The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-12-12
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

fhe cltizru, ~ the uoil.d stste- are al
naally favored by lhelt chi m'S'~t"t'
with fall EXPOSE 81 the state oi thrt
fon5gn aud domr-tie concerns. acconra
ned With such recommend H. then
represrutatIycs. AS seem IL hun 70 be- die
lated by wisdom and prudence. The ih'
communication of hr Aionfoe a one q
prenllaf interest, both - II respects unl
hatnr aliaifs and our foreign relation. -
Tue furnishing state Of our finances, aud
the unifresJ tranquility which prevail.
throughout ;ht country, afr I'll causes "I
eongr.tuIaiiun, more particularly when w
81 other nations oppressed by The weight
of heavy natinnM drbts, aud some oi them
= prey 10 the influence of herntloUS fac
ions, aud To- the hoffnrs ii eltil war and
foreign aggression.
There are three subjects embraced IN
the Message which strike IA With peculiar
force, A. rrqWring notIcs-1st, The +, com
mendalon To- Congress Ia appropriate no
hey for Internal Improvements I'd, The
Proposition to abolish the prlfatcrrlng 'ye.
tenn: and Sd The coarse which the Pre-
.ldent has chnIkcd out rs The proper nDr
for the United States IL pursue, IA case
the floIp lilies. IN their Increased prrSuuF
tioa. should hayr he safontefy 70 attempt
IL recoioniar The Spanish American pro.
,incr.
Ist IsrrNxAL TartovrnrSrs.-It is
known that a wide difference ot opinion
hhs hong existed among the best politicians
- this country relative 10 The right &c The
gtnctd government 10 construct roads
aud canals Those who favor lhv sthrlHa-
tive of this question, do So, principally,
unnn tn. ground thai thu constitution an
'holizes Congress 10 establish post roads"
and urs', an GreumentIi{n nd homlne1n,
the necessity uf ,e-ilng lhe night IN tlIhr
tody, aud ia that alone, whose jurisdiction
- o-xtenstyrc with the.Wntan. We con.
less thai there Is some plaasilaiity IN this
arr ment aud III thr frA biu-h of the
subject, many Would be willing unhesltat
ingit 10 submit 10 lis force. Bat when
eAanllrc little farther into thr matter
having IN Our minds eye, the profound
maxim of celebrated ci,lllan, thH Laws
formed by the legislator should be cuu-
sslrnt with the pr,nclhes Of ihr govern
rnent'F-whpn wr take into view the spirit
VI our constitution when VI see with
what jealous care It's trainers slrurc To
guard against an extension ri the powers
of the general euvrrHneut how the lnilu-
ehce OF this Eoscrnment Ma dreaded even
BY soue who thought that as powers were
gnllrely inefficient for It's purposes aud
how, not satisfied with the checks at first
imposed An amendment IL the constitution
Was atterw ards adopted, still more mar
rowing .canuG1 iar a moment believe
that il WAS ever Intended In dothe Con
srets with this power. We are not speak.
ing now of the wsdsm or nj the policy
II placing this authority ia their hands.
The only drhatcahle ground now is, haze
ftcg The poucr {? Ii they have not, and
there are many Who say they have not,
Why has not An effort tecn made To settle
the question by amending the constitution
To that eject : II they have the power,
aeAcnce Is II derived The Authority given
them to estaJiih post roads, is certainly
Intended only to place ~ their hands the
necessary puwrr of regulating the trans.
pert ton %. thu maxi. The clause " hich
pr tsass'', $40 .rchl y sanctions this idea.
- % gross shah hive power 20 establish
post office and post roads" is the language
OF the constitution. II must have been
ini ded by tus clause, 10 give Congress
tn right to SAY upon what roads, already
existing the "a il should be carried but
bot 10 appropriate money for the purpose
OF creating r.ad, ~ more than to autho-
lie the etet uou Of a housc, AZ a post o flee,
should they deem II ekped"nt. VIII this
power b. Contrndud for =? There is Ger
tally no difference. IN point of fact, ia
THE two cases for the satfsf source from
ich they pretend IL derive the power
10 establish roads, aurhorses them to esta
hlish Offices and ii would br a singular in
consistency, indeed, which would grant
their claim in the one instance and refuse
II in the other.
Bui there ia vet another provision ofthe
constitution, much more general in its
terms and doubtful in is application, than
that upon which We hat. slgntIy curl-
meuted, which Is t'iumphanlly qu"ted by
the latiludiuarians ~ entirely conclusive.
i rurs thus: Thr Congress shalt have
power to lay and collect taxes, impo>ts and
excuses, 10 pay the debts aud Proride for
the common dtt.nce and general ,rcltdre Of
the Uia!td States" We are astonshrd
that men should b. found mad enough To
cnntrnd that the right 10 appropriate mo-
ney ( r internal Improvements is drrivahIe
from this clause of the constitution. The
subject with which the clause which it is
said gives them this power il connected, 10
vii the Imposition aud collection of taxes.
SC. is sufficient to satisfy rs that such II
mode of construction is both erroneous
and absurd. If We are thus to cOnstrue
constitutional provisions, where shall we
stop? No measure which might be intry>
dnced, however CONTRARY 10 The spirit, If il
BIZ not directly in olioslton I" the letter
oil the constitution, (and what human IN.
aramenl can guard against all ccntingeu
cios 7 but would find advocates, upon the
ground that it would proulote the gene
raj aceitdrs." To what lengths will such