The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-12-09

ncfce anu population, encouraged bv
State legislation, pressed forward by the
energy of public enterprise, on
" seventeen thousand miles have been COM
F'etcd IN all the States in quarter Of a CEN
'nry;-whcn we see the crippled condition
Ol many works commenced and prosecuted
upon what were deemed sound PRINCIPLES.
and safe calculations; when we contemplate
the enormous absorption of cartal with
drawn from the ordinary channels Of business,
the extravagant rates of interest at this mo-
mcnt paid TO continue operations, the bank
ruptcies not merely in money, but in charac-
ter, and the inevitable effect upon finances
generally: can it be !Ouhted that the ten
dcncy Is to run to eXress in this matter? Is
1t wise to augment this excess nv encouraging
hopes of sudden wealth expected to flow from !
magnificent schemes dependent upon the ac-
ton OF Congress: Does the spirit, which has !
produced such results. need to be stimulated
or checked: Is it not the better rule to leave
all these works to private enterprise, rccula-
led, and, when expcdient, aided by the coop
Grafton of the States? Reconstructed bv pri-
vatc capital, the stimulant and the check 90
together, and furnish a sau'arv restraint a.
gainst speculative schemes and extravaganza
But it is manifest that, with the most effective
guards, there is danger of going too fast and
too far.
We may well pause before proposition
contemplating 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 works. now completed.
i'll the intc,! States. and which cannot cost.
with equipments. less than one hundred and
fifty millions of dollars. The dangers likely
to result from combinations of interests of
this character. can hardly be ovcr-cstimatcd.
But. independently Of these considerations
whore is the accurate knowledge, the COM
prchenSive intclli" cncc. which shall discrirni-
inmate between the relative claims of these
heavyweight proposed roads in eleven States
and one Territory: Where will Won BEGIN.
and where end: If to enable these compa-
MES to execute their proposed works, it is ne
ceSsary that the aid of the general govern
mcnt be primarily given. the policy will pre-
Scrt a problem SO comprehensive in its bear
ings. and so important to our political and So
cial well being, as to claim, in authorization,
the scvcrcst analysis. Entertaining these
views. rccur with satisfaction to the cxpcr;
cncc and action ofthc last session ofConsrc>S,
as turniSlin" assurance that the subject will
not fail to elicit Il careful Determination ard
rigid security.
1t was my intention to present, on this oc-
rasi,rn, some suggestions regarding internal
;mnroyc:m cntS by TIE general government
which want O. time at the close of the last
session prevented my submitting on the re-
turn to Tie House O, Representatives, with
objections of TIE bill entitled, IAN act max
ing appropriations tor the repair, rrcscrva-
ton and completion Of certain works hereto
fore commenced under authority Of law :
hut the space already Occur, led with other
matter OF immediate public OK. ,cenry cons
trains NE to reserve that suhicc: io.' special
message. which will be Transmitted to the
two houses Of Congress at an early ,lav.
The judicial establishment of the United
States requires modification. and certain re-
forms in the manner Of coEdu TING the LEGAL
.u snc>> OF The government are als, much
needed: but as have addressed YOU upon
both OF these subjects at length before. have
only TO call vour attention TO The suggestions
then made.
My former succcsionin relation IT, s,;toblr
provision tor 'ar'o"s objects Of deep inter
est to thc inhabitants of ..c District oiCol UNI
bizarre removed. Many of these objects par
took largely o.. a national character. and are
important, independently of their relation TO
the prosperity Of the only considerable or
ganized community in the Union, entirely
nnrcprc<cn,cd in Congress.
! have presented suggestions on s;;ch sub
.lccts rs appear to me to he o: particular in
tercst or Importance, and therefore most
worthy OF consideration durin. the short re-
naming period allotted to the labors of the
present Congress.
Our torciaiicr> Of the thirteen nitcd Col
oncs. in acquiring their independence. and
in foundin" this Republic of the United
States Of America. have dcvolvc! upon us
their descendants, the greatest and the most
noble trust ever committed to the hands of
man. imposing upon all, and especially such
as the public will NAV have invested, Tor the
time being with political function, the most
sacred obi cation. We have to maintain in
violate the great doctrine of the inherent
right of popular sclt-covcrnmcnt to recon
ellie the largest liberty of tlc individual cti
| zen, with complete security of the public
. order; to render cheerful obedience to the
laws Of the land. to unite in enforcing then
execution. and to trown Indignantly on all
. combinations to resist them: 10 harmonic a
sincere and ardent devotion to the nStitu-
tons of religious faith with the most univer
sal religious liberation to preserve the rights
, Of all by causing each to respect those OF til,
other; to carry forward every social Improve
mcntS TO the uttcrMost limit OF human per
IcctlbIltE. bv tie free action Of mind upon
mind. not by the ObtrE>ive intervention of
misarpicd force; to uphold the integrity and
guard the limitations Of our organic laws
to preserve .acrc.l from all touch of usurpa
ton. as the very palladium o. or political sal
Walton. the reserved powers of the several
+ States and OF the people: the cherish, with
. loyal tca!tv and devoted affection, thi:
mon. as the onl V sure foundation on which
, the hopes of civil liberty rests to admin.
, i>trr government with vicilant integrity and
rigid economy 10 cultivate peace and friend;
ship with foreign nations. and to demand and
: exact equal justice from all, but tt
ito wrong to none +: to cSchcw inter
mcddlln- with the national policy and
the domestic rcpose of other governments
aud to rcicl 1t from our own never to shrink
from war when the rights and the honor of
the country call US to arms. but to cultivate
in preference the arts o. peace, seek enlarge
men! of the rights of neutrality, and elevate
and llbtra!izc the Intercourse OF nations and
by such Just and honorable means, and suc!
only. whilst exaltin. the condition of the Re-
public. to assure to it The legitimate influence
and the benign authority OF great example
amongst all the powers Of Chrlstcndom.
Under the sclcmnity OF these convictions,