Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1853-12-21

jects which have answered no valuable purpose
the interests of all the States require II TO De aban-
doned, unless hopes may be INDUCED for the fu-
ture which find no warrant in the past.
With an anxious desire for the complexion OF the
works which regarded by all good-citizens with
sincere interest, have deemed 1t my duty TO ask
at your hands q deliberate reconsideration OF the
question, with hope that, animated by q desire to
promote the permanent and substantial interests
Of the country, your wisdom may prove equal to
the task of devising and maturing plan, which,
applied to this subject, may promise something
better than constant strife the suspension OF me
powers of local enterprise the exciting or vain
hopes. and the disappointment OF cherished expect
atoms.
In expanding the appropriations made by the
last Congress- several cases have arisen III relation
to works for the improvement OF harbors, which
involve question as to the right of soil and Juris-
diction and have threatened conflict between the
authority Of the State and General Governments.
The right to construct breakwater, jetty or dam,
would seem, necessarily to carry with 1t the pow
er to protect and preserve such constructions This
can only be efectually done by having jurisdiction
over the soil. But no clause OF the constitution
is found, on which to rest the claim of the United
States to exercise jurisdiction 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 cases where construc-
tons 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 ca
SeS.
| 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 a domestic nature which,
from its intrinsic Importance, and the many inter-
esting questions of future policy which it involves
cannot fail to receive your early attention. l al
| lude to the means of communication by which diff
| ferent parts of the wide eXpanse of our country
are TO be placed in closer connection for purposes
| both of defense and commercial intercourse, and
more especially such as appertain to the commu
nication of those great divisions of the Union
which lie on the opposite sides Of the Rocky
! Mountains.
That the Government has but been unmindfu
of this heretofore is apparent from the aid Ii has
afforded through appropriations for mail facilities
and other purposes. But the general subject will
now present itself under aspects more imposing
and more purely national by reason of the sur
veys ordered by Congress, and now in the process
of completion, for communication by railway
across the continent, and wholly within the limits
of the United States
The power to declare war, to raise and support
armies TO provide and maintain navy, and TO
call forth the militia TO execute the laws, suppress
instructions, and repel invasons, was conferred
upon Congress, us means to provide for the COM
mon Defense and to protect territory and pop
ulation now widespread and vastly multiplied.
AS incidental to and indispensable for the exercise
of this power, it must sometimes be necessary to
| construct military roads and protect harbors Of
refuge. To appropriations by Congress for such
objects, no sound objection can be raised. Hap
PLY for our country, its peaceful policy and rapid
| ly increasing population impose upon us no ur-
gent necessity for preparation, and leave but few
trackess deserts between asssailable points and
patriotic people ever ready and generally able to
protect them. These necessary links, the enter
prise and energy of our people are steadily and
boldly struggling to supply. All experience affirms
that wherever private enterprise will avail, it is
most wise for the General Government to leave to
that and individual watchfulness the location and
execution Of all means of communication
The surveys before alluded to were designed to
ascertain the most practicable and economical
route for railroad from the river Mississippi to
the Pacific ocean Parties are now in the field ma
liking explorations, where previous examinations
had not supplied sufficient data, and where there
was the best reason to hope the object sought
might be found. The means and time being both
limited, 1t is not to be expected that all the accr-
rate knowledge desired will be obtained, but it is
nOped that much and important information Will
be added to the stock previously possessed, and
that partial, if not full reports of the surveys
dercd will be received in time for transmission to
the two Houses of Congress, on or before the first
Monday in February next, as required by the act
of appropriation. The magnitude of the enter
prise contemplated has aroused, and will doubt
less continue to excite, very general interest
throughout the country. In its political, its COM
mercial, and its military bearings, it has varied
great, and increasing claims to consideration
The heavy expense the great delay, and, at times,
fatality attending travel by either of the Isthmus
routes, have demonstrated the advantage, which
would result from intertenitoral communication
by such safe and rapid means as railroad would
supply.
These difficulties, which have been encountered
in period of peace, would be magnfed and still
further increased in time Of war. But whilst the
embarrassments already encountered, and Others
under new contingencies TO be anticipated may
serve strikingy to exhibit the Importance OF such
work, neither these, nor all considerations COM
blned, can have an appreciate value, when weigh
ed against the obligation strictly to adhere to the
it confers. Within this limit and to the extent of
the interest of the Government involved, it would
seem both eXpedient and proper, if an economical
and practical route shall be found, TO aid by all
constitutional means in the construction of q road
which will unite, by speedy transit, the popula-
tons of the Pacific and Atlantic States. To guard
against msconceptiOn, it should be remarked that,
although the power to construct or aid in the con-
struction of road within the limits of a Territory
is not embarrassed by that question of jurisdiction
which would arise within the limits of State it is
nevertheless held to be of doubtful propriety, even
within the limits Of q Territory, for the General
Government to undertake to administer the affairs
Of railroad, canal other similar construction,
and therefore that its connection with work OF
this character should be incidental rather than pri
mary. will only add, mt present, that fully appre-
GUS that the Atlantic and Pacific shores of the Re-
public may be bound together by inseperable ties
OF common interest well as of common fealty
and attachment to the Union, shall be disposed,
so far as my own action is concerned, to follow the
lights of the Constitution, eXpounded and Illus
trated by those whose opinions and eXpositions
constitute the standard of my political faith in re-
gard TO the powers of the Federal Government. 1t
is trust not necessary to say, that no grandeur
| of enterprise, and no present urgent inducement