Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-12-21

construction Of more than FIVE thousand
miles Of road, and grants to the amount
os nearly twenty millions Of acres of the
public domain. Even admitting the right
on the part of Congress to be unqueslion-
able. is it quite clear that the proposed
grants would be productive Of good, and
not evil? The difleien, projects are con-
fined. for the grants show. that it is pro-
posed to put the works speedily in pro-
cess OF construction.
When We reflect that since the com.
Tencement Of the construction OF rail
ways liz the United States, stimulated as
they have been by tire large dividends
realized from the earlier works over the
great thorough.ares. and between the
most important points Of commerce and
| population, encouraged by State legisla-
tion, and pressed forward By the amazing
energy OF private enterprise, only seven
teen thousand miles have been completed
In II the States In quarter offs century;
when we see the crippled condition of
many works commenced and prosecuted
upon what were deemed - be sound
principles. and safe calculations; when
we contemplate the enormous absorption
of capital Withdrawn from the ordinary
channels of business, the extravasant
rates of interest 1T this moment paid to
continue operations. the bankruptcies not
merely in money but in character. and
the inevitable effect upon The finances
generally: can it be doubted that the ten
dency Is 10 run TO excees in this matter?
Is it wise to augment this excess by en-
couraging hopes Of Sudden wealth expect
ed to flow from magnificent schemes de-
pendent upon the action of Congress?
Does the spirit, which has produced ID such
results, need 10 be stimulated or checked?
Is not the better rule to leave all these
works to private enterprise. regulated,
and. when expedient, aided. by the CO.
operation of States? lf constructed by
private capital, the stimuiant and the
check 60 together. and furnish q salu.ary
restraint against specula tive schemes and
e1travagance. But i, is manifest that,
with the most effective guards. there is
danger of going too fast, and too far. We
may well pause before proposition con.
ternPiatinS Simultaneous movement for
the construction of railroads, which. in
extent will equal, exclusive Of the great
Pacific road and all its branches, nearly
onc-third OF the entire length of such
~orks, now completed, in the United
states, end which cannot cost. with e
quipiaepts. less than one hundred and
hity millions Of dollars. The dangers
Likely to result from CON mbiIatioas or in
tereet5 OF this character. eau hardly be
over esiima ted. But, independently of
these considerations. where is the accu-
rate knowledge, the comprehensive intel
iigence. which shall discriminate between
the relative claims OF these twenty-eight
proposed roads. in eleven States and one
Territory? Where will you begin, and
where end? If TO enable these companies
to execute their proposed works. it is ne
cessary that the aid Of the general govern
ment be primarily given, the policy viii
present problem SO comprehensive in
It's bearings. and sc impor:an. to our po-
iitical and social we'll being, as 70 claim,
in anticipation. the seyerest analysis
Entertaining these views, l recur with
satisfaction to the experience and action
of the last ssession of Congress. as fur
nishinS assurance that the subject will
not fail TO elicit careful re-sxamination
and rigid scrutiny.
| 1t was my intention 10 present, on this
occasion. some suggestion regarding in
ternaI Improvements by the general
! government, which want of tine at the
close of TIE last session, prevented my
submitting on the return 20 the House OF
Representatives. with objections, of the
bill entitled, Gan act making appropris-
tions for the repair. preservation and
completion Of certain public works here
tofore commenced under authority of
law; but the space in this communica-
:ion already occupied with other ma tier
of immediate public exigency. constants
me to reserve that for a special message,
which will be transmitted to the two
houses OF Congress at an early day.
The judicial es,a ablishment of the u
nited States requires modification, and
certain reforms in the manner of conduct
ing the legal business Of the government,
are also much needed. but as have ad-
dressed you upon both Of these subjects
at length before. / have only to call at
tention to the suggestions then made.
! My former recommendations. in rela-
tion to suitable provision for various OBJ
jects of deep interest to lie inhabitants
of the District of Columbia. are renewed
Many of these objects partake largely Of
national character. and are important,
independently of their relation to the
prosperity Of the only considerable or
ganized community in the Union, entire
ly unrepresented in Congress.
have thus presented suggestions on
such subjects as appear to me to be OF
particular interest or importance, and
there fore most worthy of cousidera ton,
during the short remaining period allot.
led to the labors of the present Congress.
Our forefathers Of the thirteen United
Colonies, in acquiring their indepcnd de- nee
and In founding this Republic of the u.
nited States of America, have devolved
upon US, their defendants, the greatest
and most noble trust ever committed 70
the hands Of man, imposing upon all, and
especially such as the public will may
have invested. for the time being, with
political functions, the most sacred obi.
I<.ot