The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1853-12-23

The act Of Congress establishing the !
Smithsonian Institution provided that the
President of the United States, and other
persons therein designated, should con-
stitute an establishment" by that name,
and tina, the mambcrs should hold stated !
and special meetings for the supervision
of the affaiIs Of the Institution. The Or
ganizaion no, having taken place, !, |
seemed 10 me proper that it should be ell
fec,ed without delay This has been
done; and an occasion was thereby pre-
sentod for inspecting the condition Of The
Institution, and app'eciaiing lis success
full progress thus far, and its high promise
of great and general usefulness.
! have omitted to ask your favorable
consideration for the estimates OF works
Of local character in twen'y-seven OF the
thirty -one States, amounting 10 $l,754,~
500 because independently Of the grounds
which have so often been urged agains,
the application Of the federal revenue for
works of this character, inequality, with
consequent injustice, is inherent in the
nature Of the proposition, and because
the plan has proved entirely inadequate
TO the accom- pilshmrnt of the objects
sought. ........
The subject of internal improvements,
claiming the in crest and good will Of all,
has nevertheless, been the basis of much
political discussion, and has stood as
d ,eply craven line of division between
statesmen of eminent ability and patriot
ism. The rule Of stric, construction of
all powers delegated by the Safes 10 the
general government, has arrayed itself,
from time to time, against the rapid prog
rcss of expenditures from the naliona!
treasury on works uf local chatacter
within the States. Memorable as an
epoch in. the history Of this subject, is
the message of Presiden, Jackson, Of the
9Th of May, 1880; which met the sys-
tenn Of internal Improvements IN IFS com
,, paraiive infancy; but so rapid had been
, its growth, that the projected appropria'
,ions in that year, for works Of this char
sc,er had arisen 10 the alarming amount
of more than 100000 900. ...
In that message the President admitted
the difficulty of bringing back the ope'
ra,ions Of the government 10 the con
!, struc,ion the constitution sci lupin l79S
!, aud marked il as an admoni,orY proof o
the necessity of guarding that insirumen
= with sleapless vigilance against the author
: ity Of precedenls, which had not the sane
ZION of its mos, plainly defined powers.
!, Our government, exists undor writer
" compact between sovereign States, uni
r ting for specific objects, aud with specIf
=. grants 10 their general agent. If then
:, IN the progress of its administration, ,her
= - have beer departures from the terms an
g intent Of the compact, it is, ami will eve
- be, proper for US TO refer back TO the ny
ed standard which our fathers left us, an
- TO make stern effort TO conform our al
- lions to il. Ii would seem that the fat
i, Of principle having been resisted fro'
10 10 the frs, by many of the wisest and mo
-, NJ patriotic men Of the republic, and Po
,s m icy having provoked constant srIt
r Without arriving at q conclusion whit
can be regarded as satisfactory TO ii
~ mos, earnest advocates, should sugge
~ the inquiry whether there may not be
IS, plan likely TO be crowned with happl
eo results. Without perceiving any sou
'e,, distinction, or intending TO assert
M principle as opposed to improvement
10 needed for the protection ot inter-
en- comm cree, which does not apply TO ii
'!.ss provemen,s upon the seabonrd for /
II protection of foreign commerce. su
aFe nit to you whether it may not be safe
mai anticipated that, if the policy were on
ON settled agans, appropriations by the &c
'h> efal government for local improvemel
for the benefit of commerce, localil
ion requiring expenditures would not,
de- nudes and means clearly legitimate a
on proper, raise the fund necessary for 81
the constructions as the safety or other
+ ,eres,s Of their commerce might requl
U. If lhai can be regarded as a syste
so which, in the experience, OF more Il
ZEN .hirly years, has at no time so commane
be- the public judgment as 10 give ii
ac- character Of settled policy, VIII
ice, though it has produced some works
'uld conceded importance, has been al'en'
may with an expenditure quite disproF
ula- tiona,e TO their value, and has resulted
lied squandering large sums upon objf
lion which have answered no valuable /
de- pose, interests Of all the states
! by quire it to be abandoned, unless he
the may bs indulged for tho future wi
ex find no warrant in The. post.
'her With an anxious desire for the c.
The pleion Of the works which are regar
, by b, all good citizens with sincere intel
eing | have deemed i, my duty to ask at
hose hands deliberate reconsideration Of
question, with hope that. animated
due desire to promote the permanent
the substantial Interests Of the country,
d on wisdom may prove equal to the tas
icial devising and maturing a plan, which,
your Piled to this subject, may promise SC
hich .hiDg better that constant strife, the
y ac- pension Of the powers of local enierp
you, The exciting Of vain hopes, and the
7 an, | opnoin,nnent of cherished cXne ctat