The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1853-12-15

'e t:ol. II is then submitted whether in a
J cases, wh.re constructions are to be crectt
/ bv the General Government, the right
/ soil should not first be obtained, and legi
!. latve provision be made to cover such G
}! ses.
For the procrs's made in the constru
q ton Of roads within the Territories, as pr,
vided for in the appropriations Of the la
Congress, | refer you to the report of tt
T Secretary Of War.
There is one subject Of domestic natur
: which from its intrinsic importance and tn
many interesting questions Of future polio
/: it involves, cannot fail to receive your earl
! attention. | allude to the means Of con
muncation by which different parts Of tn
wide expansc Of otir country are to be plae
ed in close connection for the purpose bot
j, of defence and commercial intercourse, an
more especially such as appertain TO tn
communication Of those great divisions Q
the Union which lie on the opposite sides 0
!. the Rocky Mountains. That the Govern
ment has not been unmindiul of this hereto
fore is apparent from the aid it has afforded
through appropriations for u'ail facilities AM
other purposes.
i But the general subject will now present
itself under an aspect more imposing am
more purely national By each OF the sur
veys ordered by Congress, and now in tht
process Of completion, for communication
By railroad across the continent, and tc
places within the limits Of the Unitel
States.
! The power TO declare war, to raise and
support an army, to provide and maintain a
navy, and to call forth the militia to execute
the laws, suppress instructions, and rapel
nvasions, was conferred upon Congress as
/ a means to provide for the common defence,
land to protect the territories and popula-
ton, now widespread ndyastlv multiplied.
/ As incident to and ndindispensablc for the ex.
ercise of this power, it must be necessary
to construct military roads, and protect har-
bors Of refuge. To appropriations by Con-
grcss for such objects, no sound objections
can be raised. Happily for our country its
peaceful and rapidly increasing population
impose upon US no urgent duty for prepara-
ton, and leaves the few trackless deserts
between assailable points and patriotic peo-
| pie, ever ready and generally able to protect
| themselves. The enterprise and energy OF
our people arc steadily and boldly struggling
to supply the rest. All experience afliflns
that where private enterprise viii avail, it is
most wise for the general government to
| leave to individual watchtulness, the loca-
ton snd extension of all means of commu-
| nication
The surveys alluded to were designed TO as.
certain the most practicable and economical
route for Il railroad from tic Mississippi to
the Pacific. Parties are now in the field
making exploration where previous cxami-
nations had not supplied sufficient data, and
where there were the best reasons to hope
the object sought might be gained The
means being limited it is not to be expect
ed that all the accurate knowledge will be
/, obtained that is desirable, but il is to be-
Ehoped that much and important information
will be added 10 the stock previously pos
sessed and that partial, if not full, reports
will be received in time for transmission to
the House on or b:fore the first Monday OF
| February next, as requested b. the act o.
! lappropriation.~.The megsstIda OF the en-
terprise has aroused and will doubtless
continue to excite very general interes
| Throughout the country.
In its political, its commercial and militia
ry bearings, it has varied, great and ncraas
! ing claims to considerations. The heavy OK
pcnse. the great delay, and, at times, fatality
attending travel by either of the Isthmus
routes, have demonstrated the advantages
which would result from inter territorial
| communication BIZ such safe and rapid means
as railroad would supply. The difficulties
which have been encountered, it appears,
would be magnified and still further in
creased in time of war. But whilst the EN-
I 1 ,l- I,, nd !,
ers under new contingencies, to be antic;-
pated, may seem strikingIy to exhibit the
| Importance of such a work, neither these
nor all considerations combined, can have
an appreciabIe value when weighed against
the obligation TO adhere strictly to the con-
Structon and faithfully to execute the pow
| ers it conlers. Within this limit, and te
the extent of the interests Of the govern
ment involved it would seem both cype-
dent and proper. if an economical and prac-
| teal route shall be found to aid by all con-
s,itutonal means in the prosecution of a
road which will unite BY speedy transit
the population of the Pacific and Atlantic
States.
To guard against misconsruetion il
should be remarked that although power t.
construct or aid ia the construction Of 4 road
within the limits Of State, il is neverthe-
| less held to be doubtful power, and Of
more than doubtful propriety, even within
the limits of Territory, for the General
! Government to undertake to admjnistrate
/ he affairs of railroad cannl. or othe'
similar construction, and therefore IL
connection with work Of this char
acter should be Incidental rather than prim-
ary.
Approaching the magnitude Of the suhjnei
and solicitons that the Atlantic and Pacific
shores Of the republic may be bound to-
gether by inscparable ties of common teal-
ty and attachment to the Union, shall be
disposed, so far as my own action is concern.
ed, to follow the light of the Constitution
as expoundcd and Illustrated by those whoss
opinions and expos!tions constitute tbs
standard of my political faith. In regard
TO the powers Of the federal Government il
lis not necessary to add, that no grandeur q
enterprise, and no present urgent induce
ment promising ropniar favor will lead M
to disregard these lights or to depart from
thst position which experience has provee
10 be safe and which is now radent with
the glow of prosperity AMI legitimate con-
stitutional progress. We can afford Il
wait. but we cannot afford 10 overlook tns
ark OF our own security.
II is no part Of my purpose to give Promi'
!. ncnce to any subject which my be regardef
as set at rest by the deliberate Judgement