The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-26

about which have read as praelised in Europe But
genius Of our own country, Mr. Morse
MIR. CASS Progress
Mr. UNDERWOOD Yes, sir. Progress up the as.
cendng grade OF which told you some few weeks since
genius OF country has Invented method by which
the pony mounted courier, and the old leegaphs erected
been Tepudiaied, and now we can use OF sending
by the lightning itself, and which out
runs time for you may start message from this city at
twelve o'clock and il will reach New Orleans before the
sun reaches the meridian OF that place. Now, the ques
lion is. have right TO use the telegraph to enable
The President TO communicate with and to command the
army or the navy May the President transmit his
orders by lis 10 the army or the navy Ii Con-
gress shall erect It's own lines OF telegraph and allow the
President TO appoint sworn ocers 70 transmit his orders
land that might be necessary TO prevent publicity what
be assigned against doing IT. unless il be that
such thing not known at the origin OF The govern
ment in 1885, or even late the enlightened age OF
the Virginia resolutions OF 0S insist that Morse's
telegraph may be adopted as legitimate and constitutional
means by which the President may transmit his orders
do not know that this argnmen has been presented be-
fore 10 the country and want the people it, Here
is clear power given the commaDderin. chief issue
oners TO the military and naval forces of the country
These orders must be sent by some Science has
discovered a new mode OF communicating intelligence,
Can use il And if So can State prevent our using
it, and the erection of the posts and wires her
territory, any than she could prevent courier
from passing under whip and spur through her borders
Like the gentleman from Michigan, hold that the pow
oil Congress do not al all depend upon the consent OF
the States
siutlon, 10 give this government additional power
unless shall be convinced il is OF the most harmless
and beneficial character think it has power enough
already But this bill, IN my Judgment presents ques-
lion OF constitutional power. We, the present Congress-
have found power IN The constitution, by adopting the
Wheeling bridge post-road TO save il from abatement
nuisance under the decision OF the Supreme Court
Ii we have power 10 prevent pulling bridge down, we
can build IT, five protect bridge, or build bridge
river within State under post otce powers
make road and preserve it. This body, 10 the
Wheeling bridge case. has settled the constitutonaliiy OF
this bill Ii should therefore be regarded as not an open
but adjudged and decided question.
But il must be argued over and over again. then say
that speed, and facility of concentrating supplies and sol
dlers, is military strength and power. The capacity OF
concentrating forces nslantaneousy is everything IN mil
tary operations To defend possessions on the Pa
citc the railroad would be invaluable. You have an
army navy which you desire to remove from one
pest station TO another; for instance, you may know
that danger is threatening San Francisco, and you want
bring troops from Oregon and concentrate them there
or you want to take them from San Francisco 10 the
mouth OF the Columbia; or you know that navy OF
your enemy is sailing around Cape Horn to attack your
ships the coasts OF the Pacific, and you wish TO order
your weaker fleet to escape by passing around the Cape
OF Good Hope and come home, let US have national
telegraph, and orders be given with the npidity OF
thought; troops be marched and countermarched,
and concentrated as circumstances require; your conn
try defended, your ships and your armies saved But
start your courergve him relays OF the hoetest race
horses, keep him mounted on the back OF Henry or
Eclipse, Boston Fashion, and let him distance the
wild CuHanche on the open plains and beat the ante
order warning, your Pacific possessions may be
invaded your army captured in detail your ships sunk,
and your commerce rulned.
Why, sir destruction of life by thousands, and loss OF
property by millions in value, may be saved and the
Union preserved from dismemberment, by the proposed
railroad and telegraph and yet we are told graSely
this day, that there is no constitutional power 10
construct them In other WORDS are grayey told that
the organic functions OF the government are so mbecle
that lacks the capacity OF seltpreservaton II this be
true, It's ckey existence will soon PERISH and but few
mouTners will weep at the grave. Let the people look
into these things and hold TO accountability, as shall do
when retire from this body, all those who virtually deny
this government the necessary powers OF selfdeence
Instead OF having railroads and elegraphs con-
stitutng system OF national defence Infinitely superior
all The foriifcaons we have ever built or can build
we are depend upon the States for these things thus
reversing and destroying the whole framework OF policy
which erected efficient and beautiful structure out OF
the wreck and disorder OF an obsolete confederation II
the States will not cannot build railroads and elegIaphs
where they wanted for national purposes then we are
go without them. Sir, we might just as well call upon
the States 10 build for us our steamships manufacture
cannon, or furnish any other means OF national de-
fence.
recoect that upon one occasion last summer, the
gentleman from Michigan tMr CAssl and myself were
passing the Hudson ver and every few miles on the
way saw lighthouse. think saw lighthouses all
the way up 10 Albany, occasionally.
Mr.. SEWARD. It's a hundred and fifty mses from
New York to Albany.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD The senator from New York
says the distance is hundred and fifty niles will be
tell many lighthouses there are IN that distance
Mr., UNDERWOOD. saw great many more, &C.
cordng 10 my recollection. paid some attention, and
thought about il al the time, know,
Mr.. SEWARD. They are double refecors. Laugh.
teri
Mr. UNDERWOOD. The gentleman says they are
double rteciors, and II so should suppose fewer num-
Der might the purpose OF inducing US TO reflect
t0ics upon what am about 10 state. ! saw some other
things passed up the river buoys to point out
the channel ! saw these internal improvements made
by Congress- with national funds IN the State without
the OF the State, and without having asked
It's consent That is the idea which wish to bring to
your mind When and how did the idea originate that
Congress might erect lighthouses and plant buoys with
out the OF State II originated with the birth
OF the general and II has been put in practice
from that day this. The idea sprung from The consti
tuition, correctly interpreted BY its makers and the found
ers of the government The idea suited and promoted
salt Dater regions aud t1 oder interests Then we had
no interior The State which now represent had moth
ing In it that time but few s;ockade forts and set
dement's OF white men, and multitudes OF yelling sayages
and wild beasts Kentucky the first OF the great in
terror western States settled by white men, At that
early PERIOD construction OF the constitution obtained
in respect TO internal improvements upon Underwater
which sanctioned The application OF national funds 10
the erection of lighthouses and planting baoys IN
aid of commerce For these and similar objects on
the seaboard, millions after millions have been appro
priaed from the beginning down TO the present time.
Millions have been spent for sea-was and breakwaters,
and to make or improve hsrbors. AT length the fertile
and great interior had opened her dense forests and her
agriculture sought 10 reach foreign markets with
her rich products The great interior then wanted inter-
nal improvements OF the kind 10 benefit her com
meee But when she applied TO the general government
for them, she met by new generation oil polll-
cians-not sistesneo-wiih the objection There Is no
constitutional power 10 crafty your wishes" To pro-
md mid fea Ie he