Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-12-10

prise coneenlpl ted mas aroused, and will douhH
continue to excite, general interest thron"S
ont the country. In its political its commercial G
its military bearings it has Varied great and inc "u
sing claims to consideration The heavy exnenSa
the great delay, and at times, fatality ATTENDING t
vel by either of the isthmus routes have demo9..
ted the advantage which would result from inn,tS
ritorial communication by such safe and rapid MAJ
as railroad would supply "S
These difficulties, which have been encountered
period of peace, would be magnifed and still fin
ther increased IN time of war. But whilst tbo u''
barTassments already encountered and Others M '
der new contingencies to be anticipated NAV S ~an,
Strlkngy to exhibit the importance of such Vol,
neither these, nor all considerations combined 90
have any appreciabe value, when weighed asainat
the obligation strictly to adhere to the constnt;
and faithfully to execute the powers it conforu'
Within this limit and to the extent of the intereSt r.
the government involved, it would seem both exnc
dent and proper, if economical and practical ror
shall be found, to aid, by all constitutional mesns
in the construction of a road, which will unite h.
speedy transit, the populations of the Pacific mi
Atlantic States. To guard against misconccption i
should be remarked that, although the power to CON-
struct, aid in the construction of road With
the limits of territory is not embarrassed by tbo
question of jurisdiction which would arise within tbs
limits of State, it is nevertheless held to be doub
full power, and more than doubtful proprietv cro
within the limits of territory, for the general GOV
eminent to undertake to administer the affairs of
railroad, canal, OF other similar construction and
therefore that its connexion with work of this che.
acter should be Incidental rather than primary
viii only add, at present. that fully approaching the
magnitude of the subject, and solictous that the A.
lantic and Pacific shores of the republic NAV he
bound together by inseparable ties of common in.
terest well as of common fealty and attatchment
to the Union | shall be disposed, far as nv own
action is concerned, to follow the lights of the CON-
stitution, as expounded and illustrated by those
whose opinions and expositions constitute the STAN
dard of my political faith in regard to the powers Of
the federal government 1t is trust not necessary
to say, that no grandeur of enterprise and no pres;
sent urgent inducement promising popular favor
will lead me to disregard those lights or to depart
from that path, which experience has proved to be
SAFE and which is radiant with the glow Of pros
perity and legitimate Constitutional progress We
can afford to watt but we cannot afford to overlook
the ark of our security.
1t is no part of my purpose to give prominence
to any subject, which may properly be regarded as
set rest by the deliberate Judgment of the people
But while the present is bright with promise and
the future full of demand and inducement for the
exercise of active intelligence the past can neverbe
without useful lessons of admonition and instruction
If its dangers serve not as beacons they will cyi-
IDENTITY fail to fulfil the object ola wise design When
the grave shall have closed ALL who are now en-
deavoring to meet the obligations Of duty the wear
1850 will be REQUIRED to period filled with anx-
ious apprehension A successful war had Just ter
minated. Peace brought with it a vast augmcnta-
ton of territory Disturbing questions arose, bear
ing upon the domestic institutions of portion of
the confederacy, and involving the constitutional
rights of the States. But notwithstanding differ
ences of opinion and sentiment which then existed
in relation to details and specific provisions, the
ouescence of distinguished citizens, whose devotion
to the Union never be doubted, has given renew
ed vigor to our institutions and restored Of
repose and security to the public mind throughout
the confederacy. That this repOse is to suffer no
shock during my official term if | have power to
avert it. those who placed NE here may be assured,
The wisdom of men, who knew what independence
4 EckDI fl,oIC of tha
revolutionary struggle-disposed of the subject to
which refer in the only way consistent with the
union of these States, and with the march of power
and prosperity which has made us what we are 1t
is significant fact, that from the adoption of the
constitution until the officers and soldiers of the
olution had passed to their graves or, through the
inr1nities of age and wounds had ceased to partc-
mate actively in public affairs there was not merely
a quiet acquescence ill., but prompt vlndlcaton O1r
the constitutional rights OF the States The rescrV-
ed powers were scrupulously respected No states
man put forth the narrow views OF casulsts to JUST"
fly interference and agitation, but the spirit OF the
compact was regarded sacred IN the eyes OF hon.
Or and indispensable for the great experiment OF CIV"
il liberty, which, environed by inherent difficulties
was vet borne forward in apparent weakness by
power superior to all obstacles. There is TO con
lemnation which the voice of freedom will not pro-
nounce upon us, should we prove faithless to this
grcat trust While men nhabiting different parts OF
his vast continent can no more be expected to hold
The same opinions, entertain the same sentiments,
than every variety of climate soil can be expected
to furnish the agricultural products they can
mite in common object and sustain common pTll-
;iples essential to the maintenance of that object
The gallant men of the South and the North could
stand together during the struggle ofthc Revolution
hey could stand together in the more trying period
which succeeded the clangor of arms. AS their UNI
ed yaor was adequate to all the trials OF the camp
md dangers of the field, so their united wisdom
proved equal to the greater task of founding uPona
lcep and broad basis, institutions, which it has been
our privilege to enjoy, and Will ever be our most sa-
rcd duty to sustain 1t is but the feeble expression
If faith strong and universal osay that their sons
whose blood mingled so often upon the same held
Turing the war of1S12, and who have more recently
borne in trium phi the flag of the country upon ator
eign SOIL will never permit the alienation of feeling
to weaken the power of their united efforts, nor IN
terna discussions to paralyZe the great arm OF Tree
dom, uplifted for the yndication of sefgovernment
1 have thus briefly presented such suggestions as
seem to me especially worthy of your consideration
In providing for the present, you can hardly lah
avail yourselves of the light which the experience
the past casts upon the future :,
The growth of our population has Row brought
u.s. in the destined of our national history, 10
a point at which it will behoovcs US to expand our
vision over the vast prospective.
The successive decennial returns of the census
since the adoption of the constitution have reVcaeu
A law of steady progressive development which may
be stated in general terms, duplication every
nuarter century Carried forward, from the point
already reached for only short period of time as
Applicable to the existence of nation, this law Oh
progress if unchecked, will bring to almost Ii,
credible results. large allowance Tor dlminSntu
effect of emigration would not very ma
teriay reduce the estimate, while the increased az
erape duration of human life, known to have alrcad
. resulted from the scientific and hygienic improve
nents of the past fifty years, will tend to keep up
through the next fifty OF perhaps hundred, the SAM
L II lan