Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-01-06

Speeial Message on the River and HaIbor Bill
The President Tuesday last submitted to
Congress the promised special message on the
River and Harbor Bill. We subjoin synopsis
of the document, which Is quite long
lie SAYS, in returning to the House of Repre-
sentatiyes, in which it originated, the bill entl-
lied an act making appropriations for the repairs
preservation and completion of certain public
work heretofore commenced under authority OF
law. II became necessary for him, owing IL tue
late dny Mt which the bill passed 10 state has
objections to it very briefly, announcing mt the
same time purpose To reserve the subject tor
more deliberate discussion at the pre- session
of Congress for while BY 10 means nsensbe to
the righteousness of the task, he comedies the two
houses of Congress are entitled To an expression
Of the considerations which have induced tie
dissent ON his part from their conclusions IN this
instance.
What, he asks, Is intended by the phrase inter
nal improvements What does il embrace. and
what excluded No such language j. found in the
constitution. Not only Is it not an expression IN
The constitutions bat it has 10 sufficient meaning
10 be of any value means of n sale concln-
sion, either of a constitutional law or practical
craftsmanship.
Ifthere is any power to construct railroads
md canals, there must, by the sumo forced con
strnction, be power TO construct bridges, and
drain marshes. and provide means ofirrigaton-
in fact, Improvement Of the earth for the de vel
upnent OF natural resources.
lie says he had occasion more than once to ex
press ~ his judgment, and took it for granted
that it II fundamental proposition, that the
Federal Government is the creature of the States
that sovereign power is in them alone; and all
power of Federal Government is d, ryatye. All
powers not delegated to the governments resery-
ed to the States, respectively, or 10 the people.
Starring from this, and denying that power tora
system of internal improvements is 10 be found
in the preamble to the Constitution, he proceeds
to examine the various clauses in that instrument
under which power for II system of internal i'm
proYement is claimed, coming TO the conclusion
that there is spo cifc power for such works,
mud no provision broad enough to cover them.
This view has been maintained by the soundest
cxpostors of the government.
Congress only construct such works rs
may be necessary to carry out specific power.
lie refers to the views of jefferson, Jackson,
Polk aud others in commentator and approval
aud then estimates the vast expenditures which
would necessarily be involved in n system of in
tcrnnl improvements. If the Improvement at
the navigability of river or harbor be necessary
for military naynl purposes, the subject Is
then matter for Legislative discretion.
In conclusion, the President says the conside-
rati ms he has submitted, added 10 the cmbarrass
ment Of the whole question, mpcls him Ia sug
p ,
the general government to works necessary To he
constructed from lis unduubtcd powers, and Of
leaving all others Ia individunl enterprise, az Ia
separate StatpS, To be provided for cut Of their
own resources or by n rccurrrnc" 10 provisions
of the constitution which nutholiscs the eyying
of Tonnage duties with the consent Of Congress
Tor the improvement ot harbprs.
The New York Express thinks that, dr-per-
nte as the struggle ha, already been between
Russia aud the Allies, the war can hardly be said
10 BE- begun in earnest. Russia is crowding her
best soldiers the Imperial Gunrd-into Poland.
evidently determined 10 strike heavy blow in
that quarter should the German state, join
France and England, Of if not that, Ia show such
ileali-t as ko,,uth the grim hopressnrs- Of ey-
cr realizing hi, dream of the reconstruction of
Poland. Nor is This all. The Czar,in the event
of Nesscrodc- letter having no influence ia
bringing the struggle AUTOMATICALLY to a close,
j. said Ia have resolved On slmmoning to the field
sixteen men out OF every thousand, which h. cal
culac7 will give him million of troops and
thp~c urr to take the field u carly rs possible
GA the other hand the Western powers are not
idle. Whole fleets on the way 10 the Black
Sen with fresh rciniorcemcnts. while at homo
both in England and France the respective Gov
crnmcnts nre stunning every nerve 10 strength
On presently and prospectiycly, the forces al
ready actively engaged in hostilties. We do
not expect to learn that Sebastopol has fallen,
ills winter. Besirgers and hcsieged appear TO
be mutually wcared out with mutual Slaughter
and resolved to pause awhile-hut it is only n
pause to regain fresh strength for renewed car
mage.