Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1854-12-21

iIupecles not merely in money but i
character, and the inevitable. elfec
upon faances generally. Can it b
doubted that the tendency is to ru
20 excess in the matter? Is it wise t
augment this excess by encouraging
hopes Of sudden wealth expected t
dow from magnificent schemes de
pendent upon the action Of Congress
Does the spirit, which. has produces
such results, need o be stimulated
or checked? Is it not the BETTE
rule to leave all these works to pri
yate enterprise, regulated, and, wher
expedient, aided, by the cooperation
of States? If constructed by pri
Yate capital, the stimulant and The
check go together, and furnish a sal
ptary restraint against speculative
schemes and extravaganza. But tits
manifest that, with the most effect.
i We guar Is, there is danger Of going
TOO last and too lar.
We may we'll pause before prop
osition contemplating Simultaneous
movement for the construction of rail
roads, which in extent, will 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 equip
ments, less than one hundred and
fifty millions of dollars. The dan
gers likely to result from combina-
tons of interests of this character,
can hardly be over-estimated. But,
independently of these considera-
lions, where is the accurate knoWl-
edge, the comprehensive intelligence,
which shall discriminate between the
relative claims of these twenty-eight
proposed roads in eleven States and
one Territory? Where will you be-
gin, and where end? If to enable
these companies to execute theirpro-
posed works, it is necessary that the
aid of the general government be pri-
marily given, the policy will present /.
a problem so comprehensive in its
bearings, and SO important to our pO-
litical and social well being, as to
claim, in anticipation, the severest
analysis. Entertaining these views,
| recur with satisfaction to the expe
rience and action of the last session
Of Congress. as furnishing assurance
that the subject will not fail to elicit
a careful re-examination and rigid
scrutiny #
1t was my ate tion to present, on
this occasion, some suggestions re-
garding neutrality-suspicious. by the
general government, which want of
time at the close of the last session
prevented my submitting on the re-
turn to the House of Representa-
tives, of the bill entitled, San act ma
king appropriations 70 the repair, pre-
servation and completion of certain /.
public works heretofore commenced
under authority of law, but the
space in this communication already
occupied with other matter of imme-
date public exigency constralns me
to reserve that subject for a special
which will be transmitted
to the two houses of Congress at an
early day.
The judicial establishment Of the
United States requires modification, {
md certain reforms in the manner of
conducting the legal business of the ,
are also much needed; |
,ut as have addressed you upon
10Th of these subjects at length be-
ore, l have only to call your atten- \
ion to the suggestions then made. Il
My former recommendations, in 9
,elation 10 suitable provision for vari'
Jus objects OF deep interest to the :,
inhabitants of the District of Column 2
ia, are renewed. Many of these OBJ Il
ects partake largely of national +
,ha racter, and are important, indie Il
,endently of their relation to the
of the only considerable
organized community in the Union, o
.ntirely unrepresented in Congress. b
/ have thus presented suggestions b
n such subjects as appear TO me to :
'e of particular interest or import +
nee, and therefore most worthy of
Consideration during the short re- q
naming period allotted to the labors
f the present Congress
Oar forefathers ofthe thirteen Unl- q
ed Colonies, in acquiring their indie z
Evidence, and ia founding this Re-
ublic of the United States Of Amer z
"a, have devolved upon us, their =
escendants, the greatest and the H. +,