Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-12-10

manner best convince them that we are theii
friends, not their entnies. In order to accom-
plish this object it viii be necessary, according
to the estimate of the War department, to raise
four additional regiments; and this | earnestly
recommend to Congress. At the present mo-
ment Of depression in the revenues of the conn-
try l am sorry to be obliged to recommend such
a measure; but l feel confident of the support
of Congress, cost what it may, in suppressiHg
the instruction and in restoring and maintain
the sovereignty of the constitution and laws
over the Territory Of Utah "
recommend To Congress the establishment
of a territorial government over Arizona, incor-
porating with it snch portions of New Mexico
as they may deem expedient. l need scarcely
adduce arguments in support of this recommen-
dation. 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 conSid-
cradle, and is rapidly increasing, notwithstand-
ing the disadvantages under which they labor.
Besides, the proposed Territory is believed to
be rich in mineral and agricultural resources,
especially in silver and copper. The mails Of
the United States to California are now carried
ever 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 a 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 gmide my public conduct, / con.
slider it clear that under the war-making power
| Congress may appropriate money for the con-
s~truction Of a military road through the Terri
tories of the United States, when this is absolute
ly necessary for the defence of any of the States
against foreign invasion. The constitution has
conferred upon Crongress power Ito declare
wars ''to raise and support armies" to provide
and maintain a navy" and TO call forth the mi
litia to "repel invasions." These high sovereign
powers necessarily involve important and res
ponsible public duties, and among them there
is none SO sacred and so imperative as that Of
of preserving our soil from the invasion of a
foreign enemy. The constitution has, therefore
left nothing on this point to constitution, but
expressly requires that 'the United States shall
protect erch of them 1.-THE States against invas'
ion.
Now, if a military road over oul our own Terri.
tories be ;ndispensably necessary to enable us
to meet and repel the invader, it follows as a
necessary consequence not only that we possess
the power but it is our imperative duty to con-
srruct such a road. 1t would be an absurdity &c
invest a government with the unlimited power
to make and condnct war, and at the same time
deny to it the only means of reaching and defea.
ting the enemy at the frontier. Without such
a road it is quite evident we cannot protect
California and our Pacific possessions against
Invasion" We cannot by any other means
transport men and munitions of war from the
Atlantic States in sufficient'time successfully to
defend these remote and distant portions OF the
republic.
Experience has proved that the routes across
the isshmus of Central America are at best but
uery uncertain and unreliable moees Of commu
~nication. But even if this were not the case,
they would at once be closed against US in the
event of war with a naval power so much stron-
ger than our own as to enable it to blockade
the ports at either end of these routes. After
all, therefore, we can only rely upon a military
road through our own territories; and ever
since the origin of the Government Congress
has been in the practice of approaching money
from the pnblic treasury for the construction Of
such roads. !
fine difficulties and the expense OF construct
ing a military railroad to connect our Atlantic
and Pacific States have been greatly exaggera,
ted. The distance on the Arazonia route neal
the 32nd parallel of north latitude, between the
western boundary ofTexas on the Rio Grande
and the eastern boundary of California on the
Colorado, from the best explorations now with
in our knowledge, does not 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 ofits agents. This ought
to be committed to other agencies which Con
gress might assist by grants of land or money,
or by both, upon such terms and conditions as
they may deem most beneficial to the country
Provision 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 cast and west, would be
greatly promoted by such a road; and above al
it would be a powerful additional bond of Union
And although advantages of this kind whether
postal, commercial or political, cannot confel
constitutional power, yet they may furnish
auxiliary arguments in favor of expeditine
a work which, in my judgment, is clearly EN-
braced within the war-making power.
For these reasons | commend to the frien lily
consideration of Congress the subject OF the Paci
NC railroad, without finally committing myself II
any particular route. ~t-=e
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury viii
furnish a detailed statement of the condition of thu
public finances and of the respective brancees Of
the public service devolyed upon that department
of the government. By this report it appears tina
the amount of reuenue received from all source.
into the Treasury, during the fiscal year ending
Both of June, 1857, was S68, 631 ,5l3 81, which
amount, with the balance of &c., 0l ,32j 40, re
naming in the treasury at the commencement o
the year, made an aggregate for the service of tn
year, of SS8, 532, $50 Il.
The public expenditures for the fiscal year end
ing Both june, 1867 were $40, 49,, 124 IS of which
(s5, 943, 1896 81 were applied to the redemption
of the public debt, including interest and pre-
MUM, leaving IN the treasury at the commenc
ment of the present fiscal year onthe1 LIST Of Jul.
1857 seventeen million seven hundred and tel
thousand one hvndred and fourteen dollars ant
twenty seven cents, III, 40, la Al
The receipts into the treasury for the frs
quarter Of the sresent fiscal year, commencing
lst July, 1857, were twenty million nine kun
dree and ~twenty-nine thousand eight hundre'