Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1857-12-17
Pacific Railroad

granted to Congress is the only true. a,
well as the only safe, theory of the Cons,i
tuition. Whilst this principle shall guild
my public conduct, | consider it clear un
der the war-making power Congress ina,
appropriate money for the construction o
a military road through the Territories o
the United States. when this is absolutel,
necessary fog the defence of any of tn,
States against foreign invasion The Con
Sututlon has conferred upon Congress tn,
power ito declare wan" Ito raise and sup
port armies" Ito provide an i maintain 6
navy, and call forth the militia to "repel
hvasions.' These high sovereign powers
necessarily involve important and respon-
sible public duties, and among them there
Is none SO sacred and SO Imperative as tina,
OF preserving our soil from the invas;ons
Of a foreign enemy
The constitution has. therefore. lef,
nothing on this point to construction. bu,
expressly requires that 1.-THE United State,
shall protect each of them 1.-THE States
against invasions." Now, if a militia
ny road over our own Territories be indis
pensably necessary to enable us to NEE
and repel the invader, 1t follows rs a ne
cessary consequence not only that we pos
sess the power, but it is our imperative
duty to construct such a road 1t would
be an absurdity to invest government
with the unlimited powcrto make and con.
duct war. and at the same time deny to il
the only means of reaching and defeating
the enemy at the frontier Without such
a road Ii sqnitc evident we cannot "pro-
tect" California and our Pacific posses
sions against invasion" We cannot by
amy other means transport men and mu-
ntions of war from the Atlantic States
IN sufficient time successfully to defend
these remote anil distant portions of the
Republic
Experience has proved that the routes
across the Isthinus of Central America are
at least but very uncertain AMI unre-
liable mole of communication. But even
if this were not the case, they would at
once be closed against us in the event of war
with a naval powe. much stronger than
our own a, to enable ii To blockade the
ports at either end of these routes. After
all, therefore we can only rely upon mil
itary road through our own territories; and
ever since the origin Of the Government.
Congress has been in the practice of APP
money from the public
treasury for the con truction of such
roads
The Sc hern Route.
The difficulties and expense Of construc-
ing military railroad to connect orr At
antic and Pacific States have been great
y exaggerated. The distance on the Ari-
:onia route near the 81 parallel OF north
attitude. between tho western boumdrv of
Texas on the Rio Grandc AMI the eastern
Of California on the Colorado.
rom the best explorations now within ou
does not exceed four hundred
mi seventy miles. and the fac of the
IL, III the main favorable. FoI
obvious reasons the government ought not
10 undertake the work itself By means OF
is own agents. This ought to lie COM
nittel to other agencies, which Congress
might assist either by grants of lam, or
money. or by h' Il. upon such terms ami
conditions as they may deem most bcnei
.ial for the country Provisions night
hus DC made not only for the safe. rapid.
lnd economical transportation of troops
md munitions of war. but also of the pub
i: mails. The commercial interests of thu
whole country, both East AMI West, would
De greatly promoted 10y such a roai. and,
.bovc all. it wonld he powerful al,li-
ional bond of uniou. And although adj
;antaycs Of this k nj. VIII .ther postal, com
nercial on political cannot confer con>titu-
ional power, yet they may furnish auxil-
AIRY arguments In favor Of eXpeitng
work which. in my Judgment is clearly en-
,raceI within the war making power.
For these reasons | comment TO thu
friendly consideration Of Congress the sub
ect Of the Patitic railroad. without finally
committing myself to any particular route
The Treasury.
The report of the Secretary Of the Treas
Try will furnish detailed statement OF the
;on lition OF the public finances and OF the
branches OF the public service.
levolvcd upon that department of the gov.
eminent. By this report 1t appears that
he amount of revenue received from al
sources into the treasury dnring the fiscal
Iear ending the Goth June. 1857. was SjS.-
ISL ,5l3 81, which amount. with the bal
,nce OF 1901. 1926 As. remaining in the
rcasury at the commencement of the ycdr.
made an aggregate for the service of the
-ear OF 3SS. 49,. $50 II.
The public expenditures for the fiscal
'car ending 30ih June. 1887, amounted to
70,S22,724.S5, Of which S5.943. 1851.
we're applied to the redemption oi the pub
ic debt. including interest anil premium,
eaving in the treasury at the commence
nent of the present fiscal year OH the lst of
Iuly. 1857, Sl7.7I0.l1427.
The receipts into the treasury for the first
uarter of the present fiscal year. common
ing LIST July, were so. 929,Sl9 81. and
he estimated receipts of the remaining
hree quarters to the 30th June, 1855, are
s36, $50 ,000 making with the balance be-
ore stated an aggregate of S75, $3.50, 934.0S,
or the service of the present fiscal year.
The actual expenditures during the first
uarter of the present fiscal year were S23,
l452S 81 of which S3, 800, 232 80 were
pplicd to the redemption of the public
Icbt, including interest and premium.
The probable expenditures of the remain
ng three quarters, to Both June, 1888, are
SOL PAS, $50 o., including interest on the
4 Ia. l., ~ nt A