The daily comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1850-1856, 1853-12-13
The spirit of the Constitution aud q

the States OF the UnlDn should DC
placed on the same footing in regard
to the judicial tribunals. | therefore
commend to your consideration this
important subject, which, in my judy
ment demands tho speedy action Of
Congress. | will present to you, if
deemed desirable. plan, which ! am
prepared to recommend, for the en-
largement and modification Of the
present judicial system.
The act Of Congress establishing
the Smithsonian Institution provided
that tho President Of the United
States and other persons therein de-
siguated, should constitute an estab-
lishment f" by that name, and that the
members should hold stated aud spec
ial meeting for the supervision Of the
affairs of the Institution The organ
ization not having taken place, IL
seemed to me proper that it should be
effected without delay Thia has been
done aud an occasion was thereby
presented Tor inspecting the condition
Of the Institution, and approaching its
successful progress thus far, and i's
high promise Of great and general use
fulness
/ have omitted TO ask your favora-
Bile consideration for tue estimates OF
works Of local character, IN twenty.
seven Of the tLiriy.one States, amount
ing to one. million seven hundred and
fifty four thousand five hundred dol
lars, because, Independently Of the
grounds which have ~ oflen been
urged against the application Of the
federal revenue for works Of this char.
acter, inequality with conseqaent IN
Justice inherent in The nature OF the
proposition, aud because the plan has
proved entirely inadequate TO the nc
coinpIishment Of the objects sought.
The subject Of internal improve
mcnt, claiming alike the interest aud
good will Of al! has nevertheless, beer
the basis Of much political discussion
and has stood as a deep Craven linc d
division between statesmen Of eminent
men of eminent ability and patriotism
The rule Of strict construction OF al
powers delegated by the States by 'h'
General Government has arrayed 1t
aelf from time to time. against the zap
id progress Of expenditures from The
national treasury on works Of a loca
character within the States. Memo
ral.c as an epoch in the history Of thi
subject is the Message Of Presiden
Jackson, of the 9Th Of May, 1890
which met the system Of internal i'm
proeemenls in its comparative Infancy
bat SO rapid has been its growth, tia
the projected appropriations IN Tia
year for works Of this character ha'
risen to the enormous amount Of NOR
than one hundred millions Of dollars.
In that message the President ad
mittcd the difficulty Of bringing bacl
the operation Of the Government to TN
construction Of the constitution set al
in 1898, aud marked it as an admoni
tory proof Of the necessity OF guardin
that Instrument with sleepess 'igi
lance against the authority Of prece
dents, which bad not the sanction G
It's most plainly defined powers.
Our Government exists under
written compact between sovereig
States, uniting for specific objects, an
with specific grants 10 their genera
agent. II then, in the progress Of it
administration, there have been dc
parturcs from The terms and intent {
the compact, it il, and will ever be
proper TO refer back TO the fixed stano
ard which our fathers left us, and t
make stern effort to conform our a,
ton to it. Il wonid seem that th
fact ola principle having been resiste
from the first by many ef the wise
and most patriotic plon Of tie Rcpnt
lie, and policy having provoked COZ
slant strif,, without arriving at col
clusion which eau DC regarded as 80
isiactory to It's most earnest advocate
should suggest the inquiry whcthe
there may not be plaza likely to b
crowned by happier results. Wit
out pcrcei.ins any sound distinction
or intending to assert any principle
opposed to Improvements needed ft
the protection internal comlnerc