Plymouth advertiser. [volume] (Plymouth, Ohio) 1853-1988, 1853-12-10

aud make stein determination 10 CONFORM
our action 10 j.
|, would seem that The fact Of a princi-
pie having been resisted from the first by
many Of the wisssi and most patriotic
men OF the Republic, and the policy hav-
ing provoked constant strife without haV |
ing arrived Al a conc usion which can be /
regarded as satisfactory 10 its most earnest
advocates, should suggest the inquiry |
whether there may not be plan Lkely 10 !
be crowned by any happierresulis. With !
out perreiving any sound distinction or
intending to asser, any principle as apt to
advance and needed fJr the pro,nliion Of
internal improvements and commerce, |
submit TO you whether il may not be !
saf-iy anticipated that il the policy were
at once against appropriations by The Gen-
eral Government for local Improvements
and for the benefit Of commerce, localities
requiring expenditures would not be made,
and mos, clearly. legi imaiely aud proper
ly, 20 raise the fund necessary for such
construction, as the safety Of other inter-
esls Of their commerce might require.
If that can be regarded as system
" hich in the experience Of more than
thirty years, has at no liz so comman-
ded the public judgment as 10 give it the
character ofa settled policy, which 'hough
it has produced some works of conceded
importance, has been attended with an
expenditure quite dsproportionaie to ,heii
value, and has resulted in squandering
large sums upon objects which have an.
syered no valuatl purpr Sc the in'eres's ol
all the States requires that it should be
abandoned, unless hopes moy be INDUCED
for the future which fni no warran, in the
past. With an anxious desire for the
completion of the works, which are regar-
ded by all good citizens with sincere inter.
est, | have deemed it my duty to asked at
your bands a deliberate reconsideration Of
the question with hope that for the sub
stantal interest of the country, your wis.,
dom may prove equal to the task of de-
signing and maturing plan, which if ap-
piled to this suhjac may promise some-
thing better than restraint, the suspension
of the power of local enterprise, the ex.
citing of warm hopes and the disappoint.
ment of cherished expectations. In ex-
} pending the appropriations made by the
last Congress several cases have arisen in
relation 10 works for the improvement OF
harbors which involve the question as to
: the right of local jurisdiction and have
+ threatened conflict between the authority
: Of the State and General Government.
The right to construct break wal er city
or dam, would seem necessarily to carr,
with it the power to protect, and pre-
serve Of such construction. This car
only be efectually done, by having ju
? rsdiction over the suit; but no clause
D of the Constitution is found OF, which tC
j res, the claim of the U. S., except tha
, contained in the eighth section Of The frs
3, article of the Constitution. 1t is then sub
l milted, whether in all cases where con-
: ruc,ions are to be erected by the gener-
Il al Government the right Of soil should b.
0 first obtained, and legislative provision b
e made to cover such cases.
d For the progress made with conslruc.
e ton of roads within the Territories n
!. provided for in the appropriations of tn
| last Congress, | refer you TO The repor
n Of the Secretary Of War.
+ There is one subject Of q domestic M
/. ture, which, from intrinsic importance
4. and the many interesting questions of f''
l. ture policy which it involves, cannot ial
l. to receive your early attention. allud
to the means of communication by whc
'e different parts Of the wide expanse @
'e our country are to be placed in close cor
sr nection for purposes both Of defence an
l. commercial intercourse, ard more es
I'd pecialy such as apper'ain to the commu
I'd nica;ion of those grea, divisions Of tn
of Union which lie on the opposite side c
l. the Rocky Mountains. That the Coy
lie ernment has not been unmindful of tn
e. heretofore, is apparent from the aid
s. has afforded through appropriations ft
'g mail facilities and other purposes. Bt
e. the general subject will now present itse
n, under an aspect more imposing and MOI
al purely national, by each of the survey
ordered by Congress. and now in the pr
lie cess of completion, for communication .
rk railway across the continent, and who'll
W WltniN the IlililNS VI VIC o"''So S'"'o
il. The power to declare war, to raise ar
s. support armies, to provide and mainta
e. a navy, and to call forth the militia to e
SO ecule the laws, suppress insurrecllo
On end repel invasions," was conferred up
lis Congress as means 6 to provide fol- Il
IN, common Defence" and to protect The te
he rtory and population now wide spre'
ed and vastly multiplied.
III As incident to, and indispensable t
the exercise of this power, i, must be n
is, cessary to construct military roads a
i'll protect harbors of refuge. 10 appropr'
of lions by Congress for such objects,
as sound objections can be raised. Happ
ZEN fol our country, its peaceful and rapit
OF increasing population imposes upon us
of urgent necessity fur preparation,
the leaves the few trackless deserts betwe
'elf assailable POINTS and patriotic people,
ro. er ready and generally able to prot
nal themselves. The enterprise and ener
ter of our people are steadily struggling
an supply The rest. All experience atfir
the that where private enterprise will avail
9Th is most wise for the General Governm
of 10 leave 10 that individual watchfaln
tive the location and execution OF all means
with communication. The surveys allu'
that to, were designed to ascertain the m
Sen .a,;oohla and economical roule fO