Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-11-23
ROADs mo oiHaLS.

They are to reject or adopt it IN toto.
ROADS .aND C.iN.4LS
Mr.. Niles again sounds the charge, and the Nation
al lnteigcncer PUSHES TO the conihai4Nith what
success, ie the following remarks demonstrate. We
shall he brief because there is little TO lie said,
and our ie,tlcrs he sick of the subject
We have nat manifested cursiie able alarm, lest
The President of the IT, S. should have changed his
opinion IN regard 10 the power of making Roads and
Canals. We neither Expressed feel any alarm.
We SAID +" we have not the shallow oi doubt u
bout HIM And we cmphatcay repeat it. He has
not changed !" his opi,ioh npon the subject. We
know better"
Bu the .gs very nice distinction ici orr consi-
dcta;ion, that though congress. my not have the
power 10 nke roads aud canals, they m;y have " The
power To- appropriate money lur tile purpose of effect
ing these objects of undcni,be public heneGt -. IL
s,cry possible" that Mr. Monroe MAY he of the class
OF those vino " admit the eNistence of ticpower
appropriate money towards such works.
But Nr. Nj. has ton clear head To he taken IN by
this distinction. lie Clearly enough that iicon-
sress has riga! 10 make road, they have also the
right io appropriate money 10 iiif they have the
FIRST they have the last IL they may attain Civ
en- end, they may seek the necessary for that
purpose. But the means follows the end They
adopt no MEANS and therefore appropriate no
money, where the end is beyond their rcach Does
the |. supp use, that Mr. NJ is of those, who hold
that Congress may adopt " every measure in which
there might be application of money? Ii he is.
then Mir. NJ. flies in the face OF Madison's Report
and lie would substantially give . government
without the Limitations formed by particular cn,i-
L
Gus To lie seriously discussed.
But the /. when called put it's finger upon
that clause of the constitution, which gives the power
to make rcuis, is ready with its own answer Com
gress shall have the power esttbSh post-roads -
We really had supposed tlint we had already suiici
emily answered .his argunient-but 10 not wish
To quote ourselves, we shall draw on IA Philadelphia
writer for the lowing wcrabc rcfuiation of IL
g First: The -Nh'oGi IateHi.encer into error
by uieriHg de terms roads md posi-road, syaon-
moas ;d''d thence intcfring, hhV congress mag es-
L.
Ihis mistake 'tW more obuio"s!y d,per, u are take the
prerons part 81 ds constitutional pFori;u, ard dppty
to Il similar construction. Thus, congress nre en-
IiJrered Ia eS!bfiS!i post Offices .1ccOTdi7g IL tie
VMioHti iaeiigenctr therefore, congress n1y eStab
lash offices OF ANY description, fe establishment o.,
post To'd, hoteter, as not the nUfiag road ,ciA
pick-tre, spade, dad Si5r| Tie nere formation
ofH road ny B."aai LLor nc,sr constiare roSi
rOm The Midiag road post rad IS az effect he
importing {" legal qualify, for pgrP1Ses connected
icRh the c07rtRcr ofts AsIi The act ycgHL,fing The
past oiice establishment ofGif 18th 0f 2Jrd 1910 auM
serre W4sytttiop BE- he 6M seciiyn Of iitt act
al Is prOUded, td, roacaerer iy ID established
post rotd is obStWctcd, and no; kpt ia cooi rep r,
he posi- master general shut report tic case ,ciai
formatioH, 10 eiobic congress 10 establish Sor other
road iaSeud ~ il ia The same main direction " The
l6u section Of he n1icS fine on persons for
setting up stage Iupggo1s &c, for Tie core, If let
terS on established post routS, T0J9s dajceHt
pTaRel Thereto. la prosecutions for oltSes amer tie
ION section q The dct referred to the circumstance Of TIE
rotd being established post road must be yrorcd in
order 10 co"riction cf Gte cdpri THIS only be
done BIZ IKE expressions Of the &C. ,sILiisiing most
'oads 'r''iah sheacs Ma'hie quality as ia he ae, and
MOI an me rord irHboUf the htr"
The J. has forHh Out a new source of authority 10
make Grads g" he power - gven that ~, CLEARLY
| included, i'll the general and very comprehensive
phrase =" 10 regulate commerce among The several
states. And this is what the !. would say with Sir
Peter Tc,zlc, " is fM nni cle., account OF the
whole miiter" !----' Very comprehensive phrase in
decd $50 comprehensive, dat i, HciSdcJ The power
to nuke canIiS it L,ke m i!mo-; any Thing. With
this latitude of construction, constitutions would
I" mean almost any thing or noing.' if llI;s clause
include the power make canals, many other clauses
would be utterly supertluous, such coin money,
regulate weights and measures &c. for these would
as fairly come IN under this q very comprehensive
clause. The wonder is, indeed, that the / should
have been Ut any loss trace the power of Haakipg
roads or that il should have thrown itself upon the
power TO establish post roads because rouS nrc as
necessary internal commerce as c,tHais-- And if
Congress can make canals, they make laws for
the botts Why also may they no, equally regulate
agiich in order furnish materials for the com
merce or make laws for encouraging the breed oi
horses TO convey The produce along tao roads Where
viii YOU stop, II you once let in this Iiit.e of
struction I'VE o not deny 90 the existence of result
ing powers as the !. would iDsinuatc b,a call
for snch only are % necessary aud proper" This
~ all the constitution grants. But is the power 10
make canals necessary and appropriate towards re-
guIaiDg commerce among the several states? Surely
no impartial man will s'y Surely The iramrrs Of
the CONSTITUTION never meant il to be So The Fcdc-
rtiist shows wherein exists the ,ity of super
intending authority the reciprocal trade of
federated StlteS. Lie urclt end the
relief of the states which import and export through
the other States from the improper contributions levi
cd Oh them by the latter" But do not find the
most distant hint in me Fcderaii or the other records
Of the history Of the constitution, that this phrase is
so very comprehensive" a. the J. wOuId make IT..
Really ii this be the way in which ncrprc,
. IL, IL is completely of was and any body miv
make any thing of Il.
The l. calls upon To explain tho Source of vari-
powers which have been exercised by Congress
s the pension law, for instance. We thought had
1
over the ground agln. The l. must excuse from,
this general investigation. One Hing ~ q jiuir. Lot
D us go through trsi--nol cOniound our
selves, gentlemen of the iit, robe frequently do,
by = multiplicity OF analUgiCs.
I We are almost sick Of this subject. There is no
end of the monsters, lhnt let innse. Day after
day gives birth to attack upon the reserved
rights of the states. The very who make tlh'u
seek TO hide their errors behind phHnOnls, which
will never have csicncc.- But wc are tired of tai
=. snJcct-tnd we dismiss il with promise TO or
readers, dat udcss something wOrthier OF 49,
:, answer, we shall hereafter be silent.
+ May VIC be excused Cor one more remark I'VE
know how strong the tide out Of Virgnii, u
/ gainst the principles profess bu viii dcs
g. pair Of tie Republic We advocate no principle
which we do not most cOnscentiOusly believe. W,
. may he wrong but we know that thevaro the prin
cplcs Of tho old republican party Of 90 aud %. Ii
. advocating thcni with TO wound no mans feeling
~ unnecessarily. We love cOuntrN deyut
r cd 10 lis UniOn-we love the plirG constitutions whic
: our fathers have handed down to We abide b
D the Interpretation which was given Of il in Madison
iliusirous report We abide hv is truth, hy its
I'D deraion liy its genuine love for the constitution w
~ ask I'LL who have read il 10 read totr wish Is
not 10 alarm, hut to eniighten couB'rymcn ly ~
guments addressed to their understandings. We
," dept the words Of The Boston Ccnincl, lin comment
ing the case Of the three seamen before Il,
le General Could've believe " that the STATES hav
J., rights, and that the Y. States have rights also. W
would wish to keep each Of them IN ihcir proper o.
bits; " giving unto Caesar the things that nrc Caesar s.
Bot we believe Tint Mt present the current IS settn