Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1855-02-08

cOnged ed :--Cungfcss WOuHt nave OeEVn,
in pursuance OF The state Of knowledge {
the time. BY constructing turnpikes; then,
as knowledge edvsnced, It would have
constructed canals; and at the present
Iime il would have h-en embarked in II
most limit less schema Of rail roads.
Now there are in the United States. the
results of state OF private enterprise, up
wards Of II 600 mites Of railroads. and
5000 miles of cenais--in all %, 000 miles
the total cost OF which may be eS,iml-
ted al little short Of six hundred millions
Of dollars. and if tht same works had
been constructed by rs federal govern
ment, supposing the ihiug to have been
practica bIe the cost would have proha b.
IL been less than nine slndred million Of
dollars. The number e persons employ
Ell in supc 5intending. managing and keep
ing up thess canals and railroads may be
Stated at one hundred and tgrenty SIX
THOUSAND. or Ihereabogts; to which are
to be aided seventy thousand or eighty
thousand I'm ,loyed OF the railroads IN
eon t,uction. making total of at least
two hundred thousand persons, represent
ing III families nearly million of souls
employed on or maintained by this ons
class OF pubic wofk ii the Uai,ed States.
y
IN matters cflegis,atian Of the NOS
unQuesuonsble cons.itusiona'iig, |. is al
ways material TO consiler what amount
of Pablo 81 ney shall D. appropriated Tor
any paf;icu'ar object. The same consid'
Grafton applies wiki a smenied force 10
g class OF appropriations which are IL
heir noture peculiarly prone to run to
excess. Gul which. being made III the ex'
escise VI iacilen,4l powers. have intfin.
SIC tendency 10 ovasstep Ills bounds OF
coasli,u.ion4'itl.
Ii an appropriation fer Improving In E
navigability of tho river. or deepening OF
protecting 81 harbor. have reference TO
military or naval purposes. then is night
fuln.ss. beth in am0uat or In the oh
jecis to which it is applied. depends ma n
ifeslly OF the military or aavsl exlgency
aud the sa5jse; matter saords its own
measures OF lsgiststive dsserelien. Bat
( i( The approximation Cor stsb an o5jseI
have no disiinct seiatffn sorhe military
or naval snss.of the com,ry. sasi s
Wholly, or ever msfniy. Intended 20 FRO.
! p.o;s the rsyenGs Z -ssss- cs&s.sne5c>, .aca
he very vsgusness of the purpose of the
expenditure constitutes n perpetual adj
moniii0n Of reserve and caution. Through
disregard Of this, Il is undeniabi that il
many cases appropriations Of shis nature
( have been made unw isely, without &C
/ comp.ishing beneficial results common
surate with the cost. and sometimes 70
evil rather than good. independently @
| their dubious relation 10 the constitution
Among the radical changes Of the cours
I OF legislation in these matters which. IL
my judgement. the public interest de
mands, one is return TO the primitiv'
idea OF Congress. which required in TIL
class Of public works as in all Others.
conveyance Of The soil AMI ceSsion @
the jurisdiction TO the United States.
,hink this condition ought never TO hav
been waived in the Case OF an harbor I'm
provement Of permanent nature rs wher
piers, jellies, sea walls, and other lik
"c'h> riC ~ - uC.SO OlAN IL z "a
,ained, II woGid powerfully tend to coun
teract emdssvors TO ob;ainappropriation
ofs local ehaFacief lily calculate
to promote indid lists.
The want Of such,d pfevision is tn
occe sion Of abuses in regard TO exislin
works, exposing thelnto private encroach
ment without sutIi lent means Of redFes
by law. indr,d the absence in such G
Ses Of osssion Of jurisdiction has con
s,iiuied one OF the constitutional cbjeo
tions to appropriations of this class.
is lsSt easy TO perceive any sufficient re;
sonSior requiring il in the case of arser
lSor forts, which does got equally az
ply to all other public works, if to /
constructed and maintained By Colgrss;
i1Dahe exercise of a constitutional pow,
of appropriation. they should be brougt
within the jurisdiction of the Unite
States.
There is another measure Of preceu,io
, in regard TO such appropriations, whic
seems to ne TO be worthy OF the consiC
: GRAFTON of Congress. 1t is. to make az
propria ton for every work in a separal
.Fbilt. Sc ikst each one shall stand on il
low II uide pendent merits. and. il it past
shall DO so under circumstances cf legis
; lativs scrutiny. emitting it to be regard
ed as Of general interest, and a prope
subject Of charge on the treasury OF ia
Union.
During tina, period Of time in whic
...fihe country. had not come 10 look {
: Congress for appropriations ofthis nature
several dfihe States. whose production
OF geographical position invited foreig
comDre rec, had entered upon plans f.
The improvement of THAR harbors b
! IheGsrl$<s. and through means Of SUI
Fport drawn directly from that commerce
in virtue of an express constitutions
poyer. needing for its exercise only th
permission of Congress.
-ffar6er improvements thus constructe
and mainsaiped. the expenditures upo,
them insdefrsyed by the very facilitie
they Afford ale voluntary charge Of
those only who see fit to avail themselve
Of such facilities. and can be justly CON
planned ofby none.
!. On the other hand. so long as these i'm
improvements are carried on by sppropria
lions from the treasury. the benefit viii
continue to enure 10 those alone VIII
enjoy the facili ties afforded. while tn
expenditure will be snrden upon tn