The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-12-14

lie sale with view to applications for
grants Of this character pending before
Congress. A careful review of the
} whole subject led me to direct that all
such orders be abrogated, and the lands
:, restored to market; and instructions
were Immediately given to tina effect
The applications at the last session con-
templated the construction of more than
five thousand miles Of road, and grants
to the amount of nearly twenty millions
of acres Of the public domain.
Even admitting the right on the part Of
Congress to be unqucstionablc, it is quite
clear that the proposed grants would I've
productive of good and not evil: The diff
ferent project are confined, for the grants
show that it is proposed to put the works
speedily in process of construction.
Is it wise to augment this excess by en-
couraging hopes of Sudden wealth expected
to flow from magnificent schemes dependent
upon the action of Congress? Docs the
spirit. which has produced such results, need
to be stimulated or checked? Is not the
better rule to leave all these works to pr-
vatc enterprise, regulated, and, when expo
dent, aided by the cooperation of States !?
If constructed by private capital, the slim
ulant and the check go together, and fur
n;sh salutary restraint against speculative
schemes and extravaganza. Bat it is man.
fest that, with the most effective guards,
there is danger Of going too fast and too
| far
When reflect that since the commencement Of
the construction Of railways in the United States,
stimulated as they have been by the large dividends
realized from the earlier works the great thor
Ouehiares, and bew the most important points of
commerce and population, encouraged by State legis
lation and pressed forward by the amazing energy Of
private enterprise, only seventeen thousand miles
have been completed in all the States in quarter Of
Il century when the crippled condition Of
many works commenced and prosecuted upon what
were deemed to be sound principles, and safe cacu-
lations when contemplate the nous asOrI q
ton Of capital Withdrawn from the ordinary channels
OF business, the exavagant rates OF interest at this
moment paid To continue operations, the bankruptcies
not merely in money but in character, and the nevs
liable effect upon finances genclally-can it be doubt
cd that the tendency to run 10 excess in this mat
ter!
We may we'll pause before PROPOSE
ton contemplating simultaneous movo
ment for the construction of railroads,
which, in extent will equal, exclusive of
the great Pacific road, and all its branch
cs, nearly one-third of the entire length
of such works, now contemplated in the
United States, and which cannot cost,
with equipments, less than one hundred
and fifty millions of dollars. The dam
gers likely to result from combination
of interests of this character can hard
ly be over estimated. But independent
ly of these considerations, where is the
accurate knowledge, the comprehensive
intelligence, which shall discriminate
between the relative claims of these
twcnty-eight proposed roads in eleven
States and one Territory? Where will
you begin, and where end? If to ena-
BILE these companies to execute their
proposed works, it is necessary that the
aid of the general government be pri-
mariIy given, the policy will present a
problem so comprehensive in its bear
ings, and SO important to our political
and social welI-being,s as to claim
in anticipation, the severest analysis.
Entertaining these views, | rccur with
satisfaction to the experience and action
of the last session of Congress, as fur
nishing assurance that the subject will
not fail to elicit careful denomination
aud rigid scrutiny.
1t WAS my intention present, this occasion,
suggestions regarding internal improvements by
the general government, which want of time at the
close of the last eession, prevented my submitting on
the to the House of Representatives, which OBJ
ections of the bill entitled AN act making aPpropr,
atOns for the repair, preservation and completion OF
certain public works heretofore commenced under ai-
thority of law" hut the space in this communication
already occupied with other matter OF immediate pub
lie exigcncy COnstrans that subject for
special message, which will be transmitted to the two
Houses of Congress at an early day.
The judicial establishment of the United States
qures ratification, and certain r frms in the manner
conducting the legal business of the government are
also much eded have addressed upon botl
these subjects length before have only to call at
tcnton to the suggestions then made.
Nv former recommendations, in relation
to suitable provision for various objects Of
) deep interest to the inhabitants of the Dis
) trict of Columbia, and renewed. Many Of
these objects partake largely Of a national
J character, and are imDortant independently
of Their relation to the prosperity of the
only considerable organized community in
: the Union, entirely unpresented in Con
) grcss.
have thus presented suggestions on such
subjects as appear to me to be of particu
lar intrcsts or Importance, and therefore
most worthy of consideration, during the
short remaining period allotted to the labor:
of the resent Congress.
Our forcfathers of the thirteen United Colon cs is
acquiring their Independence, and in founding THU
Republic of the United States of America, have de
vOlved upon their descendants, the greatest ant
noble trust committed to the hands OF man
imposing upon all, and especially such as the public
will may have invested, for the time being, with pc
litical functions, the most sacred obligations.
We have maintain inviolatc the great doctrine OF
the inherent right of popular sefgovenment to recon
Gle the largest liberty OF the individual citizen with com
pete security oil the public to render cheerful obeiene
the laws Of the land unite in enorciI their cXecu