Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-12-06

works Of conceded importance, has been attended with
expenditure quite disproportonate 10 their vaueand
has resulted in squandering large sums upoa objects
which have answered valuable purpose The
of all the States require il 10 be abandoned unless hopes
may be INDUCED for the future which find warrant
! the past
With anxious desire for the completion OF the works
which regarded by all good citizens with sincere in
ieresf have deemed it my duty 10 ask at your hands
deliserale reconsideration OF the question: with hope
that, animated by desire 10 promote the permanent and
substantially Interests of the country your wisdom may
prove equal to the task of devisng and maturing plan
which, applied 10 his subject, may promise something
better han constant strife the suspension OF the powers
OF local enterprise. the exciting of vain hopes, and The
disappointment of cherished expectations.
In expendng the appropriations made by the last Con
gess several have arisen 10 relation to works Tor
The Improvement of harbors which involve question as
TO the right OF soil and jurisdiction and have threatened
conflict between the authority of the State and neral
governments. The right 10 construct break wafer, Icy,
or dam, would seem, necessarily. 10 carry with il the
power 10 protect and preserve SUCH constructions. This
can only he efec,uay done by having jurisdiction over
the soil But clause of the constitution IL found, On
which the claim of the United States exercise
Jurisdictions the soil OF Stale, except that conferred
by the ehn section OF The first article OF the constitution
1t is, then, submitted, whether. in all cases where
structons be erected by the general government
the ght Of soil should not first be obtained and legsla.
tive provision be made TO cover all such cases.
For the proIress made in The construction of roads
within the territories provided Tor in the appropriations
OF the last Congress- refer you 10 the report OF tue Sec
Rotary of War.
There one subject of domestic nature, which, frsm
lis Intrinsic Importance, and the many Interesting ques
TONS OF future policy which involves, Cannot fail To
ceive your early attention. | aude 10 the OF
communication, by which different parts of the wide
nse oil country 10 be placed IN closer conReXon
for purposes both OF defence and commercial intercourse
aud more especially sach appertan to the coununca
ton OF those great divisions OF the Unlon winch lie OF
the opposite sides of the Rocky Mountains
That the government, has no, been unmlndfu of this
heretofore, is apparent from the aid it has afforded
through appropriations for mail facilities and other pu
poses But the general subject will present itself
under aspects more imposing and purely national,
by reason OF the surveys ordered by Congress- and
IN the process of completion, for communication by rail-
way across the continent and wholly within the Limits
OF the United States.
The power declare war; TO raise and support armies
10 provide and maintain navy and 10 call forth the
ia 10 execute the laws suppress Instructions, and
pei lnVasCGs, Was conferred upon Congress,
to provide for the common defence, and TO project
fitofy anu population now wide spread and vastly null
u2lied. As incidental to and Indispensable the
cise of this power, it must sometimes be necessary TO
construct military roads aud protect harbofs OF refuge
To approP alons by Congress such Objects sound
objecuon Can be raised Happily for country, liz
peaceful policy aud rapidly increasing population impose
upon US urgent necessity for preparation, aud leave
but few rackess deserts between assailabe points and
patriotic people ready aud generally able to pro-
sc them. These necessary Inks The enterpr and
ersy CT our people steadily AID bodily struggling To
supply All experience atnns that wherever pliyd'e
enterprise will avail. ii is most wise TOR the general gov
ernnent to leave to that and individual wa'caness the
location and execution OF ali means OF communication.
The surveys before alluded desig ned ascer-
tain The most practicable AID economical for rail
road from the river Mississippi 10 the Pacific ocean
Parties in the field making explorations, where
previous examinations had not supplied sufficient data
and whee there tie best 20 hope the object
sought might he found The means and ,ine being bot
ii:ned it IS rot 10 be expected that all Ne accurate
knowledge desired will be obtained. bu l. is hoped that
much and important Information will be added to the
SOCK previously possessed. aad hat partial, if not full
reports OF the surveys ordered viii be received in time
for transmission to the two Houses of Congress- or be-
n-a 80,
the act OF appropriation The magnitude the enterprise
contemplated has aroused, and will doubtless continue to
eKc!te, very general interest throughout the country
La lis political, lis commercial and its military bearings
/: has vailed great and increasing claims consdera-
ton The heavy expense, the great delay and. at times
fatality attending travel By either Of the isthmus routes
have demonstrated the advantage. which would result
from nterterrloral communication by such safe and
rapid means as railroad would supply.
These difficulties, which have been encountered in
period OF peace would be magnifed and still further
creased In time OF war But whilst the embarrassnents
already encountered and others under ne
to be anticipated, may strikingy exhlbi, the
importance OF such work, neither these all consd
eratOns combined, can have an 8ppscabe value when
weighed against the obligation strictly 10 adhere to the
constitutions and faithfully execute the powersit con.
ers Within this iint and TO the of the interest
OF Inc government involved, It would both eXpe
dent an: proper, 1t an economical and practicable route
shall be found, 10 aid, by all constitutional means IN
the construction of road, which Will unite, by speedy
transit, Inc populations OF the Pacific anu Atlantic States
10 guard against mlscOncepan, it should be remark ed
that, although the power Ia construct, or AID in the con-
stfucon or road within tue limits of territory is
not embarrassed by that QIestoa of jurisdiction which
would arise within the limits of Stale il is neyerthe
less held 20 be OF doubtful power and more than doubt
iul proPlIety, even within the limits Of territory for
the general government 10 undertake to administer the
affairs OF railroad, canal, other similar consiruc-
ton, and Therefore that its xon with work of this
character should be Incidental rather than primary 4
Will only add, at present, that fully approaching the
magnitude t te subject, and socitous that the Atlantic
ana faThc shores OF The republic may be bound together
by insepara5e tes OF common interest, as ge as of
common fea'.y and attachment TO the U.,on shall b..
disposed, so lar as ray action is concerned TO fooy
the lights OF the constitution, expounde. and Illus
traed by these, whose opinions and cyposi:oDs coost
iue Lie standard OF my political faith IN regard 10 the
powers OF the federal government -, trust o. he
cessary TO say that no grandeur OF enterprise aud no
present uS5enl lndacSl promising popular favor will
lead me 10 disregard those lights, depart iron that
path. which experience has proved to he sale, and
which Is now radiant with the glow al prosperity ana
legitimate constitutional p!ogross. We Can sioTd Ia
wait, but we cannot aao! 10 overlook lie ark of our
security.
It ls &c part Oh nay purpose 10 give prominence 70 ANY
subject, which MAJ properly be regarded a set AZ resi- nv
the deliberate Judgment Of the people. But while he
present is blight with promise, aud the .;ugs full of
demand and !nLucemen for the exercise Of active n,aI
gence. the past can never Ge wthou. useful lessons If
aunonon and instruction. Ii lis GaGge,s ssry. moi s
beacons they Will evidently fail 10 fulhl the object of p
wise design Wheh the grave shall have cosei over