Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-12-07

the national treasury on works of a local charac-
ter within the States. Memorable as an epoch
in the history of this subject is the message of
President Jackson, Of the 9th of May 1880,
which met the system of internal improvements
in its comparative infancy; but rapid had been
its growth, that the projected appropriations in
that year for works Of this character had risen to
the alarming amount of more than one hundred
millions Of dollars.
In that message the President admitted the
difficulty of bringing back the operations of the
government to the construction of the constitu-
ton set up in 1888, and marked it as an admoni-
tory proof of the necessity of guarding that in
strument with sleepless vigilance against the au-
thority of precedents, which had not the sanction
of its most plainly defined powers.
Our government exists under written com
pact between sovereign States, uniting for spe-
cifc objects, and with specific grants to their
general agent. IT, then, in the progress of its
admins tration, there have been departures from
the terms and intent of the compact it is. and
will ever be, proper to refer back to the fixed
standard which our fathers left us, and to make
a stern effort to conform our action to it. It
would seem that the fact of principle having
been resisted from the first by many of the wisest
and most patriotic men of the republic, and a pol
icy having provoked constant strife, without ar
rlYlng at conclusion which can be regarded as
satisfactory to its most earnest advocates should
suggest the inquiry whether there may not be a
plan likely to be- crowned by happier results
Without perceiving any sound distinction, or in
tending to assert any principle as opposed to i'm
provements needed for the Isotection of internal
commerce, which does not equally apply to i'm
provements Upon the seaboard for the protection
of foreign commerce, submit to you, whether it
may not be safely anticipated that if the policy
were once settled against appropriations by the
general government for local Improvements for
the benefit of commerce, localities recurring ex-
penditures would not, by modes and means clear
~ legitimate and proper, raise the fund necessary
Tor such constructions as the safety or other in
terests Of their commerce might require.
Ii that can can be regarded system, which,
IN the experience of more than thirty years has
at 10 time so COMMANDED the public udgm emit as
to give it the character of policy-which,
though it has produced some works of conceded
Importance, has been attended with an expendi-
ture quite disproportonate to their value-and
has resulted in squandering large sums upon OBJ
jects which have answered no valuable purpose
the interests of all the States require il to be
Abandoned unless hopes may be INDUCED for the
future Hhich find no warrant in the past
With anxious desire for the connie
ton of the works which are regarded by all good
citizens with sincere interest, have deemed it
my duty to ask at your hands a deliberate recon-
deration of the question, with hope that ami
mated by 4 desire to promote the permanent
and substantial interests Of the country, your wis
dom may prove equal to the task of deyising and
maturing plan, which. applied to this subject,
may promise something better than constant
strife, the suspension of the powers Of local en-
terprse, the exciting of vain hopes and the disap-
pointment of cherished expectations
In eXpending the appropriations made by the
last Congress- several eases have arisen in rela-
ton to works for the improvement Of harbors.
which involve que tons as to the right of O and
Jurisdiction and have threatened conflict between
the authority of the State and general govern
ments The right to construct a. breakwater.
jetty, or dam, would seem, necessarily, to cary
with it the power to protect and preserve such
constructions. This can only be effectually done
by having jurisdiction over the soil But no
clause OF the constitution is found, on which to
rest the claim of the United States TO exercise iu
risdictiop over the soil of State except that
conferred by the eighth section Of the first article
of the constitution. 1t is, then, submitted.
whether in ali cases where constructions are TO
be erected by the general government, the right
of soil should not first be obtained, and lepisla-
tive provision be made to cover all such cases.
for the progress made in the construction of
roads within the territories, provided for in the
appropriations Of the last Congress- refer YOU TO
the report of the Secretary of War
There is one subject of domestic nature.
which, from its intrinsic Importance and the
many intererting questions Of future policy which
1t involves, cannot fail to receive your early at
tention.
| allude to the means of communication, by
which different parts of-the wide expanse of our
country are to be placed in closer connection for
purposes both of defence and commercial inter-
course, and more especially such as appertain TO
the communication of these great divisions Of the
Union, which lie on the opposite sides Of the
Rocky Mountains.
That the government has not been unmindful
of this heretofore is apparent from the aid il has
afforded, through appropriations for mail facili-
ties and other proposes But the general subject
will now present itself under aspects more impos-
ing and more purely national, by reason of the
surveys ordered by Congress and now in the
process of completion, for communication by rail-
way across the continent, and wholly within the
limits of the United States.
The power to declare war, to raise and support
armies, to provide and maintain navy, and to
call forth the militia to execute the laws suppress
instructions and repel inyasions was conferred
upon Congress as means to provide for the COM
mon defence, and to protect territory and popu-
lation now widespread and vastly multiplied
As incidental to and indispensable for the exer-
else of this power, it must sometimes be necessa-
ry to construct military roads and protect harbors
of refuge
To appropriations by Congress for such objects
no sound objection Hcan be raised. Happily for
our country, its peaceful policy and rapidly in
creasing population impose upon us no urgent
necessity for preparations and leave but few track
less deserts between assaiable points and patri-
cite people ever ready and generally able to pro
teet them.
These necessary links, the enterprise energy
OF our people are steadily and boldly struggling
to supply. Ali experience afirms that uhepevaf
private enterprise will avail, it is most wise for
the general government to leave TO that and indi-
vidual watchfulness the location and execution
of all means of communication.
The surveys before alluded to were designed to
ascertain the most practicable and economical
route for railroad from the river Mississippi 10
the Pacific ocean. Parties are now in the field.
making explorations, where previous examina.
tons had not furnished sufficient data and where
there was the best reason to hope the object
sought might be found
The means and time being both limited, it is
not 10 be expected that all the accurate knowledge
desired will be obtained, but IL a honed thet
much and important information will be added to
the stock previously possessed, and that partial,
not full reports of the surveys ordered will be
received, in time for transmission to the two
houses of Congress, OF or before the first Monday
III February next, as requiredby the act of appro-
priation.
The magnitude of the enterprise contemplated
has aroused. and will dnnhtess enntinua to .ex-