Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-10-25

draws its origin from the extent OF our
republic. 1t has exempted US from the
most of the causes which distracted the
small republics of antiquity. Let 1t not
however be forgotten; let it, said he, be
forever kept in mind, that it exposes us
to the greatest Of all calamilies, next to
the loss of liberty, and even to that in its
consequence, disunion. We are great,
and rapidly, he was about to say fearful
ly, growing. This, said he, is our pride
and danger, our weakness and our
strength. Little, said Mr.. c. does he de-
serve to be entrusted with the Liberties
of this people, who does not raise his
mind to these truths. We are under the
most imperious obligation TO counteract
every tendency to disunion. The strong
est Of all cements is, undoubtedly, the
wisdom, Justice, and, above all, the mode
ration OF this house yet the great sub
Iect on which we are now deilberat'ng,
IN this respect, deserves the most serious
consideration. Whatever, said Mr. Z.
impedes the intercourse OF the extremes
with this, the centre of the republic,
the sphere Of commercial circulation,
the more extended that OF social inter-
course; The more strongly are We bound
together; the more inseparable are our
destinies. Those who understand the
human heart best, know how powerfully
distance tends to break the sympathles
OF our nature. Nothing, not even dis
similarity of language, tends more to
eslrange man from man. Let us then,
said Mr.. G. biod the republic together
with perfect system OF roads and Ca
mails. Let US conquer space. 1t Is thus
the most distant parts OF the republic
will be brought within few days travel
of the centre; it is thus that the citizen
Of the west will read the news of Rns'nn
still moist from the press. The mall
and the press, said he, are the nerves OF
The body polite. BY them, the slightest
impression, made on the most remote
parts, is communicated to the whole
system; and the more perfect the means
OF Transportation, the more rapid and true
the vibration. To aid us in this great
work, to maintain the integrity OF this
republic, we inhabit country present
ing the most admirable advantages 49,
Belted around, as it is, by lakes and
oceans, intersected in every direction By
bays and rivers, the hand Of industry and
ART is tempted to Improvements. Sc
situated, said he, blessed with a form Of
government at once combining liberty
and strength, we may reasonably raise
our eyes 10 most splendid future, II we
only act in a manner worthy Of our ad-
yantages. II, however, eglecting them,
we permit low, sordld, selfish, and
sectional spirit 10 take possession OF this
house, this happy scene will vanish.
viii follow misery an despolism.
To legislate Tor our country, said Mr..
c. requires not only the most enlarged
views, but species OF self devotion, not
eXacted in any other. In country SO
extensive, and so various IN its interests,
what is necessary for the common good,
may apparently be opposed to the IN
'erests of the particular sections. Ii
must be submitted 10 as the condition OF
our greatness. But were we small
republic were we confined to the ten
miles square, the selfish instincts ct our
nature might in most cases be relied on
in the management of public affairs.
Such, then, being the obvious advanta-
ges Of internal Improvement, why, said
Mr.. c. should The house hesitate to COM
nence the system? He understood
there were, with some members, con-
s,itulionai objections. The power oil
congress is objected TO 4; first, that they
haye none to cut a road or canal through
state without lis consent--and next,
that the public moneys could only be
appropriated to effect the particular
powers enumerated in the constitution.
The first Of these objections said Mr.. {.
it is plain does not apply to ibis bill. No
particular road or canal is proposed TO
be Gu, through any state. The bill sim
ply appropriates money to the general
purpose of improving the means OF COM
munication. When bill is introduced
10 apply the money to particular objects
in any state, then, and not till then, will
the question be fairly before US. Mr.
c. gave no opinion on this point. In
fact he scarcely thought ii worth the dis
cussing, since the god sense of the
state might be relied on. They will, in
ali cases readily yield their assent. The
fear is in a different direction: in too
great a solicitude to obtain an undue
share 10 be expended within their re-
spective limits. In fact, he said be un.