Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-26

ihehts; Wr- ". said, must be proved tn ibrn,
tenu before he should withhold his vote q,
'!,cir account-hc came TO this House fully sen
s,oie :" ."s Importance OF maintaining state so
sc's.ohty, ana as well In the general sentmen
OF d'is body, as In the spirited Opposition of ,rcn
uamea vino use the argument, he was persuad
Ell that the states had an abundant guarante.
Oh safety. 30 far from apprehcndine danpe
rom measures OF internal Improvement. h.
tshoull advocate them with firm conviction
that they would strengthen and support all tl,,
separate parts of the Union as separatc parts
m The same and perhaps in a greater degree
Than they would cement and strengthen tn,
Whole. Dir. g. said, he thought this too plair
TO require an argument as to accumulation O
power in the arm of the general government
which IS ioretod as part of the argument t,
| shew the loss of 1t by the states. MrG sal,
he had never understood that the power &C
CURED by comforting benefits on the nation wa,
ever dangerous, on account of its increase. bf
always had believed that the reverse of this wa,
true; and that ours must be the most singular o.
all governments, if its war and taxing powe,
werc harmless, whlic the muniiicent and bene-
ncial ones which it could exercise were DANGER
Gus.
Mr.. G.. said, he should not contend that the
right to make roads and canals, is referred or
got by implication; but, that it is expressly civ
en-: II 1t were not expressly given it ought not
to he exercised; he could not suppose that in
reading our language, whether in the shape of
Constitution, deed or other instrument. we
had any other than the ordinary rules of con-
struc!ion, we'll known to its trainers, as we'll as
to most others; and the rule he understood to be
that to hni their meaning words must be taken
IN their ordinary acceptation; and if they then
give power or allow thing to be done, Il must
be done, unless there arc other words which
limit or restrain such common acceptation, or
shew how they arc to be understood different
iy take familiar example, almost every sta
tute or act of our numerous legislative bodies
contains some grant of general power, or right
to do some particular thing, whchs generally fol-
lowed with proviso or negative restraining the
extent, to which such power or right might be
carried. The same may be said of almost eve
~ contract or writing executed daily in the
common affairs of life; by this common rule Mr..
G.said he would attemptto try some ofthc proyi-
sions of the Constitution.
The preamble is an important part Of the in
strument; 1T contains recognition of all the
Legitimate objects of government, as the basis
Oh which ours was cstablished;'to form more
perfect Union, to establish Justice, ensure do
mestic tranquility, provide for the common de-
fence, promote the general welfare, &C. as far
as language can embrace the powers and OBJ
jccts OF government; they could not be more
preamble was not inserted out Of mere iieness
he found sufficient evidence in the details of the
instrument in which the same words were en-
ployed, example, 9Th section of the first article
treating of the powers of Congress, it declares
the taxing and debt paying power; and then
that 10 provide for the common defence and ge-
neral welfare, in the very words ofthe prearn-
bic; if these words mean any thing less than
they express, VIZ. to provide for the common de-
fence and general welfare, Mr.. G. said he wish
ed to know what they did mean-he would
not attempt to answer the verbal criticism oil
gentlemen, used respecting them, but would
submit to the common sense of every reader Of
the language. He conceived, that, if they had
any meaning, it Is, that Congress may provide
for the common welfare, in relation to every sub
Ject, matter, or thing, with which they are in
trusted, and in which they are not restrained by
some other provision in the Constitution, and II
they are restrained In the mode or manner as to
any particular in part, then to all relating 10 tho
same in which they are not restrained. Now,
the principal objects with which Congress are
intrusted, are those of war, commerce, and re-
venue; all that is needful to promote those great
objects, or required, as a provision for the well
fare OF them, the Congress may do, and where
Is the danger? What are the evils to result
from this power? Those certainly, and no O.
theirs, which may flow and result from the So
vereign power Of any government and if dan
ger were good argument in this, it is good a.
gainst forming any government or giving any
power, and the only difference between the cha.
| racters of the same powers given to ours, or tc
| a king, or emperor, is in the organ who exc
cutes or carries into effect. Ours is perfectl,
safe, because it is executed by the immediate
servants of tue people, recalled at pleasure, to
return to private life, and to sustain the weigh
of their own bad measures, if they adopt any
| The other is executed without responsibility OF
control. Ours may be said to be the act of the
people themselves in relation to themselves; tho
other, the acts of a superior in power in reIa-
! ton to the maintenance of that power. The
ons is perfectly safe, while the other may b,
| highly oppressive. 1t is true, said Mr.. G.
that the exercise of this power involves grea
| degree Of discretion, and so do all and ever
power given either to Congress or any other dc
partment involve the same degree. 1t is thu
misfortune, if misfortune it may be called, of on
nature and the subject, which compel US, afte
all, to submit almost every thing 10 discretion.
The ncxtinquryis, said Mr.. G.. whether road
and canals can, any view of the power,
considered as necessary to the common welfar
or general safety in relation TO the objects emu
inerated and, if they are, Congress, for sugi
| he could see, have the same power to construC
them that they have TO meet in the Capitol.
Why is a road or canal necessary TO the we
| fare of war, commerce, or revenue Instead {
answering question which must be plain to eve
ry capacity, it may be asked why are they ne
| Just rs much so as a ship, a fort light house. {
, national dock, gun armory And, {
there is no express power given to build or max
these, why are SO many millions appropriated fc
them 1t may be answered that the gener;
power of war and commerce include ncccssaril
the power to do all and every act or thing,
Il l. G al, Al L.,