The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-12-18

Us the only safe, theory Of the Constitution
Whilst this principle shall guide nv pubEr
conduct, ] consider il clear that under III
war-making power Congress may appropriate
money for the construction of a milit,rv
road through the Territories Of the United
States, when it is absolutely Necessary 70,
the defence of any of the States against for.
eign invasion. The Constitution has con-
ferred upon Congress power "to declare war;
"to raise and support armies" "to provide
and maintain a navv," and TO call forth the
militia TO "repel invasions." These hiph
sovereign powers necessarily involve impor.
tant and responsible public duties, and among
them there is none so sacred and so impers.
tive as that Of preserving our soil from thu
invasion of foreign enemy. The Consti.
tuition has, therefore, left nothing on hi,
point to construction, but expressly requires
that "the United States shall protect each Of
them the States against invasion" Now. if
a military road over our own Territories be
indispensahly necessary to enable us to meet
ard repel the invader, it follows rs neeessa.
~ consequence not only that we possess the
power, but it is our imperative duty to con-
struct such road. Ii would be an Absurd.
~ to invest Government with the unlimited
power TO make and conduct war, and at the
same time deny il the only means of reach
ing and defeating the enemy at The frontier.
Without such road il is quite evident We
cannot protect" California and our Pacific
possessions against INVASION" We cannot
by any other means transport men and NUM-
tons of war from the Atlantic States in suf-
ficient time successfully to defend these re-
mote and distant portions Of the Republic.
Experience has 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 be closed
against us in the event of war with a naval
Power so much stronger than our own us 10
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 orr
gin of the Government Congress has been
in the practice of approprating money from
the public treasury for the construction Of
such roads.
The difficulties and the expense of con-
structing n military railroad 10 connect our
Atlantic and Pacific States have been greatly
exaggerated. The distance on the Arizona
route near the 32d parallel Of north latitude
between the western boundary of Texas on
the Rio Grande and the eastern boundary of
California on the Colorado, from the best ex-
plorations now within our knowledge, does
not exceed four hundred and seventy miles,
and the face of the country u.s. in the main,
favorable. For obvious reasons the Govern
ment ought not to undertake the work itself
by means of its own agents. This ought to
be committed to other agencies, which Con
gress 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. Provision might thus be
made not only for the safe, rapid, and eco
nomica transportation of troops and NUM-
tons of war, but also of the public nails
The commercial interests of the whole coun.
try, both East and West, would be greatly
promoted by such road; and, above all, II
would be powerful additional bond Of
union. And although advantages of this
kind, whether postal, commercial, or politi-
cal, cannot confer constitutional power, yet
they may furnish auxiliary arguments in ia
vor of expediting work which, in my judg-
ment is clearly embraced within the war
making power.
For these reasons commend to the friend
~ consideration of Congress the subject Of
the Pacific railroad, without finally commit
ting myself to any particular route.
The report of the Secretary of the Treasu-
ry will furnish detailed statement of the
condition of the public finances and Of the
respective branches of the public service de-
volved upon that department of the Govern
ment By this report it appears that the
amount of revenue received from all sources
into the Treasury during the fiscal year end
ing the 30th June, 1857, was sos, 63l, 5l3.67,
which amount, with the balance Of Sl9,90lc
325.45, remaining in the Treasury at the
commencement of the year, made an aggrs-
gate for the service of the year of $SS,532
839l2.
The public expenditures for the fiscal year
ending 30th June, 1857 amounted to &c.
800, 724S5, of which S5,943, 1861, were mp.
piled to the redemption of the public debt,
including interest and premium, leaving in
the Treasury at the commencement OF the
present fiscal year on the LIST Of July, 1857,
Sl7,7lO,ll427.
The receipts into the Treasury for the first
quarter Of the present fiscal year, commencing
list July, 1857, were $40, 929, 81 .8l, and the
estimated receipts of the remaining three
quarters to the 30th June, 1858, are S36,75O.
900, making, with the balance before stated,
an aggregate of S75,3S9,9340S, for the ser
vice of the present fiscal year.
The actual expenditures during the frat
quarter of the present fiscal year were $685.
| il4,52S37, of which S3.S95,23 $3.50 were ap-
piled to the redemption of the public debt
including interest and premium. The proba'
BILE expenditures of the remaining three quar-.
tiers, to 30th June, 1868, are ISL ,24S, 53O.O4'
including interest on the public debt, making
an aggregate Of S74,963,O58.4l, leaving an
estimated balance in the Treasury a. the close
of the present fiscal year Of S426,S7567.
The amount of the public debt at the COM
mencement of the present fiscal year was
$29,O60,3 S69O.
The amount redeemed since the LIST July
was 1885, 232.39, leaving balance nnre'
deemed at this time of S26,l65, lb4.5!.
The amount Of estimated expenditures Tor
the remaining three-quarters OF the presentns,
cal year will in all probability, be increased
from the causes set forth in the report oil tne
Secretary. His suggestion, therefore, ths'
authority should be given to supply any YEN,
porary deficiency by the issue OF iimlteq
amount Of Treasury notes is approved, ano !
accordingly recommend the passage Oh sucp
law.
As stated in the report Of the Secretary
the tariff Of March 3, 1851, has been in oPe'
ration for so short period Of time, and uhge'
circumstances so unfavorable to Just az
velopment ofits results ms a revenue measure,