Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-17

support, with augmented force, the con-.
stiirtional right 10 make the other species
ofhigh-way, the military canal. .p.
But. when we consider that all those i'm
portant ends are involved in the exercise oil
one federal power, the eypediency, it not
the necessity, OF vesting that power in 60
yemment, whose jurisdiction pervades the
whole territory of the United States, must
be ye1nore apparent.
Whatever tends greatly TO facilitate the
speedy collection Of the resources OF the
union, and their efficient application 10 the
defence of its individual members, must
be comprehcnded, not only among. the ge-
neral means of providing for the common
defence, bull within each of the specially
enumerated powers OF Congress" to de,
clare war;" "to raise and support armies
TO provide tor calling forth the militia to
execute TO laws of the union, to suppress
Instructions, and repel invasions.
The several states may be expected to
make such roads and canals as tend to pro-
mote their individual security. and welfare ;
but it is not their duty, nor have they The
resources necessary toprovide all, that the
safety and prosperity Of the union may re-
quire. lfthey apply their own revenue 10
these objects, it must be drawn irom the
most oppressive and odious species OF taX-
alton. They will tax themselves for Their
own benefit alone, and leave the United
States to employ surplus treasure, arising
from fruitful source OF revenue, to which
the constitution forbids them,to resort, to
p,ovide for the common defence and gene
raj welfare. II is neither just nor reasona-
bile, after transferring TO the general go
yernment the purse, as well as the sword of
the nation, to charge the respective states
with the most expensive part Of the COM
mon obligations which they impose.
But the want of adequate funds is not the
sole. nor The chief impeachment to the ex-
ercise of this power by the separate states.
The concurrent assent of their respective
legislatures. with that of Congress, TO every
work requiring the cooperation OF two or
more states, would also be required.
Ii would not be difficult to trace, on the
general map of the United States, many
roads and canals, TO provide for the cost OF
which, prospect Of some remuneration in
their tolls would be necessary while the
use, and consequently the profit OF them,
would depend OF the cotemporaneous exc
cution of similar work in the territory of
one or more states, having scarcely any in
terest in the cCmmaa enterprise (; to say
nothing of those commercial jealousies,
those local or political prejudices, which
often obscure and mislead the judgment of
nations, as well as individuals, in relation
to the objects of their real interest
What peculiar advantage, let me ask,
without questioning the wisdom or public
spirit of New-Jer:ey, could she propose to
herself, from that contemplated canal be-
tween the Raritan and the Delaware, which
constitutes anessential link the connection
of our inland navigation For commercial
purposes, she could have none which would
be sensibly felt, beyond the country along
the margin OF the canal, since each Of those
rivers has already an extensive market open
TO its exports. How far the competition Of
those two great commercial rivals, New
York and Philadelphia, would impede a
connection Of those rivers, cannot be pre-
dicted for who can prescribe bounds to
mercantile jealousy, The fruitful source OF
national animos;,ies Experience has as
certaiued the difficulty of combining the =.
wealth Oft the principal markets Of the Ches-
apeake, in similar enterprise. OF equal
consequence to the union and to The parli-
Cular state which was TO he the tlPatre OF
its operations, OF as trivial Importance
the smallest state of the union with resour-
ces wholly incommensurate to such an I'M
dertaking.
The Delaware canal was begun many
years ago: and its completion has been So
long retarded for want OF funds, that the in
teyest lost, upon it, exceeds the capita! ex-
pended.
The commencement of the only public
work OF considerable magnitude which
owes lis existence to the resources OF the
union, was long delayed for the assent OF
one of the states, through which il passes.
Local jealousies have opposed other obsta-
cIes 10 it, final success, which have per-
manentIy impaired its utility, and are likely
to endanger lis preservation. Maryland
has refused TO authorize toll for the re-
pairs Of the Cumberland road, (Which Penn
sylvania would have cheerlulIy concedei)
in order that Baltimore may more advan-
tageously contend with Philadelphia, for
the western trade across The Allegheny :;
and two little towns in Pennsylvania have
had the perncious influence 10 bend from
its direct course, so as TO suit their own
narrow interests, this important channel OF
intercourse between the eastern and west
ern states. How many interests must be
united before direct, secure. and speedy
transportation of the mail can be provided
between Washington and New-Orleans
And, when we,separately regard the incon-
siderable benefit which The states, whose
territories lie between those cities, would
expect to derive from a road connecting
them the magnitude of the sum that it
would cost; and the rival objects which
would contend for lis application, is it not
evident, that this, or any similar enter
prize, is unattainable, but by the resour-
ces of the union and the will Of Congress
VT .LnI Al, a.... ~. 1 OIL. L.