The Nevada journal., 1854-01-20

roedS Snoud be restricted 10 cases where 1t woul
be for the interest of proprietor unde. like eli
stances thus to confr butte 10 the construction
these works. For the practical operation Of sue
grants thus far in advancing the interests of tn
state in which the works are located and at tn
samc time the substantial interests of all tho othe
states BY enhancing the value and promoting IN
rapid sale Of the public domain, l refer you to tn
report of the Secretary of the Interior. A careful
erawiuation, however, will show that this expert
snee IL the result of just discrimination, and Ni
Se far from affording encouragement TO a reckles
and indiscrimnats application Of the principle.
commend to your favorable consideration tn
nam Of genius of our country, who. by their inven
1ions ana discoveries in science and art, have cen
tYibutsd largely to the Improvements Of the age
wiAhout, in many instances securing for themselve
ANYTHING like an adequate reward. For many in
Aersstne details upon this subject refer ysu to tn,
sopropriste reports and especially arge upon you
rortant notifications Of existlsg laws therein sug
The liberal mirit which has 80 lsng marked tn.
adon of Congress in relation to the District Of CO.
lumbia, will have NO doubt. continue to be mani
fested.
TIE election of an asylum for che insane Of the
n;.tr;ct of Columbia, and Of bhe army and navy OF
the limited States, has been somewhat retarded BY
shs great demand for materials and labor during
the past summer; but full Preparation for the re-
ssn,;en of patients, before the return Of aBothsr
w}nter is anticipated and there 10 the beIt reason
.. heI,eye, from the plan contemplated, arrange
ments that have been devised, With the large ex-
nsr;erce furnished within the laet few years in re
ation to the nature ana treatr Of the disease,
that II will prove an asylum, indeed 10 this most
heInlsss and tfaicted ess. of sufferers and stand
A noble monument Of wisdom and mercy.
Under the acts Of Congress Of August 3lst, 1852,
and March 3D. 1888 designed - for the cities
~ w asbington and Georgetown an abundant sup
nlv of good and wholesome water. 1t became my
dntv to examine the report and plans Of the engi-
.esr who had charge Of ths surveys under the act
6rst named. The best, If not the only plan salcu-
lated to secure permanently the object soaght was
Great Falls of the Potomac, and consequently gave
IL my approval ,...
nortant work and for its demands, far as arpro-
pratiens are concerned refer yca to the report OF
the Secretary OF war.
The nresent judicial system Of the United States
has now been in operation for SO long q psqod Of
time and has in its geesral theory and ma ch OF its
details become SO familiar TO the country, and
quired so thoroughly the Pubiis confidence, that if
modified in any respect, it should be only In those
particulars which may adapt 10 to increased extent
nonulstion and legal business Of the United States
IN this relation, the Organization Of the courts is
aew confessedly inadequate to the duties TO be per-
formed by them; in consequence Of which the
Rtates Of Florida, Wisconsin, iowa, Texas and
California and districts Of other States are in fact
excluded from the full benefit of the general system
Nv the functions of the circuit csuY being devolved
en- the district udgeSA all those States o. the parts
Of States.
Tho ,pirit of the constitution and duo regard to
Justice REQUIRE that all the States Of the Union be
placed on the same footing in regard to the Judicial
tribunals, | therefore commend to your eonsdera.
tion this important subject, which in my judgment
dsmani As the speedy action of Congress. / will
nresent to you if deemed desirable plan, which
am prepared to recommend, for the enlargement
and modification of the prese mt jndcial system.
The last Congress establish ed the Smithsonian n
IL h. Drc.I 6 Ia y-:t
States and other persons therein designated hoald
constitute an I" establishment by that name, and
that the members should hold stated and special
meetings for the supervision Of the AFFAIRS of the in
stitution. The organization net having taken
place. it seemed to me proper that it should be
effected without delay. This has been done and
an occasion was thereby presented for inspecting
the condition Of the institute, and appreciating its
successfu progress thus far and its high promise Of
great and general usefulness.
have continued to ask your favorable considera-
tion of the est mates for works of local character
In twenty-seven of the thirty-one States, amonnt-
ing to one million, seven hundred and hfty-four
thousand, FIVE hundred dollars, because lndePen-
IDENTIFY of the grounds which have been go often
urged against the applications of the federal reven
for works of this character, inequality with con
seouent Injustice is inherent in the nature of the
proposition and because the plan has proved entire
y inadequate to the accomplishment OF the objects
sought.
The subject of internal improvements, claiming
alike the interest and good will of all, has never
theless been the basis of much political discussion
and has stood as deep craven line of division be-
tween statesmen of eminent ability and patriotism
The rule of strict construction of all powers dele
gated by the'states to the general government has
Arrayed itself frsm time to time, against the rapid
progress of expenditures from the national treasury
on works OF q local character within the etates.-
Memorable as IN epoch in the history Of this sub
jeet is the message ef President Jackson, of the ~
May, 1880, which met the system of internal Ira
provements in its comparative infancy but 30 mp
i'd has been it's growth that the projected appropr-
atons in that year for works Of this character had
risen to the alarming smount Of more than one hun
dred millions of dollars.
In that message the President admitted the diff
Guilty of bringing back the operations of the govern
msnt to the construction Of tho constitution set up
in 1898, and marked it as an admonitory preof the
necessity of guarding that instrument with sleepless
vigilance against the authority of precepents, that
had not the sanction of its plainly defined powers
Our government exists under q written COM
pact between the sovereign States, uniting for
specific objects, and with specific grants to their
general agent. If then, in the progress of its
administration, there have been departures from
the terms and intent of the compact, it is, and
ever will be- proper to refer back TO the fixed
standard which our fathers left us. and to make
stern effort to conform our action to it. II
would seem that the fact of q principle having
been resisted from the first by many of the wis
est and patriotic men Of the republic, and a pol
icy having provoked constant strife without
arriving st conclusion which can be regarded
as satisfactory to its most earnest advocates
should suggest the inquiry whether there may
not be plan likely to be crowned by happier
results. Without perceiving any sound dis.
tinction, or intending to assert any principle as
opposed to Improvements needed for the pro-
lection of internal commerce, / submit to you
whether it may not be safely anticipated that
if the policy were once settled against appro
priations by the general government for loca
improvements for the benefit of commerce, 10
calities nsquiring expenditures would not, by
modes and means clearly legitimate and proper
raise the fund necessary for such constructions
as the safety of other interests of their commerce
might require.
If that can be regarded as a system, whictrir
the expesjence of more than thirty years, has
at no tirheSo commanded the public as to give
1.-THE character of settled policy-which
though it has produced some works Of conceded