Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1853-12-16

Judicial system. !.
The act Of Congress established the Smith
sonian Institution provided that the Presldens
Of the United States, and other persons therein
designated, should constitute an establish
meisf' by that name. and that the. members
should hold stated and special meetings Tor
The snperysioiSof the affairs Of the Institution.
Tie organization not having taken place, i
seemed to hle proper that II should be effected
without delay. This has been done; aud an
occasion was thereby presented for inspecting
fhe condition Of the institution. and appreeia-
ting its successful progress thus far, and its
high promise of great and general usefulness.
have omitted to ask your favorable eonsid-
cat.on for the estimates Of works of a local
character in twenty seven of the thirty one
ss,cs.fes, amounting to Sl,T54, 800 because,
independently of the grounds which ha~e So
eftsa been urged against the Application of the
Il rete'sa,e .isr works Of tbs character
inequality with consequent injustice I5 inherent
in the nature of the proposition, and because
the plan has proved entirely inadequate to the
accomplishment of the objects sought.
The subject Of internal improvements, claim
ing alike the Interest and good will of all, has,
nevertheless, been basis of much political
discussion, and has stood as deep craven
| line OF division between statesmen of eminent
ability and patriotism. The rule Of strict con-
struction Of all powers delegated by the States
Ito the general government has arrayed itself,
from time to time. against the rapid progress
of expenditures from the national treasury on
works of local character within the States
Memorable as an epoch in the history of this
subject is the message of President jackson,
of the 9th of Nav, 1880, which met the sys-
TEN of internal improvments IN its compara-
tive infancy: but so rapid has been its growth,
that the projected appropriations in that wear
for works of this character had risen to the
alarming amount of more than one hundred
Millions Of dollars. -f.--,
1t that message the President admitted the
difficulty Of bringing back the operations OF
the government to the construction OF the con-
stituton set up in 1873, and marked it as an ad-
monitory proof of the necessity of guarding
that instrument with sleepless vigilance against
the authority of preeedents, which had not the
sanction of its most plainly defined powers. ~
Our government exists under written COM
pact between sovereign States, uniting for
specific objects, and with specific grants to their
general agent. If then, in the progress or ITS
administration, there have been departures
from the terms and intent of the compact, 1T IS,
and viii ever be proper to refer back to the t1-
ed standard which our fathers left US, and to
1t would seem that the fact of principle
having been resisted from the first by many OF
the wisest and most patriotic men Of the repub-
lie. and policy having provoked constant strife,
without arriving at conclusion which can De
regarded as satisfa ctory to its most earnest ad-
vocates, should suggest the inquiry whether there
may not be plan likely to be crowned by hap
pier results Without p~e~Iiprnf1rs % ap9d DIS
r. .--y--i - @uC><tsr Iapn=cpie as
opposed 70 Improvements needed for the pro-
lection of internal commerce, which does not
equally apply to improvements upon the sea-
board for the protection of foreign commerce,
submit to you, whether it may not be ssely
anticipated that if the policy were once settled
against appropriations by the general govern
ment for local improvements for the benefit of
commerce, localities requiring expenditures
would not, by modes and means clearly Eegiti-
mate and proper, raise the funds necessary for
such constructions as the safety or other inter
ests of their commerce might require.
If that can be regarded as a system, which,
in the experience of more than thirty years, has
at no time so commanded the public judgement
as TO give il the character Of settled policy
which, though it has produced some works OF
conceded importance; has been attended with
an expenditure quite disproportionate to their
value-4and has resulted in squandering large
sums upon objects which have answered no vat
liable purpose--the interest of all the States re-
qnire it to be abandoned, unless hopes maybe
nduIeed for the future which find no warrant in
the past.
With an anxious desire for the completion
Of the works which are regarded by all good
citizens with sincere interest, have deemed 1t
my duty to ask at your hands deliberate recon
sideration Of the question, with a hope that an
imated by desire to promote the permanent
and substantial interests ofthe cohttt, your Wis
dom NAV Prove equal 70 the task of devising and
maturing plan, which, applied to this subject,
may promise something better than constant.
strife, the suspension of the powers of locat'
enterprise, the exciting of vain hopes, and the
disappointment of cherished expectations.
In expending the appropriations made blythe
last Congress, several cases have arisen in rea-
ton TO works for the improvement of harbors,,
which involve Questions as TO the right of soil
and jurisdiction, and have threatened conflict
betweenthe authority Of the State and general
governments. The right to construct a break
water. ietty or dam would seem necessarally,
to carry with it the power to protect and pre-
serve sueh constructions. This can only be eff
fectually done by having jurisdiction over the
SOIL Ratno clause of the constitution IS found
on which 70 rest the claim of the United States
to exercise jurisdctio: over the soil Of State,
except that conferred BY the eighth section of
the first article of the constitution. 1t is, then,
submitted whether, in all casses where con-
structions are to be erected by the general gov
ernment the right Of soil should not first be OBJ
tanned, and legislative provision be made to COW
et all such cases
For the progress made in the construction Of
roads within the territories, as provided for in
the appropriations of the last Congress, / refer
You to the report Of the Secretary of War.
There is one subject Of domestic nature,
which, from its intrinsic Importance, and the
many interesting questions Of future policy
which it involves, cannot fail to receive your
early attention. I allude to the means Of COM
mnnieation, by which different parts Of the
wide expanse Of our county are TO be placed
in closer connexion for purposes both of defence
and commercial intercourse, and more especial.
" such as appertain to fhe communication OF
those. great divisions Of the Union which lie on
the opposite sides of the Rocky Mountains.
That the government has not been unmindfur
of this heretofore, is apparent from the aid it has
afforded. through appropriations for mail faeiE-
tiles and other purposes. But the general sub
iect will now present itself under aspects more
imposing and more purely national, by reason
of the surveys ordered by Congress, and now
in process of completion, for communication by
railway across the continent, and wholly within
the limits of the United States.
1ocl o-fe