Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1857-12-24
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.


granted 10 Congress is the only true, as well
a. the only safe, theory of the, constitution.
Whilst this principle shall guide my pub.
lie conduct. | consider it clear that under
the war-making power Congress may ap.
propriate money Tor the construction OF
military road through the Territories Of the
United States, when this is absolutely ne
cessary for the defence of any OF the States !
against foreign invasion. The constitution
has conferred upon Congress the power "lo
declare war, ""to raise and support armies, !"
TO provide and maintain navy, and 10 call
forth the militia 10 "repel invasions. -
These high sovereign powers necessarily |
involve important and responsible public
duties, aud among them none is so sacred
and imperative as that Of preserving our
soil from the invasion OF foreign enemy
The constitution has, therefore, left nothing
on this point to construction, but expressly
requires that 1.-THE United States shall pro.
tect each of Them { the States, against in.
vasion." Now if military road over our
own Territories be indispensably necessary,
10 enable us 10 meet and repel the invader,
it follows, as necessary consequence, not
only that we possess the power, but it is
our imperative duty to construct such q
road. 1t would be on absurdity to invest o
Government with the unlimited power 10
make and conduct war, and at the same
time deny to it the only means Of reaching
and defeating the enemy at the frontier
Without such road, it is quite evident we
cannot "protect" California and our Pacific
possessions "against invasion.'' We can
b. It'll,
munitions Of war from the Atlantic States
in sufficient time successfully to defend
these remote and distant portions Of the Re
public. ..'. .ssF '"- ..
Experience hos proved that the routes
across the isthmus Of Central America are
at best but very uncertain and unreliable
mode Of communication. But even if this
were not the case, they would at once he
closed against us in the event Of war with
a naval power SO much stronger than our
own as TO enable it TO blockade the ports at
either end Of these routes After all, there
fore, we can only rely upon q military road
through our own territories; and ever since
The origin Of the government Congress has
been in the practice of appropria,ing money
from the public treasury Tor the construction
Of such roads.
The difficulties and the expense Of con.
structing military railroad TO connect our
Atlantic and Pacific States have been great.
ly exaggerated. The distance on the Ari
zonia route near the 32d parallel of norll
latitude, between the western boundary O
Texas on the Rio Grande and the eastern
boundary of California on the Colorado, from
the best explorations now within our knowl
edge, does not exceed four hundred anl
seventy miles, and The face Of the country
is, in the main, favorable. For obviou.
reasons the Government ought not to I'M
dertake The work itself by means Of its owl
agents. This ought 10 be committed to 9TH
er agencies, which Congress might assist b,
grants OF land or money, or by both, upoi
such terms and conditions as they may
deem most beneficial for the country Pro
vision might thus be made not only for thu
safe, rapid and economical transportation o
troops and munitions of war, but also of tn,
public mails. The commercial interests o
\ the whole country, both East and West
would be sFeply promoted by such road
and, above al, it .wouldsbe powerful add
tional bond cf nai0n. And although advan
tages Of this Kind, Whether postal, CONNER
cial or political. canspt confer constitution
II power, yet they may furnish auxiliary ar
grments IN favor III expeditlng worl
which, in my Judgment, is clearly embraced
within the war making power.
For these reasons ! commend to tn
friendly consideration of Congress the sub
ject OF the Pacific railroad, without fnall,
committing myself to aly particular route
QUA DUTY TO SISTER REPuBLIcs--A-
.-. oAIssr FILLIBUsTEnIsM.
We cannot fail to feel deep interes, il
all that concerns the welfare or the indepen
dent republics ON our own continent, q
well as Of the empire of Brazil.
Our difficulties with New Granada
which short time since bore so threaten,
ing an aspect, are, it is to be hoped, in
fair train Of settlement in manner Just an,
honorable 10 both parties.
The lSihmus Of Central America, incIu
ding that OF Panama, is the great hghwa,
between the Atlantic and Pacific, ovel
Shich large portion Of the commerce o
the world is destined TO pass. The United
States are more deeply interested than any
other nation in preserving the freedom anc
lsthmus. It's our duty, therefore, TO TAX,
care that they shall not be interrupted eth
er by invasions from our own country or b,
wars between the independent States O
Central America. Under our treaty will
New Granada OF the 18th December, 1886
we are bound 10 guaranty the neutrality u
the isthmus Of Panama, through which tn
Panama railroad passes, ''as well as III
rights Of sovereignty and property whic
New Granada has and possesses over III
said territory" This obligation is founde
upon equivalents granted by the treaty t
the government and people of the Unite
States.
Under these circumstances, l recominen
10 Congress the passage of an act authori7
ing the President, in case of necessity, {
employ the land and naval forces Of the
niied States 10 carry into effect this guarar
tee of neutrality and protection. also r,
commend similar legislation for the securi