Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-01-21

ed, that he dcspaired Of adding any thing TO that
| Knowledge of il which they already possessed.
Indeed he considered the views of policy which
he held on this subject as having been vindica-
ted and maintained BY the Ifousc at the last
session Yet he would say thus much: that he
considered the question:, as 20 the existence and
| the exercise of power III the general Ovcrn
ncnt to carry into effect system Oi internal
improvements, as amounting 20 the question
whether the union of these states slould be pre-
served or not--a question which involved the
dearest hopes and the brightest prospects Of our
country. Asto the opinion, that the carrying
on of these improvements belonged to the states
in their individual and separate character, it
might as well be expected that The states should
perform any other duty which appcrtaned TO the
/ general government You have no more right,
observed NTr. G.. TO ask the individual states To
,ialxe internal improvements for the general
reifyrc. than YOU have to ask them to make
for the general welfare, to build Qualifications
for the general defence, because some Of them
NAV happen to have peculiar local interest in
either. They are no more bound to do any one
of the duties which pertain 10 the general gov
crnment than to do any other one of the duties
winch pertain To it. Sir IT is our province, not
theirs. 1t is indeed, true that the interests of
the whole and of one Of the part, NAV be coin
grcc--nay, to scch degree may induce a
State Government TO undertake duty which
more properly belong, 10 Congress. But such
cases are rare, aud such effect has seldom
| happened. One instance indeed may he point
| cd out-that of the grea! Canal III the Statc of
| New York. When that state applied to this
! House for aid III her great and spirited UNDER
taking, it was my opinion that she ought to re-
ccve it-and il is now my opinion that for w hat
she had advanced i'll the completion Of that no.
bic enterprise, she has ut this hour just claim
upon the General Government. But cases of
this kind always will be rarc--t is vain to ex-
pect that any State will feel sufficient interest
in any object OF Improvement (unlcss such rs
are purely local in their character) as TO induce
her to make nh appropriation of her individual
resources for its accomplishment.
Mr. Clay thus concluded long speech:
With respect to the Hon. Member from South
CGro'iua Mr.. M'Duife) whom was delighted
on a former occasion; TO find cooperating with
the friends of internal Improvement, must say
that my delight was only equacd by the regret
now feel AT his opposition to the present bill.
lie tells us. that the West is filled with cnigrants
from the Eastern states, that her inhabitants are
but one part of the game family, spread ON the
eastern and western side Of the mountains
that all the various and fond recollectiOns which
constitute SO many ties aud safeguards, to ce-
ment the common union. But, need remind
that gentlemen, that other generations are here
after to spring APPROXIMATIONS who will find
the tomhs OF their ancestry, not upon the shores
OF the Atlantic, but III the valley of the Niissis-
slpPi and the Ohio. On them no such ties will
exert their power-no such recollcctionS spread
their healing influence. Is il not then the duty
of the General Government to bind our popula-
ton by other and more lasting ties' And, after
MI, what is it that is asked from Congress, not
only at this session, but at all future sessions,
for these 30 miles ot the great National high
way: Less than the cost of single frigate--
not twice the sum which will bmld those ten
sioops of war which are now called for, and
which appreheud will be required for the de-
fence OF our commerce against the depredations
OF piracy-this is all that is asked. Yet are we
told OF the rayenous voracity of the West Will
pennsylvania decline an appeal, not to her gen.
crosby but to her Justice? Is it fairs il gem
crous--is it just-after she has enjoyed the ex-
penditure OF more than million of the public
money, on the Cumberland road--after houses
have sprung up, and villages been formed, and
settlements multiplied upon her soil, in conse-
quence of that expenditprc--I ask. is it gener-
Gus, To say, the moment the road leaves the
limit of that territory, that she will oppose its
further progress? But, if neither justice nor
generosity will prevail with her, let me remind
her delegation Of the interest OF that state
What is this road but an extension of the road
from Philadelphia to Pittsburg? And whittier
Willis branches lead but to Bedford to Carlisle,
and downward, from thence, through all the
ncighbouring towns Sir, do hope that the
gentlemen from Pennsylvania will Bot oppose
this BILL know, indeed, that there DID once
exist prejudice against the Cumberland road,
i'll cue city ofthat state: bur feel satisfied that
ere now the good sense which so emncntly dis
tnguishes that city, has prevailed against the
prejudice arising from a local interest; by which,
for a moment, it was clouded. May not APP
peal to the whole House! We have a great
trust-we have also great duty to perform
Let us lend our hearty cooperation for the
common good of those who sent u.s.
What shall we from the west say to our con-
stItutents when we return home, and they ask
us, what have you done for the Cumberland
road: Must we answer, ''no money, no money!"
1t they then ask us what was done for the De-
lapare and Chesapeake canal, must we saw,
30! there was some money for that-about
twice the sum we asked for the Cumberland
road!" Sir, we are men, and we have the feel
, 'Rgs of men. But will not longer detain tic
committee on,ap object so simple and PROPOSE
ton so self1egjdeDt as the expediency Of tits
MEASURE Leu me ratner anticipate your pa
rental kindness-your paternal feelings, ia pro-
noting design so intimately connected, will
say, with the safety and best interests OF our
country.
The question was then taken on filing the
blank with $4,000 dollars, and decided in the
atlirmatlve-ayes DC, noes 86.
The committee then rose aud reported the
bill; and the amendments made in committee of
tue whole, having been concurred in
Mr. Jennings of Indiana, rose to propose an
amendment to the bill. lie did not defain The