The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1853-12-09

There Is on tuhisri u dainrsiic nsiurc rhish
fft.u 10 iniriusc lnI@7iaurc Erd thr macy iuicf.
ryiiue qpeslions q la rtr po.cs Which g intolvcs
cannJt fAil ~ rcrirc saer eafls aitraiioa a.
lrds 90 the means ~ communication Is Nlsch df-
fsfcns paft. cf she wsdc cxrgasr 81 our coanifs
srs 70 X giaccd IN closf ccunecilon fof guuos1s
81 h,ah dcienrc ant commercial igicrccafso aud
moro especially such as arpctieiu o. thc eoumu-
uiration of those great division, u TIE tnIon \
which he On The oiPo~i'e site VI III Rocky Noun
iAlns
That ihc sovcrnineni has no, bccn uamindful 4
q this heretofore 10 apparent trom The sid i iat
adof led, through appropriations ior mail facilities
aud oihcf purposes Bet the general sahjeci VIII
nov present itself uudcT Aspects mere Imposing
AMI more purcly national, by reason II The sur
ycys ordered by Congress. AMI nov IN the proves.
of oomplction, flr communication by railway
scroSs the coni'ncui aud wholly within the llusits
u the United States
The power TO declare war, 10 raise and support
armies, 10 provide and maintain navy, and 90
call forth the militisto execute The laws supprrss
iuSnrreciious, aud rupei invasious was conferred
npon Congress, as mrans to provide Tor The com.
mon deiencr and 70 protect a territory and
population nov widespread and vastly multiplied
As ncdeniAl 10 aud indispensable f1r the xcrcisc
l % this power 1t must sometimes be necessary 60
construed military rUads aad protect hagbors o!
/ refuge.
To appropriations by Congress fof such objects
D no stNil hNIHttiNh can u faistl. Happily fuf
! our country, its peaceful policy and rapidly Ia
creasng population impose upon no urgent me-
l ccssty tof preparation, and leave but few track
I less deserts between assaalle points and pat
riuiic people ready and generally able 20 pro
Z tect them These necessary links the enterprise
and energy Of our people are steadily and boldly
struggling 70 supply All experience aflirms that,
Z wherever private enterprise will avail IL is most
/ wise Tor the general government TO leave 60 that
and individual wa'ehiulncss, the location and ea
ccuiion 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
me- raeihe 2eeaiH PsTles sre now 30 'ss eeld
had not supplied sufficient data and where there
was the best reason TO hope the object might he
found. The means and time being both limited IL
is not 10 be expected that all the accurate knowl-
edge will be obtained, but il is hoped that much
aud important information will be added TO the
stock already possessed, and that partial, IL not
full reports Of the surveys ordered will be receiy-
ed in time for Transmission TO the two Houses OF
Congress, on or before the first Monday in febru-
airy next, as required by the act OF appropriation
The magnitude Of the enterprise contemplated
has aroused, and viii doubtless continue to xcite
very general interest throughout the country,
In its political, its commercial, and its military
bearings II has varied great and increasing claims
! TO consideration. The heavy expense, great dc e
lay, and, at times, fatality attending travel 10y ell
| NhtT Oh routes, nave demonstrated the
advantage which would result from intertcrritori.
1 al communication by such safe and rapid means a,
a railroad would supply.
These difficulties with have been encounter
ed in period of peace, would be magniied and
still further increased in time Of war But whilst
the embarrassments already encountered and
Q others under new contingencies to be Anticipated
may serve strikingly 10 exhibit the importance o
} such work, neither these nor all consideration
a combined can have any appreciable value, wher
weighed against the obligation strictly TO adher,
TO the Constitution, and faithfully to execute tn,
powers it confers. Within this limit and to IN,
I extent of the interest Of the Government involy
, ed, II would seem both expedient and proper
an economical and practicable route shall be ount
. to aid, by all constitutional means in the con
structon Of road, which will unite, by speed,
transit the populations of the Pacific and Allan
T. tic States. To guard against misconceptions i
If should be remarked that, although the power I,
= construct, or aid in the construction Of a roa,
within the limits Of territory is not emharrass
d ed by that question of jurisdiction which woul,
II arise within the limits OF State, it is nevertho
Il less held 10 be Of doubtful propriety, even within
II the limits Of a territory, for the General Govern
s ment to undertake to administer the affairs Of
; railroad, a canal, or other similar construction
= and therefore that its come xion with work o
Is this character should be Incidental rather thai
;. primary.
win only add, at present, that fully apprecl
l. atng the magnitude of the subject and solicitor
u tlat tlt Atdntlc auu racine SHORES OF The fcpub
> lie mvy be bound together by inseparableties O
II common interest, well as Of common fealty ant
i attachment to the Union shall be disposed, s.
n far as my own action is concerned to follow TN
3 nights OF the constitution expounded and Illus
II trated by those, whose Unions and exposition
II constitute the standard Of my political faith in re
d gard to the powers Of the federal government !
e u.s. trust, not necessary to say, that grandeu
OF enterprise, and no present urgent inducemen
g promising popular favor, will lead me TO disrc
r gard those lights, or to depart from that path
D. which experience has proved to be safe and which
n is now radiant with the glow Of property and lie
C Ultimate constitutional progress. We can afior,
to walt but we cannot afford to overlook the arl
= of our security.
d II is no part of my purpose TO give promncnc,
L to any subject, which may properly be regarded
as set at rest by the deliberate judgement Of III,
= people. But while the present is bright with pro
C mise, and the future full Of demand aud induce
= ment for the exercise Of active intelligence III,
i past can never be without useful lessons of ad
d monitor and instruction. II its dangers scry,
not as bcacons, they will evidently fail To fulfil th,
c object of wise design. When the grave shall
/ have closed over all who now endeavoring Il
{ meet the obligations of duty, the year 1850 vii
0 be required TO period filed with anxious apprc.
hension successful war had Just terminated
= Peace brought with ii vast augmentation Of
> territory. Disturbing questions arose, bearing
upon the domestic institutions Of one portion al
the confederacy, and involving the constitutional
I'shts OF the states, But, notwithstanding differ.
ences OF opinion and sentiment which then exist.
ed in relation to details and specific provisions
The acquiescence Of distinguished citizens whose
devotion TO the Union can never be doubted has
given renewed yigor TO our institutions and res.
tored sense Of repose and security to The public
mind throughout the confcdcrscy
That this repose is to sufferer no shock during
my Official term, II have power to avert H. those
VINO placed me here may be assured. The wis
doin OF men, who knew what independence cost
who had put all at stake upon the issue Of the
| revolutionary struggle disposed Of the subject
| 10 winch refer, IN the only way consistent with
| Tue union Of these States and with the march Of
power and prosperity which has made u what
| we are IL Is significant fact, that from the
adoption Of the constitution until the officers and
soldiers Of the revolution had passed 10 their graves
| or through the nnrmities Of age and wounds
had ceased TO participate actively in public affair
| there was uot merely quiet Aoquisconce in bu,
prompt yindicaion OF, the constitutional rights
OF The States. The reserved powers were scrapu.
| lousy respected
No statesman put forth the narrow views OIL
the casuisis 10 justify interference aud agitation but
spirit Of the compact was regarded as sacred 4,
Ihe eye OF honor, aud Indispensable for the great
experiment Of civil liberty, which. eprironed h,
inherent difficulties, was yet borne forward ia ap-
lAfent weakness by power superior to all obsta.
CO. Ihercls no condemnation which the voice
~ freedom viii not pronounce upon us, should
We prove faihless to this great trust While men
nhsoiting different parts ~ this vast continent
can no more lie expected TO hold the same opln. /
IONS or entertain the same sentiments, than every
81 ~ NN u .