Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-12-14

den wealth expected to flow from magnificent
| schemes dependent upon the action OF Congress
Docs the spirit which has produced such results,
need to be stimulated or checked2 Is it not the
better rule to leave all these works to private
terprise, regulated, and when exped'ent, aided,
4 bv the cooperation of States2 If constructed by
1 private capital, the stimulant and the check go
together, ,and furnish salutary restraint against
speculative schemes and extravaganza. But it is
manifest that, with the most effective guards, tere
is danger of going too fast and too far.
We may well pause before proposition con-
tempating simultaneous movement for the con
structon Of railroads which, in extent, viii equal,
/ exclusive of the great Pacific. road and all its
branches, nearly one third of the entire length of
| such works. now completed, in the United States,
and which cannot cost, with equipments, less than
one hundred and fifty millions of dollars. The
dangers likely TO result from combinations of in
tcrests of this character, hardly be esti-
mated. But independently of these considerations,
where is the accurate knowledge tie comprehen-
1 sive intelligence which shall discriminate between
the relative claims of these twenty-eight proposed
roads, IN eleven States and one Territory Where
viii you begin and where end If to enable these
companies to execute their proposed works, it is
necessary that the aid of the general government
be primarily given. the policy will present prob
lem SO comprehensive in its bearings, and so inn
/ portant to our political and social well being, as
to calm in anticipation, the severest analysis En-
tertaining these views, recur with satisfaction to
/ the experience and action Of the last session of
Congress as furnishing assurance that the subject
will not fail to elicit careful examination and
rigid scrutiny
1t was my intention to present on this occasion.
some suggestions regarding internal improvements
by the general government, which want of time
at the close of the last session prevented my sub
mtting on the return TO the House of Representa-
making appropriations for the repair, prevention
and completion of certain public works heretofore
commenced under authority of law" but the
space in this communication already occupied with
other matter of immediate public exigency con-
strains me to reserve that subject for special
message, which will be transmitted to the two
/ Houses of Congress at early day.
The judicial establishment of the United States
requires modification, and certain Feforms in the
manner of conducting the legal business of the
government are also much needed but as have
addressed you ON both Of these subjects at length
! before have ouly to call your attention to the
suggestions then made.
My former recommendations in relation to suit
able provisions Of various objects Of deep interest
to the inhabitants of the District of Columbia are
| renewed,f Many of these objects partake largely
of a national character, and are important, indie
pendently of their relation to the prosperity of the
only considerable organized community in the
Union, entirely unrepresented by Congress-
I have thus presented suggestions on such sub
jects appear to TO be of particular interest or
Importance. and therefore most worthy of consid-
Grafton during the short remaining period allotted
to the labors Of the present Congress.
Our forefathers of the thirteen United Colonies.
| in acquiring their independence and in founding
this Republic of the United States Of America
have devolved upon US. their defendants, the
greatest and the most noble trusts ever committed
L. IL L n
pecially such the public will may have invested
for the time being, with political functions the
most sacred obligations. We have to maintain
ihviolate the great doctrine of the inherent right
of popular self government to reconcile the larg-
est liberty of the individual citizen, with complete
security of the public order; to render cheerful
obedience to the laws of the land to unite in en-
| forcing their execution, and to frown' Indignantly
on all combinations to resist them; to harmonic
sincere and ardent devotion to the institutions o
religion with the most universal religious toera-
ton; to preserve the rights of all by causing each
to respect those of the other; to carry forward
every social Improvement to the utmost limits o
: human perfectibility. by the free action of mind
upon mind, not by the obtrusive Intervention o
miss applied force; to uphold the integrity and
guard the limitations of our organic law; to pre-
serve sacred from all touch of usurpation, as the
very palladium of political salvation. the reSer-
we'd powers of the several States and of the people
this Union, as the only sure foundation on which
the hope Of civil liberty rests to administer gov
ernnlcnt with viSilant integrity and rigid econo-
N.Y. to cultivate peace and friendship with foreign
nations, and to demand and exact Justice from all
but to do wrong to none; to eschew interneddline
with the national policy and the domestic reposC
of other governments, and repel it from our own
never to shrink from war when the rights and
honor of our country calls to arms but to cul-
tivate in preference the arts of peace seek enlarge
ment of the rights of neutrality, and elevate and
Ifberalize the intercourse Of nations; and by such
just and honorable means, and such only, whilst
exaiting tho condition of the Republic, to assure
to it the legitimate influence and the benign au-
thority Of great example among all the powers
of Christendom.
Under the soleInnity of these convictions, the
blessings of Almighty God is earnestly invoked Il
attend upon your deliberations, and upon all tht
counsels and acts of the government, to the enc
that, with common zeal and common efforts, We
may in humble submission to the Divine will
cooperate for the promotion of the supreme goot
of these United States.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
WAsHINGToN, Dec. A, 1854.