Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-02-20

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Inc state governments would, in far degree,
be less Liable than the general government, to
einoark IN projects OF improvement, which would
afford inadequate returns the capital invested;
anu TINS was after all the test of the general asst
was OF tho particular advantage of undertakings
oil tins description. The gentleman from Penn
syivana, indeed, who brought in the bill, (Mr.
Hemphlli, } had pushed his argument to the ex-
teht OF denial ofthc general application of this
test' FOR liis own part, Mr.. Archer, knew Of
none winch could be better substituted for it /;
ara Inc was in favor of retaining over the subject
OF Internal Improvement, the jurisdiction of that
authority, by which the test was most likely to
be applied and respected. The state govern
tnents were not only best qualified, from the
considerations which had hecu stated for the ex-
ercise OF the jurisdiction, but the general 60
vernmcnt laborcd under absolute disqualifica-
ton forit How was it possible for this govern
Hent, Ill remote extrcuutics of the Union, in
Missouri or Louisiana, to discriminate, advanta-
gaousiy, tie objects and sites of works of Inter-
nal Improvement or to exert safe and ccoun-
meal superintendent over the various and
complicated subjects of their execution, admin
lstratIon, and preservation Nor did the ineyi-
table insnEcicncy and unskilfulness of its exer-
cise, form the most decisive objection to this
!n,iction in the government of the Union. II
d.
cauatc knowledge and sympathy with the inter
csts 10 he affected, considerations of very differ
cnt Character would usurp their place, and de-
teinnc the character ofthe exercise ofthc func-
ton. twas easy to perceive that all the evil
influences which belonged to free, and those
Witch were peculiar to federal government.
temporary excitemcnts, party feelings, local in
forests, views derived from relation TO the pro-
bablc results of elections for the Presidency.
would have an unrestricted scope for operation.
Authority, then, on the part of The general 60
verr;ncnt, over the subject of internal improve
rnent, was neither conductive TO the advance
ment OF lis interests nor in any view desirable.
But, was the authority confidcd This was
the 'Hq'Rry properly engaging attention in the
discussion, and to which Mr.. Archer proceeded
to address himself The first remark which il
suggested arose from the fact of the omission of
an ailcsloa to the subject of the power in the
discussions Of equally largo and various cha
racter whichntroduccdt the Constitution. There
were TIC strongest motives to this allusion, if
the existence OF the power had been contempla-
ted, on the part both of the friends and the ad-
rersa,2eS OF the adoption of.tl,e Constitution-
The advocates would have found a topic of eulo-
gy Inthe opposed beneficial character of the o.
pcratioE u the power and their adversaries a
subject no less fruitful of rcproach in its en-
croachment on the reserve of municipal authori
t. to the states Yet, as far as Mr.. Archer was
advised, neithc. zeal norjealousy, nor the SARA
city OF the largest speculative discussion, had
INDUCED any surmlse of the concession of such
q power. The inference, from omission of \
characterize peculiar, was too decisive to be re-
Eisted. For the source of the omission, indeed
it was easy TO account. 1t was to be found in
the want OF affinity of the power to the charac.
ter OF the government. To the character of a
league OF Association like the old confederation
"a power like this, acting by distributiye
mode OF operaton, on the particular and several
interests oihe parties to the Association, was not
uncongenial. But the principal design of the
change to a more social character of the govern.
ment, was TO supersede this mode ofthe operation
GIFTS authority, by one which, in form as well as
object, should be national that is TO say. aliapt-
ed to the character of an integral community.
In the existing form of the national authority,
there remained no warrant for its cxertion. in
any other mode. The sources Of this authority,
and the modes of its organization, continued TO
be principally federal, but its operation was re-
latiye, exclusively, to the Union, as distinct.
Independent, integral community. A power o.
yer the subject of internal improvement, exert
ed by the general government, could not sus-
tain this test of national operation. No work
OF improvement, answering to the description of
internal, affected the interests of the Union in
its integral artificial capacity as a political COM
munity. The beneficial effects, even Of the
most important works of improvement, purelu
internal, were confined to parts and quarters of
the Union. 1t was true, indeed, from the inse-
parable connexion of general with particular
prosperity that works of this description, in con-
ducing to the prosperity of the parts severally,
mustcxcrt indirectly, favorable influence on
tl,o ipfo If Tho
ence was cxertcd by works of this character in
foreign states, with which we had commercial
intercourse, the promotion of which, with equal
reason, might be brought within the operation of
the national authority. 1t was only direct re-
lation, however, to national interest which could
be attended with this effect, and internal i'm
provcments could not pretend to relation of
this character.
BIT the power in question, was not only con-
demncd by its want of affinity to the character
of the government, but, by an inference equally
decisive, from the unpropitiOus tendency of its
influence. A power, which could not be ex-
erted without an impairment of the harmonious
operation of tho government could, with no
propriety, be attributed to federal authority,
dependant in peculiar manner upon the as
cord ofits members for stability. But a power
over internal improvement, in the general go
Fcrn1nent, was otthIs character. IbeCaDaCIttes of
the different quarters of the Union for improve
mcDt being unequal, their respective Interests.
in the exercise OF the power, would partake of
this character Of inequality.-There were even
instances and conditions of circumstances, in
which these interests presented character of
conduct. The opposition Of the various routes
proposed for the connection Of the Eastern and
Western waters, afforded an example. Could
jurisdiction over subjects of interest so inccn-
gruous and Earring, fail in the propagation of
jealousy and discord? Political communities,