Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-07-15

broad should bo only exercised for legitimate and
constitutional ends beyond that limit we do not invoke
the action Of Congress in the present instance will not
say any thing further upon this point except refer to one
high authortythe great head and front Of those who
hold strict construction Of the Federal Constitution
and whom, follower Of the same school, recog
Mise as high authority In conversipg not long since
with Of my honorable friends from Virginia, he in
sisted that both Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison were la
ttudinaran in their views Of the Constitution inquired
Of him who was the exponent Of his school Mr. Cal
houn,' his very prompt reply. Iquote Mr.. Calhoun
the gentleman and advise him that upon this subject
Mr.. Calhoun has been full and explicit
At the session Of 1866, Mr.. Calhoun, chairman Of
a select committee to whom was referred memorial
from the Memphis convention made elaborate report
to the Senate, from which read
Your committee viii next proceed consider that por
railroad between the valley Of the Mississippi and the south
Atlantic States They regard works of the kind as be-
longing to internal improvements that is Improvements
within the body Of the Stses and suoh in their OPT
mon, not embraced in the to regulate But
they nevertheless of opinion that whore such roads
in their character of propeor the extent that they may
be enhcnced price thereby This has usually been done
by cedng alternate sections the projected line Of such
works and is believed that mode of contributing more
fair better calculated to guard against abuses be de-
whore there reasonable ground to believe that the public
lands will be enhanced in proportion, under its right to dis
States your committee cannot doubt In making this
on they hold to be rule of strict construction and that
this power like all the other of the Government
trust power, and, SUCH s strictly limited by the nature
and object Of the trust In this the rule requires that
the lands and other public property of the United States
should be disposed to the best advantages and where that
bs done by contributing portion works which would
make the residue equally valuable than the whole
would be without it, supposed they hold it would be
vyvtth
of the opinion that Congress has the
tribute to the extent stated in such cases. but that duty
be benefited Iwould neither just for
stand by and realize the advantage they would derive from
this work WITHOUT ~ due proportion towards s
contribute If its effect would be to defeat work the
sruction Of which, while would enhance the value land
belonging to the public and that of individual proprtors
would promote the prosperity Of the country generally
No argument can be put in stronger terms than this;
no authority can be presented this subject giving
high sanction and against the doctrine believe
be produced that has yet either uridcia
Legislative fame.
Policy of the Measure.
might here enter into discussion of the policy Of
these grants might cite the grant which secured the
construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal by which
the waters of the Northern lakes united with the
waters of the Mississippi That work has furnished
whole States with profitable market its banks
mcrous cities have sprung up and at its northern ter
minus stands what is already the queen city Of the
both Government and people had proted largely by
the grant to aid in the construction Of this work and
what has proved true in relation to this grant has also
true in relation to the subsequent grants made by
the Government for similar purposes.
The grants proposed by this bill lie mostly in what is
now the inaccessible country Of the INTERIOR Not
than onefh Of the land along the route all avail
able to the Government and cannot be until some such
work s proposed is constructed. New Mexico Utah,
and all the country lying about the central mountains is
now, and must continue to be, vaueess must be bur
and to commerce Push railroad through that country
and the hand Of labor will conquer the nhosptable will
dcrness and instead Of lonely mountains and plains de-
serted by all but few wandering savage tribes there
will be ocks, and herds and smiling farms Towns, and
cities, and States will spring up, and this confederacy
will stand not severed by the deserted desert land but
united by living brotherhoods, communities Of men.
Government Contract.
There is another feature Of the bill which propose
to call the attention of the committee. 1t is the proy
sion for contract with the Government for the of
the road for all Government purposes
The bill fixes maximum of six hundred dollars per
mile per annum for this service. 1t is not proposed that
the Government shall pay this amount, but that it win
pay the amount not greater than the named which
parties will contract to receive for the service If the
maximum should be paid it would still be most econo-
mical contract for the Government
The Government is paying for semi monthly mail
service between the Atlantic and Pacific about ST. OOO O00
But short time since my friend from Tennessee Mr.
CHURcHwELL) introduced bill providing another semi
monthly mail service and for the payment Of So 900
per annum in the event the trip could be made in ten
days. He thought his proposition reasonable This
bill will secure daily service and transit in days
Upon careful examination estimate the cost Of mill
tary transportation to New Mexico and the Pacific
OLA The cost to the Government Of keeping up
its whole naval communication with the Pacific by Cape
Horn and the Cape Of Good Hope Of Quitting dscharg
Ing and supplying every thing required for that service
and the loss of service to the Government during these
long voyages it is impossible estimate with any
racy but assume that 1t is not less than 900 per
annum.
The Government now, in time of peace for inferior
and inadequate service is paying nearly the sum Of
VA QUO 700 per annum for the service which this
bill proposes TO secure to the Government at cost Of not
more than 81, zoo, 900.
wish it distinctly understood that the contract pro-
posed by the bill is economical for the Govern
ment that it will effect immediate and large saving
to the Federal Treasury to say nothing Of its economy
in the event Of other disturbance requiring the
strong arm of Federal power on the Pacific.
will say nothing further Of the provisions or
merits of the bill under consideration but ask your at
tenon to the POLITICAL social and commercial consdcra-
ons which give Importance to this measure and render
the work proposed present national necessity.
In entering upon this portion of my subject may be
permitted to say something about the State which have
the honor in part to represent
The geographical position of California is of course
well understood It is known TO occupy the utmost con-
fines Of Western civilization It is known to be country
traversed by mountains rich with gold and by valleys Of
remarkable fertility 1t is known that among these
mountains and valleys has sprung up, it in day.
isolated facts known they have forced themselves on
the recognition Of the country yet while these general
facts known cannot avoid the consciousness that to
most persons this side Of the mountains to most