The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-12-09

10 aid in the construction OF roads should be re-
cted 10 cases whore II would bs Tor the inster rst
'f a proprietor, under like circumstances, thus to
tothe construction oi these works
For the practical opera ion oil such grants thus far
n advancing the interests Of the States Ia which the
works are located AMI at ths same Tins the sub. \
,tania nere Its OF all ths other Stales BY enhanc
ng tho value and promoting the rapid sale Of the
iary OF the Interior. 4 caTclsl examination, how
ever, will show that this xbeTenee is the resul, Of
reckessuf inliscfiminate ex- |
tension OF the principle. az f.,, 49, e..
comment to your favorable consideration the |
men OF genius OF our country who, by their inven-
tons aud discoveries IN sciences and art, have con-
I ibued largely to the iupr6vem ysts of the age,
without. in many instances, ss,uHng for themselves
anything liks an adequate reward. For many in.
appropriate reports, AID especially. .nrge upon your
early attention the apparently slight, butyealy i'm
poriant, modiiica ionsof existing laws therein sug'
gcsted. . .A
The liberal spirit which has 50 long marked tho
action Of Congress ip relation to the District Of Colu-
mbia will, have no doubt, continue 10 bo mani
iosted
The erection Of an asylum for tho insane of the
District oi Columbia, aud Of tbs army anl navy OF
the United States, has been somewhat, retarded, by
the great demand for materials and labor during the
pnst summer; but full preparation for the reception
anticipated; and there is the besi reason to believe
from the plan and contemplated arrangements which
have been devised, with ths experience furnished
wi hin the last lew years in relation to the nature
and treatment OF the disease that il will prove all
asylum indeed to this most helpless and afflicted
class OF sufferers, and stand Us noble monument OF
wisdom and mercy
Under the acts Of ofCongress of August 81, 1852, e.
~ 1898, designed TO secure Tor the cities o
Washington and Georgetown an abundant supply ol
good and wholesome water, il became my duty 10,
examine the report and plans OF the engineer who
had charge OF the surveys under the act first nam3d
ma haaf mo- Nnla ,tod
permanently the obecssopghl was that which CON.
tenn plates taking the water from the Great Falls Of
the Potomac, and, consequently, gave in my'ap'
proyal
For the progress and present condition of this in.
porant work. and TO its demands so far approprl.
ntlons are concerned reer you to the report o the
Secreturyo OF War.
The present judicial sys,em Of the U. States has
now been in operation for so long period OF time
AMI has, in its general theory and much OF its de-
tails become 50 familiar to the country, and acquir.
ed SO entirely the public confidence, that ii modified
III any respect, il should only be in those particulars
which may adapt il to the increased extent, popua
ton, and legal business of the United States
In This relation, the organization OF the courts Is
now oniessedy inadequte to the duties to be per-
formed by them IN consequence OF waich tne
States of Florida. Wisconsin, Iowa, Texas an
California; and districts Of other Staes are III e!,
a feet excluded fro the iull benefits ol the genera
system, by the functions OF the circuit court beina
devolved tn, district lyes in all thoss states or
lparis OF States.
The spirit o! III, constitution a11 dus regard tc
Justice require that all the States 1.-THE Uniol sioIl
placed the same footing in regard to the ju lcia
o tribunals. lthoreore c)mnon to your CO ISL era
ton this important subject, whichln my Juigme u
:. demrnds tho s3ssdy ee!i9a SfCo ,sre,. ! vii
present TO you, IL deomsd ne ifaSle, T. an, whc
d 4 all prepared to recommend iof the enlargensn
I, and modification of the present JUDICIAL system.
= = The act of Congress establishing the Smith
e sonian Institution, provided that the Presden
Of the United States, and other persons thore
20 designated, should constitute an ublisbmen
IL by that name, und that the members should hol
O stated and special meetings for the superyisio
h of the affairs of the institution.
'; The organization not having taken place,
" seemed to me proper that il should be eiiecte
/, without delay This has been done; and an oc
e casion was thereby presented Tor inspecting tn
condition o! the Institution and appreciating II
. successful progress sbus far and its high prom
ise Of great aud general usefulness.
= / have omitted to ask your favorable consider
a alton for the estimates oi works of u local char
). acter in enty-seven Of the thirty-one States
y amounting to one million seven hundred and III
. ty -four thousand FIVE hundred dollars, bocaus
' independently OF the grounds which have 80 OF
o ten been urged against the application of tn
Y federal revenue Tor tho works Of this character
inequality with consequent mi jhstico is inheren
: in tho nature OF the proposition, and because TIL
plan has proved entirely inadequate to the accon
!; plishment Of the objects sought
ing alike tho interest and good will Of all, has
nevertheless, been the basis of much polit lea
discussion, and has stood as deep craven lin
OF division between statesmen OF emiaent abilit,
and patriotism. The rule Of strict construction
Of all powers delegated by the States TO the gcn
eral government has drrayed itself, from time l.
9 time, against the rapid progress of expenditure
from the national treasury on the works Of
local character within the States.
Memor able us an epoch in the history Of thi
subject IS the message of President Jackson, O
the 9th Of May lS4O, which met the system o
/, internalmprov euents Ia its conpurativciniuncy
but rapid had been its grOwt tn, that the pro
iected appropriations in that year, for works o
this chare ctcr, had rscn to the alarming amour
:, of more than one hundred millions OF dollars
} In that message the President admitted th
difficulty OF bringing baqk the, ,oporations of the
government TO the construction Of the constitu
ton set up in l19S, and marked IL as an admon
, tory proof Of the necessity Of guarding that in
strument with sleepless vigilance against tn,
authority OF prccodents, which had not the sane
ton OF its most plainly defined powers.
Our government exists under written com
pact between sovereign States, uniting for spo
cifc objects, and with specific grants to thei
general agent. II, then, in the progress of it,
administration, there have been departures from
the terms and intent OF the compact, il is, ant
will ever be, proper to refer back To the fxcd
standard which our fathers left US, and TO muke
u stern effort to conform our action to it.
il would seem that the TACT that Of principle
. . having been resisted from the first by many o.
tho wsest and most patriotic men of the repub
lie, and policy having provoked constant strife
without arriving at u conclusion which can be
. regarded as satisfactory to its most earnest I'D
vocates, should suggest the inquiry whether
there may not be plan likely 10 bo crowned by
happier results.
Without perceivng any sound distinction, ol
intending TO assert any principle as opposed {,
. improvements needed Tor tho protection OF in
ternal commerce. which do6s hot equally apply
to improvements upon tho sea board Cor the pro
lection of foreign commerce, L submit to you
whether il may not be safely anticipated that, Il
the policy were once settled against approptiu
tons by the general government for local i'm
provements tor the benefit Of commerce, local.
ties requiring expenditures would not by modcs
and means clearly legitimate and proper. rails,
tho fund necessary Tor such constructions us th,
safety or other Interests Of their commerce
might require.
II that eau be regarded rs 4 system, which in
the experience of more than thirty years. has al
no time so commanded the public judgment a,
TO give il the character OF a settled policy
which, though it has produced some works o
.