Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-18

/ This power ha, been exercised from the
very foundation of the federal government,
not merely in the purchase oil lands LOT
variety of purposes, more or less intimately
connected with the convenience OF Tue go
| yernment, or with the military defence ana
commercial prosperity Of the United Staies:
| it has been substantially applied, as mas
been already remarked, TO The encourage
! ment of domestic manufactures; and, IN.
| form less disguised, to the promotion oi To-
reign emigration the advancement OF agri-
| culture /; the cultivation Of science, iitera-
ture and taste the diffusion OF sentiments
| of patriotism, benevolence, and piety.
The ingenuity of our opponents has not
condescended, and surely will not. to dis
tinguish between The release Of debt due
tothe treasury, and the appropriation OF
sum, already collected, in favor OF an OBJ
ject of general welfare.
One Of my colleagues Mr.. Smy,h) has
consistently pushed his doctrine OF con-
| structIon 10 its proper extent. He has de-
MED the constituiionality OF the approprIa,
tions hitherto made to the Cumberland
road las well, as that, 10 the relief OF the un-
fortunate sufferers of Venezuela. The
same candor will extend this sentence OF
condemnation to all the pensions which
have been granted, and TO all the rewards
of valor which have been bestowed by. the
federal government not only TO the v hole
tariff, but TO the institutions in general; TO
the genius and character OF the nation.
There remains, Mr. Chairman, one other
clause of the constitution, hitherto unnot-
ced in this debate, 10 which beg leave to
call the attention of the committee, in sup
port Of the authority, for which have last
| contended.
The Cd clause of the Sd section Of The
9Th article, confers on Congress power
not enumerated in the section, over which
we have just passed. Ii is "to dispose Of
and make all needfM rules and regulations
respecting The territory and other property
belonging TO the United States" The first
branch OF this authority was designed, as
will appear from the context OF the whole
section, to enable the federal government
10 regulate and dispose Of its own territory,
according 10 the suggestions the wisdom
| of Congress; the second embraces SINH
lar power over all other national property;
and, consequently, over the surplus reve.
| nue. 10 be found, at any time, within the
| public treasury.
The obligation, as well as the power, Of
rendering productive such portion OF the
revenue, as the public exgencies do not re-
| quire, and as cannot, without considerable
| loss, be applied 10 the redemption Of the
| public debts before they are due, is clearly
deducible from this clause Of the constitu-
ton.
This surplus must, otherwise, lie idle in
the public treasury treasury, which, in
fact, exists only in contemplation Of law.
II must remain in the hands Of collectors,
and other public officers, or be deposited
in the vaults of some bank and, in both
cases, be exposed to all the hazard, with
out returning the profit OF loan.
Can il be questioned that such portion Of
the public money may be constitutionally
applied TO the purchase Of the stock Of
canal or turnpike company, as il has al
ready been, to the stock of bank, under
such rules and regulations as Congress may
prescribe
do not contend, in virtue of this clause,
for the power to establish banking or any
other chartered company but for the SIM
pie authority to convert by exchange, or
sale, one species OF property, into another,
for the public benefit.
1.-THE imposition OF continuance of public
taxes, with view to such an object, be
deemed a measure of doubtful right or ex-
pedency, 10 such doubt can arise, as TO
such an application Of the sum low propo-
sed TO be appropriated, or of the proceeds
of the sales of the public lands, TO which
this section of the constitution directly ap,
plies.
Although under no constitutional obliga.
ton TO look beyond the profit which might
attend any such application of the public
money, Congress might, and undoubtedly
would, blend, with that consideration. o.
ther objects of general advantage. As in
divldual subscribers to the stock of all ca
nal and turnpike companies usually extend
their views, even in pursuit Of profit, be-
yond the expected dividends upon their
stock, TO the beneficial end of its applica-
ton; so the government may often conf
IDENTITY anticipate benefit, far surprising
in value any pecuniary profit on its stock,
from the success of public work ofgeneral
utility. In all such acquisitions of stock, .
il will regard the convenience and safety
of the nation; and if the former has price, :
the latter unquestionabiy has none. {
This mode of applying the public mo- :
ney to the structure OF roads and canals, is {
liable to none of the objections urged by J
one of my colleagues (Mr. Smyth) TO the
expediency Of passing the resolutions be- '
fore the committee. {
Indeed, when the general purport of the I
resolutions is considered, these objections
must appear to himself premature, since I
they apply rather TO the details OF system I
anticipated by himself, than to the resolu-
tons themselves, which merely propose {
to constitute fund for internal improve !
ment.
My colleague cannot deny the possibili-
A., - r., - ,,,efo,, yh;ch n |