Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-12-17


plln likely to be crowned by any hlpier re
(, Its. Without perceiving any SCUM distinc
in or intending to assert any principle as
apt to advance and needed for the protection
IT internal inn jvemenis anl CONNIE &c
shich does not apply to improvements ufo,
t'u seaboard for the protection Of i0reign com
riercc, snbmit 10 you whether It may no,
'ie safely anticipated that il The p1licj were
Il once against appropriations by ;hc General
government for local improvements and for
the benefit Of commerce, localities requiring
ypcnditures would not be made, and most
Yearly, legitimately and properly. to raise the
ind necessary for such construction, as The
sdety of other interests of their commerce
might require.
Ii that can be regarded as a system which
n the experience of moro than thirty years,
ihis al no time so commanded the pat 10
ldgement as TO give il the character OF a set
led policy, which though it has produced
some works Of conceded Importance, has been
attended with an expenditure quite dsprJ-
portionaie to their value, and has resulted in
squanderng large sums upon objects which
lave answered no valuable purpose. the in.
lerests of all the States requires that it should
We abandoned, unless hopes may be indul e,cd
I IT the future which find no warrant in the
With an anxious desire for the completion OF
The works which are regarded by all good
ritizcns with sincere interest | have deemed
it my duty to ask at your hands deliberate
reconsideration Of the question with hope
Gliat for the substantial interests of the count
~, your wisdom may prove ebuai TO the task
ui designing and maturing plan, which it
applied to this subject may promise some
riiing better than constrant the suspension OF
the power Of local enterprise, the exciting Of
warm hopes and the disappointment Of cher
he'd expectations. In expending the appro
piations made bp the last Congress several
,ses have arisen in relation to the questions
rs to the right of sail and jurisdiction and
lave theatened cofict between the au!h)ity
d the State and General Government
The right to construct brakewatcr, jetiy
rr dam, would seem necessarily TO carry with
the power to protect, Of presence OF such
[ Instructions, This can only be cf,ttualy
q, me, by having jurisdiction over the suit /;
bat no clause of the Constitution is found on
y aich to rest the claim OF the United States,
-, exercise Jurisdiction over the soil of Il State
ysept that contained in the eighth section Of
e first article of the Constitution. L; is then
admitted. whether in all cases where con
,.rlctions are to be erected by the General
government. the right of soil should not first
e.obtained, and legislative provisions be made
cover such cases.
For tE9 progress made with construction Of
- Ids within the Territories rs provided tDr in
.c appropriations of the last Congress, re-
ir you to the report Of the Secretary of
Var.
There is one subject OF domestic nature
which, from intrinsic Importance and the many
terest;ng questions of future policy which 1t
yolves, Cannot fail to receive your early ~
t,.ntion. | allude to the means of commIni
.lon by which different parts Of the wide ex
t'anse OF our country ore to be placed in close
;,,nnections for purposes both Of defence and
numerical intercourse and moro especially
ich as aPpertain to the communication of
lhose great divisions of the Union which lie
~ the opposite side Of the Rocky Mountain ,
!'hat the Governments has not been unminl-
IA! Of this heretofore, is apparent from the al |
j. has afforded through appropriations for
ial facilities and other purpos 3. But the
general suloct will now present itself ulI:r
an aspect more imposing and more purely
iionnl, by each OF the surveys ordered by
Congress, and now in the process Of compile
ion, for communication by railway across the
continent, and wholly within the limits of the
United States. 'The power to declare W r
70 raise and support armies, to provide and
naintain a navy, and to call forth the militia to
xecute the laws, suppress instructions and
lepel invasioas," was conferred upo. Congress
rs means "to provide for the common de-
fance.' and to protect the territory and poqu-
Iaiion now wide spread and vastly multi
lli,d.
. AS incidents to- and indispensable for the
exercise Of this power, it mus oe necessary to
construct military roads and protect harbors
ii refuge. To appropriations by Congress
n such objects. no sound objections can bc
raised. Happily for onr country. It's peaceful
aad rapidly increasing population imposes up
q US no urgent necessity for preparation, and
l-ayes the few trackless deserts between as
>iilsblc points and patriotic pcJple. ever read
and generally able to protect themselves
fhc enterprise and energy OF or pep t. are
steadily ard boldly struggling to supply the
rest All experience atlirms that where pri-
yate enterprise will avail. it is most wise for
ho General Government to leaue to that Inli.
,dual watchfulness the location AMI exccu-
ton ofaIl moons of communication. The snr-
veys alluded to. were designed TO ascelt IN Il g
most practicable and economical routa for a
railroad from the Mississippi to the Paclfic.--
l'ar:ics are now in the field, making expl
;;ons where previous examinations had not
supplied Sufficient data. and where the G
were the best reasons to hope the object 81
aigh, be gained The means being at most
limited, it is not to be expected that all the
accurate knowledge viii be obtained; but i
IS 70 be hoped that much and importan, nfor
nation will be added to the stock previously
possessed. and that partial, ifnot full reports
viii be received in time for transmission 10 the
House, on or before the first Monday in Feb
tuary next, as requested by the act Of appro
p-ia.ions The magnitude Of the enterprise
has aroused and will doubtless continue 10
excite very general interest throughout The