Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-02-12
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
MIR. CLAY'S SPEECH.

| was much surprised at Mr.. Claws speech
upon the subject of" Internal improvements
mot at the course that gentleman took. for
that had long been anticipated but at the ar
Suments he resored TO, TO establish his premi
ses.-Ihey all go, with the exception of one,
tn shew the policy of giving the power To the
general government, rather than 10 prove that
the right IS already vested.-Take the instance
of the Mississippi River-He saws there are
states and territories Interested in thr
navigation of that river, and yet there is little
probability ofits navigation bein.. improved
ny any one or more of them.-This NAV he
true-but does he argue from this circum-
stance, that the improvement of the Mississp
pi ever entered into the heads of the trainers
OF The Constitution Did the Convention
f0resee the present state of things Did thew
ever contemplate the time when the whole III
that mighty river, from its source to its mouth.
was to flow through the soil of the United
States Is IT probable they would make a
constitutional provision for an event which was
so remote, SD uncertain, Of which the most ne
netfatlng eye had but an imperfect glimpse
again, the regulating commerce with for
elgn nations, and between the several STATES. y
mas reference TO the terms, the conditions
upon which it may be carried on. and not the
way the amount Of duty TO he paid upontheir
importation, perfectly regardless of The man
ner oil their importation. cargo of domes-
tic manufactured tin might be yended in Vir-
gInia upon the same terms whether n was
brought to Virginia in a ship, steam boat.
or pedlar's Wagon
There some plausihiIity in Mr. Claws rea
sODInS upon the establishment of Post OTT;cse
and Post Roads. If, however, we refer back
TO the time of framing the Constitution. and
bear IN mind the object of establishing posi-
oihces and post roads, il will be EASY TO nrove
mat no power was given over the soil. mn
right OF state sovereignty impaired bv this re
Sulaton At the time the Constitution vvas
formed, there was scarcely any section Of tbe
u states through which there were such
pmOhc roads laid out under state authority
These roads lead from one state 10 anoiber
rom one city to another in the sane state
and from courthouse To courthouse Hence.
there was no necessity ofconfrrrine that nov
er, as the mails were principally Intended for
the mercantile and pnpUlous parts Of the
country, and not for the Wilderness BIT
above ALL Is It possible. that the Copstitt,tion
should leave so important power as that oc
opening roads and cutting canals to be derived
by construction for such subordinate ohicrt
as a road or canal; when IL has with ali the
care OF circumspeci jealousy pointed out the
only and precise mode ny which the II. States
may acquire right to the soil, ia any state, al
though the object is cf The last Importance To-
The state and IN fulGIment Of a positive
duty epioined upon the Government -
The Government Of the United STATES is
charged to protect each state from invasion.
To accomplish this desirable end, and to eye
cute this imperative duty, it is necessary 10
erect forts, SC. How is this to be done
or can II be dune regardless Of the state will :
NO. The right of fine iudfVidual l. fr,f 90 L..
obtained the sovereignty Of the state ccdcd,