Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-02-06

chanic arts which are put in motion by this
expenditure. And all these aud other collate-
raj advantages are enjoyed by the scaports.
The navy is built for the interest of the whole.
Internal improvements, of that general, fedora.
tive character, for which we contend, would
also be for the interest of the whole. And,
should think their abiding with us, and not go
ing abroad on the vast deep was rather cause Of
recommendation than objection.
But, Mr.. Chairman, ii there be any part OF
this Union more likely than all others to be ben
Gifted by the adoption of the gcntleman's prin-
cipe, regulating the public expenditure, it is the
West. There is a perpetual drain from that
embarrassed and highly distressed portion OF our
country, of its circulating medium tn the East.
There, but few imconsiderable expenditures of
the public money takes place. There we have
none of those public works. no magnificent edi-
fees, forts, armories, arsenas, duckyards, &c.
which more or less are to be found in every At
lantic state. In at least seven states beyond the
Allegheny, not dlc solitary public work of this
Government is to be fonnd. If by one of those
awful and terrible dispcnsations of Providence,
which sometimes occur, this Government should
be unhappily annililated, every whercon the sea-
board traces of its former existence would be
found; whilst we should not have, in the West,
asingle monument remaining OH which to pour
out our affections and our rcgrets.-Yet, sir, we
do not complain. Noporton of your population
is more loyal to the Union, than the hardy free
men of the West. Nothing can weaken era
dictate their ardent desire for its lasting preserva
ton. None are more prompt to yindicate the
interests and rights of the nation from all foreign
aggression. Need remind YOU of the glorious
scenes in which they participated, during the late
war-a war i'll which they had no peculiar di-
rect interest, waged for no commerce, no sea-
men OF theirs. But it was enough for them that
it was war demanded by the character and the
honor of the nation. They did not stop to cal
cuiate its cost of blood, or of treasure. They
flew to arms; they rushed down the valley of
the Mississippi, with all the impctuosity of that
noble river. They sought the enemy. They
found him at the beach. They fought; they
blei; they covered them elves and their coun-
try with immortal glory. They enthusiastically
shared IN all the transports occasioncd by our
victories, whether Won on the ocean or ON the
land. They felt with the 1cenest distress, what
ever disaster befel us. No, sir, repeat it, neg
lect, injury itself, cannot ALLEVIATE the affccti-
ons Of the West from this Government. They
cling to it, to their best, their greatest, their
first hope. You may impovcrish them, reduce
them to rum, by the mistakes of YOUR policy,
and you cannot drive them from you. They do
not complain of the expenditure of the public
disbursement. But put it TO your candor, if
you ought net, by generous and national poll
CIV, to mitigate, if not prevent the evils result
ing from the perpetual transfer ofthc circulating
medium of the West to the East. One million
and halfo dollars annually, is transferred for
the public lands alone; and almost every dollar
goes, like him who goes to dcath-to bourne
from which no traveller returns. In ten years
it will amount to fifteen milions i'm twenty to
but viii not pursue the appalling results
Of Observation-Disclosures who believe that
these vast sums are supplied by the emigrants
from the East, labor under great error. There
was time when the tide Of emigration from the
East bore along with it the means to effect the
purchase of the public domain. But that tide
has, in great measure, now stopt. And as popu-
aton advances farther & fartherwest, 1t will en-
tirely cease. Thegreatest migrating states in the
Union, at this time, are Kentucky first, Ohio
next, and Tennessee. The emigrants from
those states carry with them, to the states and
territories lying beyond them, the circulating
medium, which, being invested III the purchase
of the public land, is transmitted to the points
where the wants OF government require it. If
this dcliheratmg and cxhausting process we're
inevitable, it must he borne with manly forti-
tudc. But we think that a fit exertion of the
powers of this government would mitigate the
evil. We believe that the government incon-
testbly possesses the constitutional power to
execute such internal improvements as are cali
cd for by the good of the whole. And we appeal
TO voir equity, TO your parental regard, to your
enlightened policy, TO perform the high and
beneficial trust thus sacredlv reposed. am
sensible of the delicacy of the topic to which
have reluctantly adverted, in consequence of the
observations of the honorable gentleman from
Virginia. And hope there will be no miscon-
ccption of my motives in dwelling upon it. A
wise and cOnsIderate government should antic-
pate and prevent rather than waite for the ope-
ration Of causes of discomfort.
Let me ask Mr.. Chairman, what has this go.
vcrdmcnt done on the great subject Of Internal
Improvements, after so many years of its exist
ence, and with such an inviting field before it ,
You have made the Cumberland road only
Gentlemen appear TO have considered that a
western road. They ought TO recollect that
not one stone has yet been broken, not one spadd
of earth has been yet removed in any Western
State. The road begins in Maryland and it
terminates at Wheeling. 1t passes through
the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and vir-
gina. All the direct benefit of the expenditure
of the public money on that road, has accrued
to those three states Not one cent iii any
Western State. And yet we have had 10 beg,
entreat, supplicate you, session after session, to
grant the necessary appropriations to complete
the road. have myself toiled until my powers
have been exhausted and Frustrated to prevail
on you to make the grant. We were acluated
to make these exertions for the sake of the col
lateral benefit only to the West that we might
have a way by which we honld be able to CONT
nueand maintain an afIectionate intercourse with
our friends and brethren-tllat we might have
a way to reach the Capitol of our country, and
al.
10 consult and minglc with yours in the advance
mont If Tho ,,at;op,J ,Lo