The Nevada journal., 1854-01-20

i government, the right of soil should not first b
: obtained, and the Legislative provisions be mad
|, to cover each case.
. For the progress made in the construction c
e roads within the territories, as provided for i
T the appropriations of the last Congress, I refe
: you to the report of the Secretary of War.
There is one subject of domestic natart
which, from its intrinsic importance, and th
many interesting questions of future polio
which it involves, cannot fail to receive you
, early attention. I allude to the means of com
munication, by which different parts of the wild
exRanse Of our country are to be placed in clio
ser connection for purposes both of defence an'
commercial intercourse, and more especial.
such as appertain to the communication of thos
great divisions Of the Union, which lie on th'
opposite side Of the Rocky Mountains.
That she government has not been unmind
full OF this heretofore, is apparent from the sit
it has afforded through appropriations for mai
facilities and other purposes. But the genera
subject will now present itself under aspect.
more imposing and more purely national, By
reasons of the surveys ordered by Congress, and
now in the process of completion, for commu
1ication by railroad across the continent, and
wholly within the limits of the United States
The power to declare war, to raise and sup.
port armies, to provide and maintain navy
and to call forth the militia to execute the laws
suppress Instructions, and repel invasions, was
conferred upon Congress, as means to provide
for the common defence, and to protect a terri
tory and population now widespread and
vastly multiplied. As incidental to and indis-
pensable for the exercise of this power, it must
sometimes be necessary to construct military
roads and protect harbors Of refuge To ap-
preparations by Congress for such objects, no
sound objection can be raised. Happily for
our country, its peaceful policy, and rapidly -
creasing population impose upon us no urgent
necessity for preparation, and leave but few
/ trackles deserts between assailable points and
patriotic people ever ready and generally able
to protect them. These necessary links, the
enterprise and energy of our people are steadi-
ly. boldly struggling to supply. All experience
afirms that, wherever private enterprise will
avail, it is most wise for the general government
to leave to that and individual watchfulness the
location end execution Of all means of commu.
nication.
The surveys before alluded to were designed
to ascertain the most practicable and economi-
cal route for railroad from the river Mississ-
ippi to the Pacific Ocean. Parties are now
! in the field making explorations where previous
examinations had pot supplied sufficient data,
and where there was the best reason to hope
means and time being both limited, it is not to
be expected that all the accurate knowledge
desired would be obtained, but it is hoped that
much and important information will be added
to the stock previously possessed, and that par
| tial if not full reports of the surveys ordered
will be received in time for transmission to the
| fvrn Ho;1snq of f$0nOpnSz hafopA tho fret
Monday in FEBRUARY next,as required by the
act of appropriation. The magnitude Of the
enterprise contemplated has aroused, and will
doubtless, continue to excite, a very general in
terest throughout the country. Ia its POLITICAL
| These difficulties, which have been encoun-
tered in period of peace, would be magniied
and still further increased in time Of war. But
whilst the embarraSsments already enconn-
tered, and others under new contingencies to
be anticipated, may serve strikingly to exhibit
the Importance of such work, neither these,
nor all considerations combined, can have any
apprcciable value, when weighed against the
obligation strictly to adhere to the constitution,
and faithfully to execute the powers it confers.
Within the limits and to the extent of the in
terest of the government involved, it would
seem both expedent and proper, if an economi-
cal and practicable route should be found, to
aid by all constitutional MEANS in the con-
struction Of road which will unite. by a
speedy transit, the populations of the Pacific
aud Atlantic States. To guard against mis-
conception, it should be remarked that, al
though the power to construct or. aid in the
construction of road within the limits Of a
territory, is not embarrassed by that question
of jurisdiction which would arise within the
limits of the State, it is nevertheless held to be
of doubtful power and more than doubtfr! pro-
priety, even within the limits of territory, for
the general government to undertake to ad-
minister the affairs of railroad, q canal, or
other similar construction. and therefore that
its connexion with work Of this character
should be incidental rather than primary. l
will only add, at present, that, fully apprecia-
ting the magnitude of the subject, and solicit
Gus that the Atlantic and Pacific shores of the
republic may be bouud together by inseparable
ties Of common interest, as well as common
fealty and attachment to the Union, shall be
disposed, so fas as my own action is concerned,
to follow the lights Of the constitution as e1-
pounded and illustrated by those whose opinions
and expositions constitute the standard Of my
political faith in regard to the powers of the
federal government. 1t is, | trust, not necse-
sary to say, that no grandeur of enterprise and
no present urgent inducement promising popu-
lar favor, will lead me to disregard those lights
or to depart from that path, which experience
has proved to be safe, and which is now radiant
with the glow of prosperity, and legitimate
constitutional progress. We can afford to
wait, but we cannot afford to overlook the ark
of our security.
1t is no part of my purpose fo give promi
nence to any subject, which may properly be
regarded as set at rest by the deliberate judg
ment of the people. But while the present is
bright with promise, and the future full of de-
mand and inducement for the exercise of active
Intelligence, the past can never be without
useful lessons of admonition and Instruction
lifts dangers serve not as beacons, they viii
evidently fail to fulfil the object of wise design
When the grave shall have closed over all, who
are now endeavoring to meet the obligations
/ of duty, the year 1850 will be recurred to as
period filed with aaGious apprehension. 4
successful yer had just terminated. Peace
brought with vast augmentation Of territory
L. Al