Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-04-09

Still less imposing is the objection attempt
ed to be drawn from the constitution. The
government of the union proposes to apply its
funds to affecting such objects of internal i'm
provement as are necessary to accomplish the
purposes of its creation. Amongst other things
it is authorised 'to provide for the common
defence, and to promote the general welfare
by the exercise of certain specified general
powers, and such Incidental powers, as being
necessary to the efficient execution ofthe first
are not, either in the spirit, or the language
ofthe constitution, improper. The first ques-
ton then that presents itself, is, whether
roads and canals are necessary to the efficient
execution of the enumerated powers of the
general government The only concession
we ask on this subject is, what the widest VI
sionary in politics cannot hesitate to make, VIZ;
that in relation to its specified powers, the go
vernment of the United States IS supreme
and as a corrolary from this concession, we in
fer both the right and duty so to exercise these
powers, as to accomplish fully the purposes
for which they were granted; and that what
ever is done in accordance with this principle,
is, in the sense in which the term is used in
the constitution, necessary
II is in this sense then, that we ask whether
Roads and Canals are not necessary to the exc
cution of the military powers of the govern
ment' We readily admit that all its enume-
rated powers on this subject, may be execut'
| ed without the aid of Roads and Canals; but
we deny that they can be efficiently executed
| without them. Congress has power "to de-
clare war, and to raise and support armies" for
the purpose of providing for the common
defence, and promoting the general welfare;"
and there can be no doubt but that war may
be declared, and armies raised and supported
without either Roads or Canals-but, we as
sert most unhesitatngly, that neither the war
that is declared, nor the armies that are raised,
will ever ensure the stcommon defence" or
sthe general welfare" unless the general go
vernment be empowered to prosecute the one
with vigor, and to support the other with eco
nomv; and that ither can be effected with
out the fundamentally of Roads and Canals.
So too in relation to the post Office depart
ment The specified powers of the general
government on this subject, consist in the
simple authority 'to establish post offices and
post roads, But the mere exercise of such
an authority, would not effect any one of the
objects for which, in the preamble ofthe con-
stituton, it is said to have been given. The
right has accordingly been conceded to the
general government Of exercising, in connex-
ion with it, such incidental powers as were
necessary to make it effective; and post mas
tiers have been appointed-contracts for car
rying the mails entered into, and the most II
porous laws enacted for their protection in
their passage through the several States
BY the very same rule of construction, by
which these have prevailed, we claim also the
authority to make Roads and Canals, as ne
cessary to the cheap and efficient execution of
the duties appertaining to the post office es-
tabIishment-as indispensable to the accom-
plishment of the great purposes of common
defence and general welfare"-for which the
powers of this establishment were confided
exclusively to the general government.
We might go on to multiply arguments on
the subject, ad infnitum but we have SAID
enough to show the meaning of the word
Unnecessary" as it occurs in the constitution;
and to show also that it is sufficiently compre-
hensive to include the important powers ofin-
ternal improvement, claimed for the govern
ment; and we accordingly maintain the right
of the government to exercise them, unless
they can be shown to be prohibited. either
directly or indirectly, by the letter or by the
spirit Of the constitution.
As prospects ourselves, and all that part of
Virginia connected with us, either by friendly
or commercial relations, the question has
hitherto been an abstract one. 1t is now for
the first time, assuming practical shape,
and it is important that it should be correctly
decided With regard to the sentiments ola
great majority Of the state, we have no doubt.
They would cheerfully cooperate with the
general government in the great works to
which we have referred. Of the legislature,
however, we are not quite so sure. An effort
we know will be made to withhold the assent
of the state, on constitutional grounds, from
the execution, by the general government, of
any works within the limits of Virginia; and
constituted as the Legislature has been for
many years past, we are afraid the effort
would be successful. We trust, however,
that a timely correction will be applied; and
that those who have the power, and who have
yet deeper interest in the matter than our
selves, will take effectual means to guard a.
gainst an opposition, which, while 1t would
not effect the general plans of the govern
ment, might nevertheless deprive both Virgil
MIA and ourselves Of all participation in their
bapof,to