Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-19
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1874

IS q pretencc to say that you will make them by
your power to declare and prosecute war;
II Is contended that, by the power to lay and
ecttaNcs, toproyido for the common defence
ana general welfare, VIC have power to appro-
pirate money to make roads and canals. can
not agree that VIC may thus appropriate the pub
lie money. We hold il IN rausY 10 be used in
carrying into execution our constitutional pow
erS anu lorno other purposes. Tho common
defence and general welfare are TO be provided
LOT oy the execution of the granted powers. The
power 10 raise money is unlimited but the pow
er OF appropriation is limited and fiat any tune
more money is raised than the execution of your
constitutional powers requires, il must remain
unexpended until it is wanted to aid i'm the exc
cution oil Some constitutional power The gen
ueuian from South Carolina, (Mr. NIcDuie.
while he admits that the words to provide for
.he common defence and general wcl,are,n were
intended as limitation of the power to lay tax
es, contends that the terms used arc so general
that there Is no limitation. Be il So Strike
out this intended limitation. You have then m,
unlimited power 10 raise revenue. But the
money Oh the people can only be drawn from the
treasury Gy taw, and all laws must be pursuant
| to the constitution. You, have power to pass all
laws necessary and proper for the execution of
the granted powers; but an act which shall APP
Propriatc money to the execution of a power not
granted, would be violation of the constitution.
itseems to me, that aclaim of power to r.rsc mo
ney 10 any amount, and TO expend it on any OBJ
ject that congress might choose to select, 10
winch the constitutional powers of this govern
Hcnt DO not extend, Is most unreasonable.
admit, that money may be necessary, and
lawfully expended, III many cases where you as
| sumo no jurisdiction over the territory You
may procure ship timber for the navy; but You
cannot assume jurisdiction over the country
where 1t grows, and pass forest laws. Money
may be eNpcndestt orcarryng thermal, wtiiou as
sumingJurissctionto make the roads along which
IT IS to pass 1t Is said that have established
military academy. built sea walls G. light houses,
set UP beacons and buoys, and we are required
TO show by what granted powers we have made
| the appropriations You have power TO raise ar
mies-omcers are necessary and this power
may justify your appropriations for the military
academy You have power tomaintgin navy;
| to MAINTAIN, IS to preserve and this power will
Justify your appropriations for sea walls, light
houses, bcacons, and buoys. But you have
made tue Cumberland road. True you did sc
| IN performing lawful compact. You had pow
CT todsposc of the territory of the United States
this implied a right to fix the terms. You had
power to make regulations respecting the public
property. These powers authorized your con-
pact, and consequent appropriations A gentle
man from Pennsylvania (alr. Stewart) said thai
you had passed penal laws, and made quarantine
regulations You have power to legisIate ant
penal laws are the necessary sanction of lcgisla
ton. Quarantine regulations are authorized b,
power to regulate commerce. a gentleman from
New York (Nr. Storrs) said, that by your pow
er to com money, you had purchased a house i,
Philadelphia. A house was necessary; but yo
assume no jurisdiction. You hold your hous
under, and protected by, the laws of Pennsylva
na. But ifyoa make internal improvements
you assume jurisdiction, and the domain.
The gentleman from South Carolina (AIr. AIc
Dufhe) informs US that the President Madison
| recommended the establishment of a patio,.a
university. If the gentleman deems the opinior
or Mr.. Madison authority, why docs he not res
| pect his veto put on bill for making interna
improvements But the Recommendation of Mr.
Madison was to establish university in this Dis
trlct, where you h,:sc exclusive ilIrisdiction.-
You have since actually established a COLLEGE,
but without making any appropriation. If Mr..
| Madison intended that the university should be
endowed, he might intend that it should be done
| by the power to dispose of the public lots; as
schools are provided for in the western country
The gentleman speaks. the monuments erected
| todlstingushed men. Another gentleman fMr
| StewarD has spoken of pensions. The appro-
prlations for both of these may be regarded as
thepaymentof adcbt. The asy lums, ''saya attcl
prepared for soldiers and reduced officers,
* who are grown old In the service or whom IA
| ugue or the enemy have rendered incapable of
providing subsistence for themselves, NAV be
50 considered as q part Of Tie military pan. The
/ : splendid structure, and the ample provision,
| made in favor of invalids, both in France and
England, do homer to the sovereign and the
nation, which thus Literally discharge sacred
debt" The gentleman from South Carolina
MIR. Nc Dufie) spoke of the appropriation of
| fifteen millions for the purchase of Louisiana
That appropriation was authorized BY the consti-
tuition. We have authority to pass laws neccs-
sary to carry into execution the powers vested
in any department officer of the government.
The President, with the advice of the Senate
has power to make treaties and we have pow
err Il speak not OF obEgation) to pass appropria-
ton laus TO carry them into execution. Tfthe
gentleman Will show power TO make internal
| improvements, as clearly as have shown the
power to appropriate money 10 carry trcatY in
to effect, there will be an end fthc controversy
powerful appeal to sympatIies has been
made by the honorable Speaker Mr.. CLAW ON
behalf of the people of the West. il this
IS to be general measure, not partial to any
portion of the community, see no reason why
a particular appeal should be made 10 us on be-
halt OF the West. Does the gentleman mean
that whenever a fort shall be built in Boston, or
elsewhere, on the sea board, that a Ike sum
must be expended on roads and canals in the
west? The gentleman says, that if we omit 10
make internal Improvements, he believes tue
Union will be shaken TO its centre. But why
does the gentleman complain ON behalf of the
West--e' the poor West3 What is there TO az
tiict the intelligent and enterprising people Of
the Vest Have they not the finest country
under heaven, on which to exercise their indus
try! DO not the people of Kentucky possess