The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-12-12

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recommend to Congress the establish
ment of Territorial Government over Ari-
iona. Incorporating with it such portions of
New Mexico as they may deem expedient.-
l need scarcely adduc arguments in support
OF this recommendation. We are bound to
protect the lives and the property of our
citizens inhabiting Arizona, and these are
now without any efficient protec ton. Their
present number is already considerable, and
IS rapidly increasing, Notwithstanding the
disadvantages under which they labor. Be-
sides, the proposed Territory is beliesed to
be rich in mineral amp agricultural resources
especially in silver and copper The mails
of the United States to California are now
carried over it throughout its whole extent,
and this route is known to be the nearest
and believed to be the best to the Pacific
Long experience has deeply convinced me
that strict construction of the powers
granted to Congress is the only true, as well
as the only safe theory Of the Constitution.
Whilst this principle shall guide my public
conduct, consider it clear that under the
war-makins power Congress may appropri-
ate money for the construction of military
road through the Territories of the United
States, when this is absolutely necessary for
the defence Of any of the States against
ferred upon Congress power "to declare
wal" to raise and support armies" "to
provide and maintain navy" and call forth
the militia to repel invasions." These high
sovereign powers necessarily involve impor-
tant and responsible public duties, and among
them there is none SO sacred and so impera-
tive as that Of preserving our soil from the
invasion Of a foreign enemy. The constitu-
ton has, therefore, left nothing on this point
construction, but expressly requires that
"the United States shall protect each Of
them the States against INVASION" Now,
if military road over our own Territories
be indisPensably necessary to enable US to
meet aud repel the invader it follows as
necessary consequence not only that We
possess the power, but it is our imperative
duty to con.truat such a road Ii would be
an absur1ity TO invest a government with
the unlimited power to make and conduct
war, and at the same time deny to it the
only means cf reaching and defeating the
enemy at the frontier. Without such a road
it is quite evident we cannot protect" Cali
fornia and our Pacific possessions against
invasion" We cannot by any other means
transport men and munitions of var from
the Atlantic States in sufficient tine sue
cessfully to defend these remote and distant
portions Of the Republic
Experience has proved that the routes
across the Isthmas of Central America are
at least but very uncertain and unreliable
mode of communication. But even if this
were not the case, they would At once De
closed against US in the event Of a war with
a naval power so much stronger than our
own as tc enable US to blockade the ports at
either end of these routes. After all, there
fore, we can only rely upon military raod
through our own Territories; and ever since
the origin of the Government, Congress has
been in the practice Of appropriatng money
from the public treasury for the construction
Of such roads.
The difficulties and expense OF construct
ing military railroad to connect our Allan
tic and Pacific States have been greatly ex-
aggerated. The distance on the Arizona
route near the 23d parallel OF north latitude
between the western boundary Of Texas Oh
the Rio Grande and the eastern boundary oS
California on the Colorado, from the best
explorations now within our knowledge,
does rot exceed four hundred and seventy
miles. and the face Of the country Is, in the
main, favorable. For obvious reasons the
Government ought not to undertake the
work itself by means OF its own agents
This ought to be committed 10 other agen-
cies, which Congress might assist either by
grants of land or money or by both, upon
such terms and conditions as they may
deem most beneficial for the country. Pro-
vision might thus be made not only for the
safe. rapid, and economical transportation
of troops and munitions Of war, but also OF
the public mails. The commercial interests
of the whole country, both East and West,
would be greatly promoted by such road
and, above all it would be powerful addi-
tional bond of union. And although ad-
of this kind, whether postal, COM
mercial, or political, cannot confer constitu-
ticnal power, yet they may furnish auxiliary
arguments in favor of cxpediting work
which, in my judgement, is clearly embrac-
ed within the war-making power.
For these reasons ! commend TO the
friendly consideration of Congress the sub
ject of the Pacific Railroad, without finally
myself to any particular route.
The report of the Secretary Of the Urea
sury will furnish detailed statement OF the
condition of the public finances and of the
respective branches of the public service
devolved on that department OF the govern
ment. BY this report il appears that the
amount of revenue received from all sources
into the treasury during the fiscal year end
ing 3oth June, 1857, was sixty-eight million
six hundred and thirty one thousand five
ven cents, (6S, 631 ,513.67,) which amount.
with the balance of nineteen nine hundred
and one thousand three hundred and TWEEN
ty-fve dollars and forty-fve cents, ($I9,-
Dol ,325.45,) remaining in the treasury at
the commencement of the year, made an
aggregate for the service of the year Of
eighty eight million five hundred and thirty
TWO thousand eight hundred and thirty nine
dollars aud twelve cents, 1855, 532, S39.12)
The public expenditures for the fiscal
year ending 30th June, 1857, amounted to
seventy million eight hundred and twenty
wo thousand seven hundred and twenty
our dollars and eli, hty-five cents, of which
i've million nine hundred and fOrty-three
thousand eight hundred and rinety- dol
ars and ninety cents were applied to
he redemption of the public debt, including
interest and premium, leaving in the trea-
uTy at the commencement of the present
iscal wear on the LIST July, 1857, seventeen
million seven hundred and ten thousand one
lundred and fourteen dollars and twenty
even cents.
The receipts into the treasury for the first
uarter Of the present fiscal year, commenc-
ne 1st July, were twenty million nine hun
req ana twenty nine thousand ciSht nun
red and nineteen dollars and eighty-one
ents, and the estimated receipts of the re-
laining three quarters to the Goth June.
$50, are thirty-six million seven hundred
nd fifty thousand dolla S, making with the
alancc before stated an aggregate of seven--
y-five million three hundred and eighty
inc thousand nine hundred AID thirty -four
ollars and eighty cents, for the service Of
he present fiscal year.
The amount redeemed since the lst ofJu-
?, was three millions eight hundred and
inety five thousand two hundred and thir-
y-two dollars and thirty mine cents leav-
~ a balance unredeemed at this time of
wenty-five millions one hundred and sixty
We thousands one hundred and fifty-iour
ollars and fifty-ODe cents