The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-07

susssss Psegs.s tAss tAr, sad II hsA premise q ss
have omitted TO your Avorabls considerations for
the estimates Of works Of local character in twenty
seven Of Ne thirty States, amounting to million
hundred and atty four thousand ave hundred dol
lars bseauss Independent Of the grounds which have
for WORKS Of this chsrsctsr usty With con
sequent inherent with the OF tina pro
position and because the plan has proved entirely made
quate to the accomp lishment OF the objects sought
The subject of internal improvements claiming alike
the interest and good viii Of all has nevertheless
the basis OF much political discussion and has stood
az deep craven line Of division between statesmen
OF eminent ability and patriotism The of strict
sruston OF all delegated by the States to the
general government has arrayed itself from time to time
against the rapid ogress OF sxps ndtures from the
uopal treasury on works OF local character within
me = ates Memorable As an epoch in the history
or this subject 10 the Message Of President ia
son. Of the 9th Of May, $780, which the system Of
internal improvements in its comparative infancy but
RAPID had been its growth that the projected approps
tons in that works character had
the alarming amount of more than hundred millions
of dollars.
In that message the President admitted the Of
bringing back the operations OF the government the
construction OF the constitution set mp In 1898 and
guarding that instrument it'll seepess vigilance against
the authority of presidents which had not the
of its most plainly defined powers.
Our government exists under q written com pact be
tween sovereign States, uniting for specific obsct and
with specific grants to their general agent then in the
VI
from II and intent of the compact 1t is and will
be- proper refer back to the Axed standard
form action to it. 1t would that the fact Of
principle having beer resisted from the first by many Of
the wiiest and most patriotic men Of the republic, and
policy having provoked constant strife without arriving
at clution which be regarded satisfactory
its most earnest advocates, should suggest the inquiry
.tether there may not BE- plan likely to b. crowned By
happier results Without perceivDg any sound dstinc-
ton, intending to assert any principle opposed
improvements needed for the protection of internal com
upon the ssabsard for the projection Of foreign
submit to you whether it may not be safely anticipated
that the policy were once settled against appropr.-
for the benefit of commerce. localities requiring sxpsndi
lures would not BY modes and means clearly Legitimate
and proper raise the fund necessary for such consuc
ton as the safety Or other interests OF their commerce
might require.
II that be regarded as system, which, In the ex-
pereDce OF more than thirty years. has at no time 50
commanded the public Judgment to give the charso
ter Of settled policywhioh, though has produced
with expenditure quite dsproportonae to their value
and has resulted In squanderDg large sums upon OBJ
tsrests Of ali ths atss Il TO- be .bsndor ed
less hope DO INDUCED for the future which find
warrant in the past.
With anxious desire for the c,mpsion Of the works
which are regarded by all good citizens with sincere In
terest have deemed It duty to ask ct hands
rsconsloeraaon Oh sne QUESTION with nope
and substantial interests Of the country, your wisdom
may prove equal to the task Of devsng and maturing
thing better than constant strife the spenson Of the
powers of local enterprise the exciting of vain hopes
and the disappointment Of cherished expectations.
In expanding the appropriations made by the last Con.
grss several have arisen In relation to works
improvement Of hsrbors which involve questions the
right Of soil jurisdiction and have conflict
bet the authority Of the STATE and general govern
ments The right to construct breakwater jetty DAM
would SEEM necessarily to carry With 1t the power to
be enectualy by having jurisdiction the soil
But clause Of the constitution is found which
over the soil OF State except that conferred BY the
eighth section OF the first article Of the constitution It
is then, submitted whether In all where constue
tons to be erected by the general government the
right Of soil should first be obtained and kgslave
provision be made to cover all 81 CHI cases.
For the prog made in the construction O! roads
within the Territories provided for In the appropria
tons 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 imp rance and the many interesting ques
tons Of future policy which It involves cannot fail to
70 Hs
panse Of country to be placed in closer
ton, for purposes both OF defence and commercial
and especially such appersin to the
communication of those great divisions Of the Union
which lie the opposite sides of the Rocky Mountains
That the Cover nment has not been unmindful Of this
heretofore, is apparent from the Aid it has afforded
through appropriations for mail facilities and other pur
poses But the general subject will present tself
by surveys by Congress. and now
the process of completion, for commun cation by rail-
way across the Continent and wholly within the limits
o. the ULited States.
The power declare war; to raise and support armies
to provide and maintain navy, and to call forth the
militia 70 execute the Is VS. suppress insurrecons and
reel nyasons, conferred upon Cong ess as mea as
to provide for the common defencs and to protect =
territory and population nov wide spread an! vastly
multiplied Az incidental to and indispensable for the
exercise of this power II must sometimes be nece5-
say to construct military roads and protect harbors
eets sound Objection can bs raisei Hsppiy for our
country, it, peaceful policy and rapidly increasing popu
lation impo upon us no urgent for prepare
top ard but few trachsss de- erts bet sssa
able points and patriotic people rsady and gene
rally able to protect them These necessary links the
enterprise and energy Of our people are steadily and bold
wherever private enterprise will avail ia wise for
the 81 to leave to that and individual
watchuness the location and exesuon Of all means Of
communication
The surveys before alluded to we're designed to
tain the mott and economical route for rail-
road from the river Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean Par
ties in the field making explorations where pre-.
vious examinations had not supplied sufficient data,
and where there the best hope the object
sought might be found The means and time being both
limited it is not to be expected that all the accurate
kI owledge desired will be obtained but it is hoped that
much and important information will be added to the
stock previously possessed, and that partial IL not
full reports of the surveys ordered win be received
before the first Monday in February next required by
the act Ct appropriation. The magnitude Of the enter.
prise contemplated has aroused, and will doubtless
tnue to excite very general interest throughout the
country. In its political commercial and its military
bearings it has varied great and increasing cla to
consideration The heavy expense the great delay and
at times fatality attending travel by either OF the sthm
routes have demonstrated the advantage which would
result from territorial communication by such safe and
rapid means as a railroad would supply.
These difficulties which have been encountered in
period Of peace would be aenHsd and still further in
creased in time Of But wi list the embar
already encountered and others under
to be- antc pated stkingy to exhibit the i'm
portance of such work. neither these all cons
tiops combined can have appreciate value, when
we he'd against the obligation srctto adhere to the
stuton and faithfully to execute the powers confers
Within this limit and to the extent OF the interest of
government involved ii would both pedent and
proper II economical and practicable shall be
found 10 ard BY all constitutional the construc
ton OF road wsich will unite by speedy transit the po
pnlatsns Of the Pa ihc ard Atlantic States To guar
against misconception, it should be remarked that,
although the to construct aid in the construc
ton o. ad within the limits Of territory Is
barrassed by that quei ton of jurisdiction which would
are within the limits Of State IL IT, nevertt eless hel