Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-02-17
IN TIE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Chair as follows
Ii the gentleman on whose motion the Com
lnttee last rose, and who, for that reason, had
been expected to renew the debate, were now
III his scat, | should certainly not inter ere
with his right bat, III his absence, | beg leave
to OTTER few considerations, in support Of the
power of the General Government to lend its
:siii to the naIlng of roads and canals.
The bill, now under consideration, proposes
merely appropriation of money for certain
surveys, IL Lr made under the direction of the
President the unitcdStatcs, and might, there
fore be sustained upon grounds which the most
sceptical would scarcely controvcrt but, As it
has been met by the general constitutional OBJ
lection, and, as am willing to treat it a, a step
II the progress of internal Improvement, | feel
40 incubation to shrink from the topic thus pre-
scented. Besides, the cXpe,iiclcy OF ncurrinr
expense IL procuring surveys of the country
without thc power Of afterwards using the intor-
NATION thus acquired mi rht We'll b.: questioned
In entering upon this discussion, every one
,nust be sensible of the disposition, existing in
many sections of the Union, to narrow the pow
ers OF the General Government as much as pos
siblc: and il cannot be disguised that it has ne
Yer been permitted to adopt any measure, not
forced upon IL by the most urgent and inpcrOus
necessity, even to the creation OF Il corporation
without long and labour-l investigation into
It's constitutional functions. Under a spirit of
Jealousy, So keen and vigant, no serious usur-
patton ncci be apprchenGed; and If there be any
danger in all this, rather think ii lies in diff
fercnt direction.
am not disposed to complain of this temper
however; bri, on the contrary, would cherish
a. have great confidence in the sober good
sense of the people OF the United States, and
lar rs our frequent discussions here arc cal
culatcd to explain to them the different views
which are entertained of the nature of our go-
vcrn;nent, they will learn To think and nvesti-
gate Tor themselves, and be finally conducted to
a true Interpretation of its principles. If our
powers be found too narrow for the public ext
gencios, they will enlarge them; if we exceed
our bounds, they will bring us back To our pro-
per sphere. We should bring with us, however,
INTO MI these deliberations 4 disposition to as
certain what the Constitution really is, rather
than 4 determination to make It what we desire
Ii 10 be.
Upon this, as on every other like occasion, the
advocates of tic power of the government have
been compelled TO discuss and establish all its
elementary Notwithstanding is taken as set
tied: prcccdcntS go for nothing and all previ-
GUS acts are founded i'll usurpation. We are re-
rnnded that the government is q limited one
that we have no powers that are not expressly
granted that all others are reserved to the
states and the people; and that, as the power to
make rOai$ and canals Is not expressed, it does
DOT exist. Some of these propositions no rca-
sonablc man would question but one would
suppose, IT was too late i'll the day to contend
that this government may not exercise any, and
vcTy important powers, that are not expressly
given and yet this is asserted, and must be dis
proved.
The true question must always be, what pow
Grs are fairly deducib.e from reasonable inter-
probation OF tie instrument BY which they are
dcnc!; and am free to say, that the nature of
tue system, the diversity of objects and interests
Tor which 1t is provided, and the variety of cir
cumstanccs through which it must pass, demand
II liberal Interpretation. The observation has
already become stale, that the principal objects
only, for which tins government was created,
could be expressly defined, and that the great
mass of powers, &c they large or small, which
are to be employed as the means necessary to
accomplish those objects, could not be enlIncra-
ted or expressed, but were necessarily TO de-
mend upon circumstances, as they should arise.
cOnccdc 20 gentlemen, that ours is limited
government bat to objects Conidsd to its
administration; but as to objects clearly within
thc sphere offs jurisdiction, its authority is SUI
prCma, and unlimited, Is To- the means ncCessa-
nv f." their accomplishment rs the government
OF any state in the Union, or of any nation in the
world; unless, i'll some particular instances in
which the means arc expressly rcstrictcd.-
Need refer to examples in proof of this posi-
tom Let gentlemen advert TO the power in
Congress, To co,U .1tOncy--what means may this
government not employ, in executing this pow
or, which any other nation NAV use, as ueccssa-
~ To- the attainment OF the end On our pow
or To punish the cD,0,tc,1Ntnc Of the mOney of
The United Shiics, where is the restriction Do
we not define the crimes. graduate lis euorrnv,
AMI carry home the punishment, even TO the life
OF the Offender, according 70 Il discretion as UNI
limited as can be exercised by any other pow
or? | ask gentlemen to consider the ,cnr DOrce,'
.ofthis government, and to tell me, wherein VIC
arc limited, either as to the proprctv of begin
ming, or the means proper To- carry on, ho5ti-
tics, after thev arc commenced WHAT NAV
VIC not DO, in the exercise of his power, which
the cxigcucy of the occasion requires at our
hands Excepting the power to raise armies
and bujH n n7ry, scarcely any other incident
To the VHr po,Ccr is specified in the Constitu-
lion: and get there is nothing which any nation
ought to do. to make their warlil<c attitude eff
fcctual, and promote the safety and honor ofthc
country, THAT it would not be our duty to par
form.
Bat the gentleman from Virginia, who open
ed this debate with so much of his usual abili-
~, (NIr. Barbour does not deny to us the use
of means, but assumes distinction between M
tonni and municipal jurisdiction, on which, if
understand him, he placed his chief reliance.
The gentleman says, the general government
can exercise no municipal powers, that are not
expressly given.
Solar as the distinction applies to the priDci-