Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-03-15

Internal Lnproremenis.-W feel no difficulty IN
| replying to the following communication, so far as
It'll addressed personally us, and in vowing tiat
our opinions on the question OF the power of Con-
sresS to make roads and canals. differ tOtJ ciD from
those avowed by President Adams in his inaugural
Address. Still pleased at the Presidents
trankmcss in declaring himself on that important
question.
I'VE have always considered this pOwef as more
Formidable than any other claimed by, OF conceded
Fto Congress, not excepting that of waging war
FROM the lace OF Gus country, Roads aud canals
may be projected to All endless extent and the pow
er OF receiving and appropfating money! if tho&irht
to construct belong to the General Government must
be as boundlcss as the room for its exercise 1t is
impossible to believe that the fathers of tine Consti-
tuition they intended grant this gigantic power
would have left it to be Implied as an incident to
some other gtveu power. We believe its exercise,
by Congress, thereore,to be in violation of the Con-
stnuiion-and we believe further, that it would be
dangerous by amendments, to confer any such enor-
nous power on the Federal Government We would
therefore oppose the exercise of this power under
present circumstances, and equally oppose every al
tempt tolegitmatc it by amendment to the Con-
stitution. Good roads good things" but the
preservation Of the sovcregntes of tue states, the
fnegruy of the constitution, and the liberty of the
people, are better.
But are we for this difference Of opinion on one
topic, however important, to abjure the support
which we have honestly yielded to Mr.. Adams from
the beginning: Whilst "Heury discovers in these
opinions OF MI. Adams good cause for opposition to
him, Will he be good enough to designate that indi-
vdual among the candidates for the Presidency
who does not entertain the same opinions? Was
1t Nh. Crawford He drafted and supported
tie bill, authorisiug a canal TO connect the Che
sapeake and Delaware Bays. Was il Mr.
Clay His opinions are too well known, to
require any illustration " as it Gen. Jackson
lie has no fixed political opinions of any sort aud
has voted in the Senate of the United States for eve
w measure of the kind. Out of the State of Virgil
MA, tsere IS not single Politician of any distnc-
ton, bat lavOrs this exercise Of poverty Cong
no. not one Why then is Mr.. Adams to be neld up
10 oppfoOrium, as its peculiar champion: Ile by
Pocrisy which has becn aud practised this sub
ject, Is detestable. The Crawford party are seek
ing at this moment, to rally an opposition to Mr..
Adams administratiou,on the gouud of his opinions
concerning roads and canals, whilst MI. Crawford
himself, and many Of his supporters, McLane Van
buren, &c. are themselves, equally solicitOus for
its exercise. The JaCksonIans, that party who have
no opuIons, who for roads and tariffs as it suits
the personal views Of its chiei, probably will take
the same stand. 1t is an unprineipled opposition
all hands
The truth is, that the question Of making roads
aud canals is settled. vast majority Of the peo-
PIE Of the United States support it even in Nirgi-
nia,"e do believe that great majority of the peoDe
are for H. good turnpike addresses itselfto then
senses and interests: the abstract, constitutional
objections to their construction, are too intangible,