Washington sentinel., 1853-12-14

equally arise onthe site Of pier iettee or break
| water, as upon that of fort, dock-yard, or Gus
| omhouse, and warned by recent experience o
| the probabilities Of such occurrences. il is sub
mted whether future appropriations, if any shal
4 be made for such constructions, should not be
subjected to the requirement Of the act OF lS4l
before referred TO, and the conduct of the govern
| ment thus be made 10 correspond with the earlier
action, and conform more strictly 10 the provisions
Of the Sth section of the article OF the Constitu
tion in relation TO the purchase OF places for the
erection of forts, magazines, arsenas, dock-yards
and other needful buildings.
! The difficulties here referred to would be read
| lily avoided by adhering 10 the practice OF the
earlier period Of the government in giving the con-
sent of Congress 10 the laying Of tonnage duties
by the States for works Of internal improvement
| or by pursuing the policy recommended by Presl-
| dent Monroe - resting on distinction which
seems soon to have been forgotten or disregarded
4 and in 1S4S President Polk endeavored 10 restore
| the government 10 its original policy-proposing
as subsiituss faE lrom the public
treasury that by State Legislation and with consent
| of Congress, tonnage duties should be laid for
| purposes of harbor and river improvements. This
| mode, than which none could be more equitable,
none more consistent with that principle OF equal
burdens and benefits, 10 every section, which per-
yades the Constitution, and characterizes all It's
provisions, would certainly avoid that conflict OF
jurisdiction TO which attention has been invited,
and in all places having considerable commerce
subject TO the imposition of tonnage duties, would
| be entirely adequate.
For the protection Of ships of war and Of COM
merce from storms, and the attacks OF hostile
fleets lake and harbors of refuge are es-
sental aduncts to other means Of national defence,
intimately connected with the maintenance of a
navy. AS such harbors would sometimes have
little or no commerce, and these special duties
| and taxes could not be made available for their
improvement and protection, Il would be requisite
in such cases to teach the construction Of govern
ment works, and TO acquire the right OF SOIL and
jurisdiction over the sites
The public right of use of all the navgable wa
ters ofthe United States, belonging equally to all
the citizens, and Of the rivers OF our country
washing many States, and consequently not sub
ject 10 the jurisdiction of either, these national
highways bear peculiar relations as such TO the
powers and functions Of the general government,
its dependence upon them for the transportation
indispensable for the defence of the frontier and
the other vast interests which are involved
well known that it cannot be necessary TO enforce
or elucidate them.
In considering these necessities and interests,
one is forcibly reminded Of the change which mas
occurred in the condition of our country since the
date when the Union was founded.
The population and commerce is no longer con-
fined to tide-water and the neighborhood OF the
sea coast, but the unexplored wilderness has be.
come the seat Of populous States and commercial
cities. The application Of steam to river naviga-
of miles beyond the Tide Of the sea, and case is
herein presented which the trainers of the Consti-
tuition could not have anticipated specially pro-
vided for.
1.-THE enjoyment of this public right and the in
terest and convenience of the general government
shall be deemed sufficient TO warrant further ope-
rations for the removal of temporary and acci-
dental distractions in their natural channels, ad
ditional appropriations will be required for the ex-
pense Of the steam -dredges and snagboats but If
IL sl1 nj, - n
ployment for this purpose il will be advisable that
directions should be gwen TO dispose OF the boats
| and other means which have been provided for
their use, before deterioration and decoy shall have
rendered them valueless
The survey Of the lakes, as it progresses, con-
| tnues 10 afford results of practical usefulness.
| No appropriations for military and geographical
| surveys west of the Mississippi have been made
for some few years past, but with the remains OF
former appropriations, some explorations; promls-
ing results Of much value, have been undertaken.
II is to be hoped that Congress will concur in the
expedency of continuing these appropriations
which have afforded the means of obtaining that
general information respecting the interior OF the
continent which is so necessary to the govern
ment, and Of such essential advantage 70 the
population now spreading itself over these terri
tories.
Within few years past an unusual number OF
suits have been brought against officers of this de-
partment some being actions for damages for acts
and others attacking the title Of the government 10
public property of great importance, or involving
rights Of rhore or less consequence. II has been
| usual when the department has employed counsel,
to engage, in preference, the services OF the dis-
trct attorneys, but il is, therefore, necessary TO
make special contracts with them, in the same
manner as if they were not in the pubic service,
and to pay their fees from the contingent fund OF
the department. 1t would in my opinion, be Tor
the public interest that the district attorneys should
| II x~ho fall
voving the interests Of this department, and that
their fees for such services being regulated by law
should be admitted and settled by the proper ac-
counting officers
Contracts haye been made for the continuation
Of roads in Minnesota, agreeably TO the provisions
Of the act OF January T. 1853, making appropria-
tons therefor. An act of the same date directs
the construction of two military roads in oregon.
Each of these was placed in charge OF compe-
tent officer, with instructions TO locate ana marx
the line of the road speedily as possible, ana so
10 direct his operations as TO secure practicaoie
wagon road for the beneft ofthe fall emigration and
other travel. The commencement OF one OF these
works was delayed by the difficulty with the Rogue
River Indians, but contract was made lor rem
dering the other, from Walla Wala to Steilacoom,
passable by the 18th of October last and II is pre-
sumed its conditions have been fulfilled.
BY the third section ofthe law approved March
g. 1853, it is enacted ssthat the Secretary OF War
be directed to report to Congress whether, IN MS
opinion, II would not be more ecOnoHlical, proper,
and advisable to cause all the arms Of the United
States to be made by contract. In complying with
this requirement shall exclude all political con-
siderations involved in the question OF nanuiac-
ture by the general government, and, as suppose
was intended, to confne the expression Of opinion
to the relation the subject bears 10 the military SER
vice, and to relative merit of the existing system
and that Of contracting for the manufacture OF all
arms. Viewing the armores as a part OF the milf
tary preparation for the common defence Is
deemed essential that they should he under the
control of the War Department, and advantageous,
if not necessary, that such establishments should
exist under the charge of competent and expert
enced officers OF the army TO the end that uni
formty may be obtained, and all the improvements
and efficiency secured which professional zeal and
skill would seek and produce. To this, the exist.
ing state OF the case standard, have referred
the proposition to make all arms by contract, and
have reached the following conclusions
l. As to the economy OF the measure under
proper administration of national academy, It Is
believed the arms can be obtained cheaper by GO
vernment manufacture than by contract. Labor
and all materials may be obtained upon as good,
;f MOI halter terms bv the public than by private