Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-12-10

OF the works hlcl, are regarded ty NIL Hood
citizens with sincere interest, have deemed
il nv duty 70 AK al your lI0nds II deliberate
reconsideration Of the question, win nope
that, nninae, b. II desire TO promote the
permanent and substantial interests oil Inc
country, your wisdom nlay prove egNN1 "
the tasl: cf Aeysing and maturing pun,
which. applird 10 this subject, may promise
something better tllsn constant stt'le' 's'e
suspension Of the p0wersof lcca! enterprise
the exciting Of vain mpes, and the dlsap'
min,mcnt ui cherished expectations.
In cxpen,liug ,hp appropriations made BY
the last Congress. several cases nave h a,
IN relation 10 works Of Improvement OF var.
hurs, which involve question as I" the fi@h,
u soiiaud jurisdiction. and have threatened
conflict between the authority OF The state
aud general governments. The tight 10 con,
struct breakwa,tr. -jeiiy, or dam, would,
seem rsccsssrly 10 carry with IL the power
10 prntecl and preserve such constructions.
This can only be rGpctnalIy done BY having
jurisdiction over the soil. Blu, no clause q!
The constitution is found OH which TO rest
tho claim OF the United States 10 exercise
jurisdiction over the soil Of a State, except
that conferred By the eighth section Of the
first article OF The constitution. 1t Is, tneu,
submitted, whether, in III! cases, where con
s,ruc,ions are to be erected by the govern
,ncnt, the riah, Of soil should not FIRST Ue
obtained, and legislative provision DC maze
to cover all such cases.
For the progress made IN the construction
Of roads within the territories, as provided
lor in the appropriations .! the last Congress:
refer ycu to the report Of the Secretary oil
War
There is ono subject Of a domestic nature
whirh. from it's inilinsic importance, and The
many interesting questions oil future policy
which i, involves, cannot fail 10 receive
,our earl, attention. allude To the means
NJ rnmlnunratinn, by winch ditleFen, parts
" The vide expanse Of our country ere to be
plpc. i IN closer connexions for purposes hottl
Of defence and commercial intercourse anu
mcrc especially ouch as speT'ain 10 the,
cnmnu.iCsiiun o! ihose Urea, divisions Of
lhn Unirn which lIr on the opposite sides OF
tho Rocky mountains.
. That lht- government has not been M
minAfu! If This heretofore, is apparent from
ihn aih it has afforded, through arprop'la.
t;ons for mail facilities and other purposes.
Flu, the general subject viii nov present IT,
SELF under aspects more imposing aud more
aur,l, national, BY reason Of the surveys o.
deiei by Congress, and now in the rTnct.,s
OF completion. for communication by rail-
way across the continent, and wholly within
thr limits Of the United States.
The power 10 declare wGr, 10 Iaiss ant!
support armies, to provide and maintain a
nayy. and TO call forth the miIitis 10 execute
M laws, suppress Intersections and Eepei m
vasiuus. was conferred upon Congress, rs
!aeans 10 provide for the common delcuce'
and to protect & territory amt 4 papulHtlon
now wide spread and vastly Multiplied -
AS iuridrn,al 10 and indispensable for the
Cxrrrse Of this power, it mus. sometimes
te necessary 10 construct military roads and
rn,rct I,arbors Of rtuge. To aPprnptia-
tuas BY Cpnsrr.E tor such ohjecis, 10 sound
obirc,,6n can be raised Happily for or
coIalry, It's peaceful pulicy and rapidly in
creasing population impose upon US no Er'
gent necessity for preparation, and leave bn'
iew d,ackless deserts between assa!lable
poin.s and patriotic people, ever ready and
generally able TO protect them. These Ne
csssary links, the enterprise and energy Of
our people are steadily aud boldly struggling
10 supply. all experience alfirms that
wherever private enterprise will avail. it il
most wise iot the general government &c
leave to that aud individual watchsnlnes:
the location and execution Of all means oil
communication.
Tho surveys before alluded to were de.
signed 10 ascertain the mos: Practicable and
economical route 70, railroad from the riy'
er Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean. Pat'iet
are now in The field making explanations
where previous examinations had not sup
piled sufficient data. and where there wa:
reasons 10 hope the object sought might be
found. The means and time bring both lin
r.d. 1t is no, to be expected that all the ac
cuatp knowledge desired will be obiained
but It is hoped that much aud important IN
formation will be added to the stuck prev.
ousl, possessed. and tia, partial. il not full
repurts Of the surveys ordered will BIZ recelv
ed ;ims for transmission to the Two hous
es of Canarsss. on or before the first Mon
day in February next, US required By the ac
OF appropriation. The magnitude 0! the en-,
:efprise contemplated has aroused, and vii!
doubtless continue 10 excite, q very genera!
interest throughout the country. In its pc
li,ical. its commercial and its military bear
ings, il has varied, great, and increasing
claims 10 consideration.
The heavy expense, the grea, delay, and
at times. fatality attending travel by eiths
Of tho isthmus rou,es have demonstrated
the advantage which would result from in
terna,ionai communication BY such safe anc
rapid means as railroad would supply.
These difficulties, which haye been en-
countered in a period oil peace, would be
magnified and still further increased N tIms
OF war But whilst The embarrassment al
ready encountered, and others under ne"
contingencies 10 be anticipated, may serve
striA!ngy to exhibi. the importance OF such
vo,S, nsiher these, nor I'LL consideration:
combined, can have all appreciate value
WHEN weighed asains, the Obligation strictly
Ia adhere 10 the constitution, aud faithfully
70 execute the powers il oonfeIs. Within
this limit, onl 10 the exten, OF tho interest
ri the government, involved, it would seer!
bor, rxpsiien and proper, i an economical
and practicable route shall be found, to aid
BY all co.lstnulionsl means, in the con'rne'
ion oi 4 road which will unite. BY speedy
uansr,, the population OF The Pacific and Al
tant;c States.
To guard assinSt Inisconccpton, it should
Nc ,pInnrkrh thai. allhou9h the pnwer Il