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

Hieaeou oi negative words, would have no res
tricion-it follows then, that general powers,
gwen I'm general words, may be exercised, I'M
less where restrained or limited by negative
words. Z" 10 provide for the common defence
and general welfare" to make all laws which
may be necessary and prOper-arc powers as
large and general as words could make them.
And how are they restrained Why, by mega
tive words or provisions in the Instrument, III a
great number of instances, among which arc
those relating to rights ofpersons, property, and
states, VIZ Private property shall not be ia
ken without just compensation, no bill of at
taindcr, or ex post facto law, shall be passed !;
the judicial power of the United States shall not
extend TO any suit against State. These with
many other negative provisions Of the instru-
rnent. restrain not only the power of Congress,
but that OF rdepartnents--and, most gener-
ally, from doing acts in themselves odIous, or
which would lead TO oppression: if Congress
should pass law to sue State, this law would
be dead letter. And why. Is it because the
/ right to do SO is taken away by particular emu
mcration of powers No. 1t is by ycrtue of
an express negative given TO such right. Mr..
-. said, he should not pretend to answer all the
objections usged by the opposition. His princi-
| pal view was, to pcrsuaGc himself that the Go
vern'ncnt among all liz strong and i,arl powers.
might safely and cosstitntonolly include some
OF the muniiicent and good ores. He honad we
were not forbidden 10 confer some blcssnrs
some solid and lasting evidences that the gencr-
al happiness ana prosperity is not entirely lc(,
out OF a system which it IS said more than any
other was designed to promote both He was
not now prepared to defend any power which,
IN It's tendency, should cn,,anger either personal
or state security and it would be in time 10
oppose the exercise of such an one when an on
portunity was offered fer it, That now con
tended Tor was, in his humble opinion. of an en-
tirey opposite character. lie should, there
fore, support it, as the first direct sicp IA
wards system which was irseparahly co,lncc-
ted with the wealth and happiness OF the Union
The situation of the West, MIR. G.. said. had
been often referred 10 in the course of the de-
bate, and, not unfrequently, for objects which
ught not, IN his opinion, to enter into this or
any other debate on this floor. He should con-
slider the West as an internal portion Of the u.
mon, as inseparabe from ii, and indispensable to
lt---nOt as the West on account of itself but as
giving IFS due share of power and importande to
| great Union, which would be less W Ithoet and,
of course, greater with it--a portion Of the u
Mon now an extreme, but which was shortly to
! form the great centre.
This portion of country, Mr.. G. said was
watered By some of the largest rivers in the
known world, embracing an extent, variety, and
fertility OF soil, not any where surpassed: with a
climate happily adapted TO the pursuits Of hus-
bandry or manufactures it is rapidly peopling,
and,wltiout including any its Southern pro-
Vnces, produces transportation, annually, more
than three millions, dollars value in products.
| Its rivers, which form the channels of transpor-
tatIon, unite their waters with the ocean at one
place only, and that at distance from the At
lantic cities, almost eguel to VOYAGE to Europe.
and more than equal to one 10 many of her pro-
vlnces. Instead OF rivers which flow East, to
facilitate an intercourse, the mountains inter
pose their barrier; all these give indications of
nf6 o,,J
vcrs which are the principle channels of trans
portation, swell periodically, and arc then most
| favorable to the object. This crowds upon their
waters all the products at once; they all have
but one direction, and simultaneously meet at
the same market; this is situated n an unheal-
thy point, III low latitude, fatal not only to the
products, but the lives of those engaged in their
transportation. These circumstances, its unheal-
thy cimate-its tendency to destroy the pro-
| duct-the quantity necessarily thrown in at one
| period-all tend to render it the most improper
and unfit and dangerous market in the world !;
to say nothing OF the immense loss of property
which occurs annually: that Of human lfe is an
| alarming evil to the West-there is scarcely a
district or neighbourhood whichdoes MOI COZ tain
the widows and orphans of those who have fallen
victims to the necessity of seeking this market ;
and this the only dangerous one in the Union.
The business of transportation in the West is
necessarily in great measure confined to the
farmers the price is too low to warrant the en-
ployment Of many agents in the transportation
| The growers arc obliged to construct cheap ye-
| hicles, and go in person to effect a sale. Dur
| ing the period Of the European wars, the price
was such as afforded rich inlucement for the
enterprise now it is frequently less than the ex-
| pense of Transportation. And vet the citizens,
incitel By that enterprise which is SO much the
character of an American, whom no difficulties
can discourage over bad roads and dangerous
rivers, from the bosom of wilderness, he still
seeks market, distant almost as Europc-not
from choice, but necessity. But, while he is
compelled to seek it, it must not be forgotten,
that his enterprise and industry must constant
~ languish. Another circumstance, more APP
plicable to this portion of the Union than &c
most others, was the fall of its banking insti,u
tons, an almost total drain of its spece-whilC
the East preserves considerable abundance
and will any one pretend t,:at the West is les,
industrious and economical than the East'
These Mr.. G.. said, were not, 70 his mind, To-
cal evils and local and sectional complaints.
, They were all sectional objects of the first
magnitude, and those which grew out Of n1tion-
al and general circuHstauces.---Wha hat is the
remedy for tiIems A Union of the waters OF
= SusquehsnDa and Ohio, of the Lakes and
Ohio removes all these evils; it prosrates the
mountain barrier it converts an unsafe and I'M
, healthy and deadly market to safe and enrich
ing one; it raises enterprise, it diIiIses industry
and wealth not locally, not TO the West alone
but TO the whole nation-to Georgia and Maine
as well as TO the banks Of Missouri, and in cOua
proportion. II must be known, that the net
products Of the West, sell for but little rnort
than one-haif Of the price of the same product,
in the East; at the same time tine citizen Of the
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