The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1853-12-15

Ia that message the President admllleu
the difficulty Of bringing back the opera
tions of the government to the cons'ruc.
ton of the constitution set up in 1893, and
making it as an admonitory proof of the
necessity ofguarding that instrument with
sleepless vigilence against the authority
OF precedcnts, 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. II, then, in the
progress Of its administration, there have
been departures from the terms ard in
tent Of the compact, it is, and will ever be.
proper to refer back TO the fixed standard
which our fathers left, us, and TO make "a
stern effort to conform our action to it,
II would seem that the fact of princi.
pie having been resisted from the first by
many of the wisest and most patriotic
men of the republic, and policy having
provoked constant strife. without arriving
at conclusion which can be regarded as
satisfactory TO its most earnest advocates,
should suggest the inquiry whether there
may not be a plan likely TO be crowned
by happier results. Without perceiving
any sound distinction, or intending TO
assert any principle as opposed to i'm.
proyements needed for the protection Of
internal commerce, which does not equal
y apply TO improvements, upon the sea-
board Tor the protection Of foreign com
merce, | submit to you, whether it may
not be safely anticipated that, if the poll.
cy were once settled against appropria.
tions by the general governmen; Tor local
improvement Tor the benefit ot commerce,
Localities requiring expenditures would
not. BY modes and means cleary Y egil
mate and proper. raise the fund necessa
~ or such constructions as the safety or
other interests OF their comm rec may
require
If that can be regarded as system,
which, in the experience OF more than
thirty years has al no time so comman
ded the public judgement as TO give it the
character OF settled policy. which
though it has produced some works OF
conceded Importance, has been attended
with an expenditure quite di'proporton-
ate to their value. and has resulted in
SquAndering large sums upon objects
which have answered no valuable pur
post---r interests OF all the Slotes requI.
ring it be abandoned unless hopes may
be INDUCED for the future which find no
warrant in the past.
With an ANXIOUS desire for the compile
ton ot the works which are regarded by
all good citizens with sincere interest |
have deemed it my duty TO ask at your
hands deliberate reconsideration OF the
question. with hope that. animate d by a
desire 10 promote the permanent and sub
stanlial interests OF the C untry, your
wisdom may prove equal to e task OF
devSng and maturing u plan. which, ap
piled 10 lhi, subject, may promise some
thing better than constant strife, the Sus
pension Of the powers OF local enterprise,
the exciting OF vain hopes and thu disap.
pontmcnt Of cherished expectations.
In eXpendlng the appropriations made
by the last Congress, several eases have
arisen in relation 10 works Tor The i'm.
provement of harbors. which involve
questions AS to the right Of soil and Jui>.
dlGlon and have confidence between the
authority OF the State and general gov
ernmens The rightto construct break
water. jetty, or dam, would seem, nrces'
sarlly, to carry with it the power to pro.
tect and preserve such considerations. -
This can only be eiFtclually done by hay
ing jurisdiction over the soil. But no
clause o the constitution is found, on
which TO rest the claim OF the U. States
to exercise jurisdiction over the soil of
State, except that conferred by the eighth
section Of the first article of The constilu
lion II is, then, submitted, whether, in
all cases where constructions are TO be
erected by the general government, the
right of soil should not first be obtained
and legislative provision be made TO cover
all such eases.
For the progress made in the construc
tion OF road, within the territories, us
provided for in the appropriations of the
last Congress, refer you to the report of
the Secretary OF War, ....
There is ne subjectof u domestic NJ.
lure, which from It's intrinsic importance.
and the many int resting questions OF iu'
ture policy which il involves. cannot fail
to receive your early attention, ! aIIude
to the means OF communication, by which
different parts Of the wide expanSe Of our
country are to be- placed in closer con
neotion Tor purposes both oil defence aud
commercial intercourse, and more espe.
cially such rs uppenain TO the communI.
cat on OF those great divisions OF the Un
ion which lie on the opposite side OF tn
Rocky MountainS
That the government has not been un
mindful OF this heretofore is apparent
from the aid |, has afforded through ap
propriatons for mail facilities and other
purposes. Bul the general Su jeet will
now present itself under aspects more
imposing and more purely natural. by |
reasons oi the surveys ordered by Con
gress and now in the process OF compile
ton, for communication by railway across
tho contnet aud wholly within the limits
OF the United States.
The power Is declure war to raise and
support armies. TO provide aud maintain
navy, and TO oil orh the militia 10 exc.
cute the laws, suppress in,urrections and
repel invasons. was conferred upon Cen.
gress as means to provide for the common
delnnAa. and 10 nrnlenl a Inr rllnrN and a