The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-07-11

4
tion strictly adhere TO the constitution and faithfully to
the confrs Within this limit and to the
both expeden and proper economical and practi
cable route shall be found aid by all constitutional
transit the populations of the Pacific and Atlantic States
The President thus fully recognises the necessity and inn
portance of the work and within the limits therein
pressed and extent OF the interest of the
involved considers expeen and proper for the govern
men to aid, by all constitutional means in its construc-
ton
The Secretary of War; in his late report to Congress- in
1 speaking OF this road says
No work for artificial communication has exceeded
1t IN extent and physical difficulty It's execution, how
ple."
/ Again:
If TO have pressed the magnitude Of the obstacles
not been to suggest the abandonment Of the undertaking
but only to enforce the propriey OF much caution in the
which can be made available 70 the completion
gigantic project
/ These extracts sufficient show that Secretary Da-
Wis in favor of the prosecution of the work. and that he
does not regard it unconstitutional He is known to
the country strict constructions and his opinions
are, therefore, entitled TO the highest consideration
The constitutional power of Congress construct works
of this kind nntiona in their character has long since
been conceded by ablest statesmen.
/ But this question is relieved from all constitutional
doubt because the road will pass exclusively through the
Territories of the United States until ii strikes the Calfor
MIA linea distance of than sixteen hundred miles
No doubts the power Of the government to construct
roads for military purposes through the Territories The
constitutional to do this has been exercised each
sion of Congress since have had the honor of seat here
and perhaps since the formation of the government
| How far the government as u matter of expediency
ought to make appropriations of money TO construct such
roads through its Territories am prepared say The
bill before appropates 5000 per mile per annum to the
persons who contract to build the road for the OF
| the by the United States for postal military naval
and all other government purposes rs wei IN tune OF war
ntiona and am not prepared to say that il is not both
| right and cxpedient
The bill further provides for grant Of lands in alternate
sections each side of the road to aid in its construction
This grant is in accordance with precedents and
the established practice of the government and is entirely
free from constitutional objections Sir, look to this
grant Of land and tie private enterprise Of the country
the real and substantial from whence the
to to accomplish this work willing to grant oil
the lands asked for by this bill and If that shall be found
Insufficient to make still more liberal grant BY this
means the government, instead of making contribution
would actually be the gamer Who doubt that the alter
nate sections reserved to thgoyernment would find ready
sale at double their minimum value? No one sir, who
has any knowledge of the practical working of this system
Grants of this kind have been made by Congress to aid in
the construction of roads Of doubtful utility and nsgn
cant when compared with this vast enterprise.
i President Pierce in his late veto message Of the bill
granting lands for the support OF the insane says
As property, is distinguished from money chiefly
in this respect that its profitable sometimes
ques that portions Of 1t be appropriated to local
prudent proprietor enhance the value of bis domain
All such grants Of land arc in fact disposal of it for value
This arguments sir short but conclusive on the ques-
ton and relieves from the necessity of pursuing it fur
1 ther,
The government is the Of fourteen hundred mill
lions of of land unsettled uncultivatcd state Of
1t is her clear and manifest interest to hold
every reasonable nucenent for their settlement and cu-
vation Ny doctrine is and has been that after
the payment of the debt for which they pledged they
should cease be of to the government
7 Sir the government ought be specuator in the
lands which God intended for cultivation by Let no
one suppose that the public domain is TO be exhausted
and that of it be left for the hardy pioneer who
goes Wes. seek home for himself and his family Such
idea would be preposterous the next century will not
dawn upon the realization of such event Make the
calculation and you will find that, according to the ratio
of the sales for the last years. will take several
tues to dispose of all these lands Then sir make this
grant of lands make it literally and the great point has
been achieved The basis upon which this structure to
be erected has been permanently fixed will give char
acer to the work and invite private capital at home and
from abroad to seek investments in its stocks promising,
in the future, profitable return to the holders
\ have thus, Mr. Chairman, briefly alluded TO the kind
and extent of aid Congress ought TO extend to the work
Shall the government construct this road government
work? answer no! All experience shows that public
works can he constructed by private enterprise at
fifty cent less than they be constructed by the gov
ernmcnt This is upon the principle that prudent man
always his affairs safely and economically
for himself than he by agent Government agents
in the expenditure OF public money too often overlook the
principles of economy and the government becomes the
victim OF their htless extravaganza The evils of this
system may be in the history of the times from 1896
to s4 when the State governments engaged in their vast
system of improvements which broke down, crushing
der its ruins for the time being the hopes and energies of
the people The of those years are yet fresh
recollecons and should Of the dangers be APP
pretended in yenturing upon this perilous track.
Sir grant the lands and give such incidental aid
expedient and proper without violating the consti
ton Let the work TO such private companies will un-
dertake the most favorable terms and in this way
you will secure its completion in the shortest period and
on the most economical plan.
Ii is however matter for grave consideration whether
the road whencomleted should be controlled operated
by the government by the companies by whom it shall
have been constructed My present impression is that this
matter should be reserved at least not placed entirely
beyond the future control of Congress We should at
charges for the transportation Of freight and passengers
over it, rs to have within control the power
of protecting the people from unreasonable and oppressive
taxation
Fl Sir this is supendous scheme Its consumriaon is
urged by every consideration of social POLITICAL and
mecial interest and If il be accomplished by const-
tuonal legislation, and within the general rules thus
briefly expressed, it shall receive my support tf5
i will say in conclusion sir that there other view
Of the subject which should not be entirely overlooked 1t
is this Whatever may do towards aiding in the
peon of this great work is not like money squandercd
dspaed but like capita, invested in profitable and ju-
dcous manner II will not be like money sunk lost
the country but every dollars worth of land will yield
handsome per cent Under monarchical oligarchica
governments vast sums drawn from the hard earnings of
the people, annually wasted in the support of military
establishments designed to and keep in suhcetion the
masses To support in prDcey extravaganza privileged
clnsa Evorte few. In the of this road however
every of tho public domain expended in its completion
viii only strengthen the bonds Of Union and in
OF Defence but must to the welfare
and glory OF our common country
Speaking of the deserted condition of the Edgeield and