppteciatiEg the magnitude Of the subject,
and solicitious that the Atlantic and Pacific
shores Of the republic may be bound together by
inseparable ties Of common interest, as well as
Of common fealty and attachment to the union.
shallbe disposed as far as my own action Is cons
cerned TO foil ow the limits Of the constitution as
expounded and illtstrated'by those whose opin-
ions and expositions constitute the standard Of my
political faith. In regard to the powers of the
federal goyernment, it is, Ittust, not necessary
to say that no grandeur Of enterprise ind no
present urgent inducement promising popular
f,yor, will iead'me to- disregard these lights or
10 depart from that path which experience has
proved to be safe, and which is now radiant with
the glow Of prosperity and legitimate %conslitu-
tional progress. e 10 49,
look the mark Of Tour security. 1t Is no part OF my puI-
poses TO give prominence TO any subject which may
properly be recorded as TO SGT atrestby the deliberate
judgment Of the people. But while me present is
bright with promise aud the. future full of promise
aud inducement for the exercise OF active inteHl.
genoe, the past eau never be without useful lessons Of
admOnitioh and Instruction. II Its dangers serve not
| as heacOns. they will evidently fail TO lulhl the OBJ
jcct OF a wise design. When the gra7e shall have
closed over all who are now endeavoriDg TO meet the
Obligations Of duty the year 1850 will bc REQUIRED to
as a period filled with anxious apprehension o,s
brought with II a vast augmentation OF territory.
Disturbing questions arose, bearing upon the domes'
tic Institutions OF one portion OF the conlederaey'
and Involving the constitutional nights OF The states,
but notwithstanding difference OF opinion and senti.
ment, which then existed in relation TO details and
specific provisions, The 'aequiesenec OF distinguished
/ citizens whose devotion to the Union can never be
doubted has given renewed vigor TO our Institutions
aud restored a sense OF repOse and seourity TO the
publiomind throughout the Conederacy
That this reposc IL TO suherno shock during my Of
fetal term, IL / have power TO avert II, those who
have placed me here may be assured The wisdom OF
the men who knew what independent cost, whohad
put all at stake upon the issue Of the revolutionary
strug lie disposed OF the subject to which refer In
the march OF power and prosperity which has made
US what we are.
III "a significant fact that from the adoption Of the
Constitution, until the officers and soldiers oithe
revelation had passed to their graves, or through the
iuhrmities OF &c, aud wounds had ceased 10 partior
pate actively in public affairs there was not merely a
quiet acquieseeuee, but a prompt yindiGation OF INC
Constitutional rights OF the States. The reserved
powers were scrupllously respected. No statesman
put forth the narrow views OF easuists 70 Justify IN
reference aud agitation, but the spirit OF The com.
pact was regarded as sacred in the eye OF honor, and
inlispeu sanie. For the graf excitement Of civil
liberty thO'environel by Observation-Disclosures was yet
born forward In apparent weakness by a powers upe
Ii0r to all obstacles. M
There is no ondephation.which the voice OF free.
dom will not pronounce upon US, should we prove
fAithless to this great trust. While men i~nhahitins
different parts Of this vast continent tGn no more be
expected to hold the same opinions or entertain the
same sentiments, than every variety OF SOIL or ell.
mate can be expected to furnish the same agrieultu.
raj products they Tan unite TO a common object and
sustain common principles essential TO the MAINTAIN
an.e Of that object. The gallant men qf the south and
the north could stand together during the struggle OF
the revolution They could stand. together In the
more trying period which succeeded the clangor OF
anne. AZ tneir nnited ssiar rs.4 adequate 20 all the
trials OF the camp and dangers OF the held, so their
snited wisdom proved equal TO the greatest task Of
founding upon a deep and broad basis. institutions
whiclrit has been our privilege to enjoy. aud will
eyerbe our most sacred duty to sustain. II Is hut q
feeble expression Of fact strong and universal Ia
say that their sons whose blood mingled 50 often upon
the same field during the war OF 1912, and who have
more recently borne In triumph the flag Of the coun'
try upon a foreign soil, will never permit alienation
Of feeling TO w aken the power Of their united ef
forts, nor internal discussions. 10 paraliLe the great
arm OF freedom uplfted' for the vlndieation OF self
government.
have thus Briefly presented such suggestions as
seem TO me especially worthy Gf your consideration.
In providing for the present, you can hardly fail 10
avail yourselves OF the light which the experience Of
the past Casts uponthe future.
Tie grow IN Of our population have now brought US
in the destined career Of our National history TO q
point al which 1t will behoOve US 10 expand our Wis
ion over the vast prospective.
The successive decimal returns Of the census since
thefddoption bf the Constitution have realized . law
Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS which may be sta
ted 10 general terms'As'H duplication every quarter
century. Carried forward from the point already
reached for only q short period Of time - applicable
to the ~exigence Of the nation, this law OF progress.
II unchecked, will bring US to almost Incredible re,
suits. Alarge allowance fur a diminished proper
ionaleneet Ofemigration would not very materially
reduce the estimate which the increased average du.
ration Of human life shows to have already resulted
from the scientific and hygienic improvements ofthe
past ffty years, will teid TO Keep up through the
next hfty or perhaps a hundred the same ratio OIL
growth which has beer thus revealed In onr past pro
gress, and TO the influence OF these causes may he adj
ded the influx Of tailoring masses from eastern Asia
10 the Pacific side Of our possessions, together with
the probable accession Of the population already ex
.stihs In other parts Of our hemisphere, which with.
In the period In question, will feel with increasing
force, the natural attachment Of so vast. powerful
And prosperous a confederation Of self governins re
publics, and will seek the privilege Of being admitted
within It's sale and happy bosom, transferring with
: themselves. by a peaceful and healthy process Of In
corpOration, spacious regions OF virgin and exube
rant soil, which are destined to swarm with the fAs
: growing and fast spreading millions OF our race
These considerations seem fully to justify the pre-
sumption that the law Ofpopulation above stated will
! continue 10 act with undiminished effect through a
: least the half century, aud that thousands OF person
z who lave already Arrived at maturity and are nov
! exercising the rights Of freenenfwil close their eye
/. on the spectacle Of more than one hundred millions o
! population embraced within tho majestic proportion
, Of the American Union. II Is not merely as an in
: terestins topic AZ speculation that ! present Ties
views for yoaroousderation. They have importsn
a earrings upon ali the political duties we ar
called upon to perform. Heretofore our system o
, Government has worked on what may be termed
miniature scale IN comparison with the development
which IL must thurassume within afutnre 40 near a
= banda y scarcely 10 be beyond the present Of the ex
a isting generation. ttH evident That a confederation
20 vast and 80 varied, bothin numbers and in I errit2r
, al extont. In habits aud interests, could only be KEEP
; IN national cohesion by tho %strictest flelitytO tn
. principles Of the Constitution, as underttoodby thos
: who have dhered to the most reatficted obstruction
y e The powers granted hy the people and tbs states.E
: interpreted and applied accounting 10 those principle
the great eonipaet adopts itself will healthy ease an
. freedom 70 an unlimited ~exteusi0n Of that benigl
0 system Of federatiye self government Of which II l
our glorious andt trust immortal ohAracteristfe
Let US then, with T~edoubled vigilance. be on gu
guarl against yielding to the temptation Of the ex
etcise Of doubtful p wers. even unaer The hIessur
Of the motives OF conceded temporary advantsg,
and apparent temporary cxpedienec. Tie minimum
Of federal Government compatible with the main
tenanee Of National liiy aud efficient action IN on
= relations with the rest OF the world should afford tb
rule and measure CT construction Of our powers IN