The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-12-14

eady encountered, and others under new con-
ingencies TO be anticipated, may seem striking
y TO exhibit the Importance OF such work,
lei her these, nor all the cons ldera,ions con-
,ected, can have all appreciable value, when
weighed against the obligation strictly to adhere
% the Constitution, and faithfully t, execute the
powers it confrrs Within the limits, and 10
. the extent Of the interest of the government.
involved. it would seem both expedient and
proper if an economical and practicable route
s"n be found, to aid by all conttitutional means
in the prose cution Of road which will unite !
BY speedy transit, the population of the Pacific !
and the Atlantic States. TO guard az INST mi
it should be rrmlrkcd, that, al,hn' /
power t. construct aid in the construction !
OF road within the limits of SIae it is new /
held to be d ,ubttu power, and Of
more than doubtful proprie,y, even within the
limits of territory, for The general government
To undertake to administer the affairs of a rail-
r ad, a canal, or other similar constructions,
and therefore its connection with a work Of this
should be incidental rather than pri-
mary.
Approaching the magnitude Of the subject,
and solicitous that the Atlantic and Pacific
shores of the Republic may be bound together
by nseparable ties of common interest as well
as of common iealty aud attachment to the
Union, shall be disp spd as far as my own
action is concerned, to f,llow the lilht Of the
constitution as expounded and illustrated by
those whose opinions and cxPnstions consi-
tute the standard Of my political faith.
In regard 10 thu powers of the federal gov
crnmcn1, it is not necessary TO add, that
grandeur Of enterprise, and no present urgent
inducement promising popular favor, will lead
nae to disregard these lights, or to depart from
that position which experience hIs proved to be
safe, and which is now radiant with the glow of
prosperity and legitimate constitutional pro
grrss We can afford 10 wait, but we cannot
afford TO overlook the ark Of our own secuii
1t is pprt of my purpose to give prominence
| TO any subject which may be regarded S set at
res, by the deliberate judgment of the people,
but while the present is bright with promise,
and the future is full of demand and inducement
for the exercise Of active igence, the past
can never be without usefulness for admonition
and instruction, if its designs serve not as bea.
cons, they will evidently fail to fulfil the object
of u wise design. When the grave shall have
closed over all who are now endeavoring tC
meet the obligations Of duty, the year 1853 wi!
be required 10 as period filed with anxious a p
prehensions. A successful had just terminated
peace brought with it vast augmentation o.
territory. Disturbing questions arose, bearing
upon the domestic institutions of one portion o
the confederacy, ard involving the constitution.
! al right Of the States; but notwithstanding dit
! ferences of opinion and sentiment which the
| existed in relation TO details and specific provi
sions, the acque> cence of distinguished citizen:
; whose devotion to the Union can never be doub,
ed, has given new vigor to our institutions, an
a sense of repose and security to the publ
mind throughout the cpnfederacy. That this re
} pose is to suffer no shock during my oflicii
term, if have power to avoid it, those VIII
: placed ME here may be assured. The wisdo'
Of men who knew what Independence cost, VIII
2 had put all at stake upon the Issue of the reve
lu,onrry struggle, disposed of the subject
t which refer, the only way consistent wit
! the union Of these States, and with the mare
e Of the power and prosperity which has made ,
what we are.
1t is signifcan: fact, that from the adoptio
( Of the Constitution, until the officers and 8,
/, die,s of~tha- Revolution had passed to the
r graves, or, through the infirnities OF age ar
wounds, had ceased to participate actively
e public atf,iIs, there was not merely quiet a,
I quescence in, but prompt indication of Il
constitutional rights ofthe States. The reser
It ed powers were scrupulously respected
n statesmen put forth the narrow views Of cosus
: try to justify interference and agitation, but Il
: spirit Of the compact was regarded sacred
J. the eye of honor, and indispensable to the gre
g experiment of civil liberty, which, environed
II inherent difficulties, was vet borne forward
n apparent weakness, by power superior to
q Obstacles
: There is no condemnation woich the voice
. freedom " ill not pronounce upon us should
= prove faithless TO this trust. While men inha
', ting different parts of this vast country can
= !, more be expected TO hold the same opinions
= entertain the same sentiments than every vari
" of climate, or soil can be expected t. furni
the same agricultural produce, they can unite
! common object, and sustain common Prin,
u plies essential to the maintninance Of that ohje
r The gallant men of the South and the MOI
u could stand together during the struggle of I
revolution; they could sta.d together in I
: mpre.trynI period which succeeded the dang
> of arms. As their united valor adequate
all the trials Of the camp and danger Oft
field, so their united wisdom prove equal tc I,
!, !, task of founding upon deep and broad bas
:. Institutions which it has been our privilege
y enjoy, and will ever be our ID ,st sacred duly
. sustain.
It is but the feeble expression OF a faith stro
and universal, to say that their soDs, who
blood mingled so oft upon.the sam" fields dUr
: the war of 1912, and who have mo rccenl
berne in triumph the flag our country up
: foreign soil will never permit an alienation
e a cling to weaken their united efforts nor into
nal dis sension to paralyze the great arm of Ere
dom uulfted for the Tindicat; IN Of sell COVER
Inent.
| have thus briefly presented such suyge
'tons as seemed t. me especially worthy of yo
: consideration. In providing for the present "
can hardly fail to avail yourself of the ligit'tI'
the exderence Of the past casts on the intur
The growth Of our population has no
!, brought US in the des ined course of our natio
al history to point when it well be hoyes Us
extend our vision over the vast prospective. III
. successive deceEnial returns OF the census sin,
the adoption of the Constitution have reveale
i, law of steady, progressive development
which may be stated In general terms a. d.
plicalion every quarter century, carried torwaI
from the point already reached for only sho
period Of time, this law of progress, if uncl,eck
ed, will bring us almost incredible results.
rel large allowance for a diminished proportion
effect of emigration would not materially re
duce the estimate, while the increased avera9
duration Of human life, known to have alread
resulted from the scientific and hygenc i'm
provements Of the past years will tend t. k. {
ug through the next fifty perhaps one hun
: dred years the same ratio Of 5row tn which h;
been thus revealed III our past progress. i
the inuuence of these causes may be added til
influx of laboring classes from eastern Asia
the Pacific side of our possessions together wit
the probable accession Of the population alreac
within the period in question will feel the ma
tural attraction of so vast, powerful and prospe
: rous a contederacy of self governing republic
and will seek the privilege of being admitte
within its safe and happy bosom, transferrin
with themselves by a peaceful and healthy pr
cess Of recupcra,on, species regions of virgi
and exub"rant soil whcIh destined to swar
with the fast growing and fast spreading mil
lions OF the race.
These considerations seem fully to justif
the presumption that the lay of population
bovc stated will act with undmnished cfft'
through at least the next half century, an
that thousands of persons here who have arr
we'd at maturity and now exercising the righ
of freemen, will close their eyes on the specta
cles on more han hundred millions Of populi
ton embraced within the majestic proportion
of the American Union, 1t is not merely as a
interesting topic OF speculation, that preser
these views for your consideration. They hav
important practical bearings upon all the polit
cal duties. Heretofore your system of govern
ment has worked on what may b. termed
miniature scale, in comparison with the devel
opemeRt which it must thus assume within
future near at hand as scarcely 10 be bcyon
the present, of the existing generation. 1t
evident that a confederation 50 vast and so val