The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-12-05

With the last year Of three hundred AID Tsss
q ss rsys1as re fs
rear endins Jsne 50. 1854, he preced.s =. ne
SO nns .sndTsa sna seventy shoussad tire. ss ~
srssse however, sss is s.srsss 81 So 2
Iear 70 consequence of the act Of ConrresS ~ Int
~ ~ providing fog increased eompssssien 70 II
that the Post 0fHcs Department, insssi a sfat
Ing IL exlense. according 70 the dsssn & ~ ~,
continue to s. 70 no s a s.ssst ls.s s
the general treasury. TIE cost Of mail frssssnn
ton duriDs the year ending jane So ls54, sseses.
nnety-ivs thousand ana ssvsst,fo.r a ni1sdsad
sgan call your attention TO the subject 81 man
port;snon y ceesn steamer and commend The sus.
fenfion. 1iJ "
During the LIST fiscal year, eleven million .,v.,,
public lands have been surveyed, and sirhf msl,a
one hundred and ninety thousand and SEVENTH
acres brought into market. The number Of sc,sa
dred and thirty and tins smosnt receiysS th.,
for nine million tive hundred and eishty.fye than-
sand five hundred and thirty three dollsrs Tia az
scrip and land warrants. selected swamp lsnas ~
States and By locating under grants for roads & nm
wards Of twenty three millions Of acres. The n.
crease Of lands sod over the Previous yesY 4 Anon,
six millions of acres and the salss durns ths t
first quarters of the current year present the ertr
ceeding by nearly four millions of acres the ssi,sn,
the corresponding quarters of the last year thus in
cressing TO an extent unparalleled during any M.
period in our past history, the amount OF revenue
provided from this source for the Federal TressuTy
The commendsble policy of tho government in
relation to setting apart public domain for those who
have served their country in time Of war; isillusts
ted by the fact that ince 1880 no less than thirty
millions Of acres have been applied to this object
The suggestions, which submitted In NV ANIMAL
message Of last year. in reference grants Of land
in aid of the construction of railways were les full
and explicit than the magnitude Of the subject and
proper and desirable OF tho soundnes = Of the prp
cpIe then asserted with regard to the limitation on
the power OF Congress, entertain no doubt; but in
its application it is not enough that the value of
lands IN particular locality may be enhanced; that
in fact, larger amount of money may probably be
could have been realised for all the sections with.
out the impulse and influence of the proposed i'm.
provements. prudent proprietor looks beyond Ii.
suits to the ultimate effect which particular line
of policy 10 produce upon all his possessions
a a. Interest," the "es of ah w s In
take the same wise and comprehensive view. Fnsr
to and during the last session of Congress- upwards
from public sale with view to applications for
grants of this character pending before Congress-
careful review of the whole subject led me to d.
rect that all such oders be gated ana the lands
restored to market; and Instructions were immedj.
ately given. The applications at the last session
contem plated the eonstruci ion OF more than five
thousand miles of road and grants to the amount Of
nearly twenty millions of scres of the public do.
main. Even admitting the right on the part of Con.
proposed grants would be productive of good and not
evil? The different projects are confined for the pre-.
sent % eleven S,asss ., tns r s sna one Teri
it proposed to put the works speedily In process Of
construction. When we reflect, that since the Gem
mepcement of the construction of railways in the
United States stimuat cd 80 they have been by the
large dividends realised from the earlier works over
the great thoroughfares, and between the most i'm
portsnt points of commerce and population encour.
BY State legislation. and pressed forward by the
amazing energy of private enterprises only seventeen
thousand miles have been completed in all the States
in quarter of century; when we see the crippled
condition of many works commenced and prosecuted
upon what were deemed to be sound principles, and
safe calculations; when we contemplate the enor-
absorption of capital withdrawn from the ordi.
nary channels of business the extravsgant rates of
interest at this moment paid to continue operations
the bankruptcies not merely in money, but in char.
acfer and the inevitable effect upon finance general
ly-csn it be doubted that the tendency 10 to run to
in this matteil Is it wise to mt this ex
cess BY encouraging hopes of sudden wealth expect.
ed to flow from magnificent schemes dependent up
the action of Congressf 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. regulated. and when
copstructed by private capital the stmulsns and the
check 60 together, and furnish salutary restraint
aga INST speculative schemes and extravagsnce. But
il "a manifest that, with the most effective guards
there is danger of going too fast and too far.
We may we'll pause before proposition contem-
plating slmlitaneeus movement ioT the constIue'
sive of the great Pacific road and all its branches
arly ouethird of the entire length of such woks
completed in the United States, and which car
not cost, with equipments, less than one hundred and
fifty millions OF dollars. The dangers likely to re-
suit from combinations Of interests of this character
of these consd erations where l. the accurate know
ledge, the comprehensive intelligence, which shall
proposed roads, in eleven States and one Tsrrtory2-
Where will you begin. and where endl IT. to ena-
BILE these comPanie, to execute their proposed
works necessary that the aid Of the general gov
eminent be primarily given the policy win present
problem go comprehensive in it's bearings, and so
important political and social well being a. to
claim, in anticipation, the severest analysis.
Entertaining these views. recur with satisfaction
to the experience and action of the last session OF
will not fail to elicit carefal determination and RI
gid scrutiny.
1t was my intention to present. on this occasien.
some suggestions regarding internal improvements
by the General Government, which want of time at
the close of the last session prevented my submit.
ting the return to the House of Representatives
appropriations for the repair preservation and COM
menced under authority Of law" bat the space in
ter of immediate public EFFICIENCY constrains me to
that sobject for special message which will
be transmitted to the two houses of Congress at an
The judicial establishment of the United States
requires modification, and certain reforms In the
eminent are also much needed; but a. have sd.
dressed you upon both of these subjects at length
before, have only to call your attention to the sug.
sestions then made.
My former recommendation, In relation to suita.
bio provision for various objects of deep interest to
the Inhabitants of the District of Columbis are re-
newed Many Of these objects partake largely of q
national character. and important
Of their relation TO the prosperity Of the only
adorable organized community in the Union entire.
ly unrepresented in Congress-
have thus presented sugeeations on such subjects
~ appear to to be of particular interest por.
lance, and therefore most worthy OF consideration
during the short remaining period allotted TO the la
bors OF the present Congress.
Our forefsthers Of the thirteen United Colonies,
in acquiring their dence, and in founding this
Republic of the United States of America have de-
volved upon NJ, their descendants the greatest and
the most noble trust committed tho hands of
man, imposing upon ell, and especially such a. the
public will may have invested the time being
political functions, the most sacred obligations. We
have to maintain nviolate the great doctrine of the
Inherent right of pular self government ito
ce the largest liberty of the individual citizen with
complete security of the public order; to render
cheerul obedience to the laws Of the land TO unite
10 enforcing their execution and to own Indignant
~ all combinstionst 10 resist them 10 harmorixe
asncere and ardent devotion to the iastisutons Of
religious faith with the most universal religious ole-
ration ito preserve the rights of all BY causing each
to respect those of the other to carry forward every
social Improvement to the uttermost limit Of human
perfectibty, by the free action OF mind ueon mnd,
by the obtrusve Intervention Of misapped force;
70 uphold the integrity and guard the limitations
If organic law; TO preserve rcd from all touch
of usurpaton, the very palladium Of political