Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-01-27

bin.
Mr.. McDufie's views As to the progress Of
intemalimprovement may be satisfactory to
himself, but we can assure him, they are not In
accordance with the feelings Of the nation
No one supposed that the appropriation Of go
600 dollars to surveys, &c. was designed to de-
lay the commencement, or to retard the pro-
gress of works, whose intimate connection
with the future defence and the general vel
fare of the nation was already ascertaned.-
And we apprehend, there are but few OF the
real friends of internal improvement, who
would not be startled at the idea Of postponlng
for ten years, asystem, for which the nation is
already prepared.
Roads and canals are as essential to the cheap
and efficient defence of the country, as FORTH
cations. On the score ofeconomy, indeed we
doubt whether the whole line of Notifications
on the sea.board, would save more to the nation,
in any future wars, than the single canal be-
tween the Chesapeake and Delaware bays
And should such work as this, in relation
to the national importance of which, not
doubt has been expressed, be destroyed, mere
ly because general system has not yet been
devised, embracing, as far as possible, the real
and imaginary interests ofevery section OF the
country. The difficulties in the way OF Or
ganising a system, are such, that II they
do not ultimately defeat il, viii probably pre-
vent, its adoption, at least fol many years to
come; and when adopted, unless it should as
sumo sectional rather than national charac-
ter, it will be likely to encounter in its execu-
ton, more powerful numerical opposition,
than the great and important works, which are
now pressing themselves on the nation.
To the friends of internal improvement then
even those who are disposed to push the
system into every recess and corner of the
country-we should say, beware Of his crasti-
not wait for the exhibition of any
general views, or the adoption Of any general
plan. Whenever an opportunity offers, ofex-
ecuting work of acknowledged national inn
portance, whether it be to establish line of
internal communication, parallel with the o.
cean, or to connect the east and the west, by
roads or by canals, avail yourselves ofit-Fght
and win your battles in detail-One success
lead, inevitably to another-1he completion Of
the more important works, will open the way,
and furnish the resources for those Of minor
consequence-and, in few short years, We
shall have the satisfaction of beholding the
commerce of the States, relieved from the ma
tural difficulties by which it is now surround
ed; intelligence, both public and private,
with facility and dispatch, to
every portion of the country, and the future
defensive operations Of the nations placed
on footing as cheap, as they will be efficient.
Morris there any thing in the condition of
Dur finances, or in the extent Of our debt, to
deter us from the immediate commencement
Of this great and important work. The exam
pie of New-York is invaluable to us. That
yreat and powerful State did not hesitate to
assume debt exceeding 1000, 600 of dollars,
or the purpose of developing its abundant,
but neglected resources: and its effects on
her prosperity, as detailed in the message OF
Gov. Clinton, are almost incredible. The
Erie canal, in the very first year Of its opera
hon, has yielded upwards Of ten per cent. on
the capital employed in its execution.
Should the United States then, with induce
ments infinitely more powerful, and with re-
infinitely more abundant, than New
York, hesitate to commence, at once, those
parts ola general system Of internal improve
ment, which are calling for assistanoe' "Time-
" disbursements, to prepare for danger, fire.
quently prevent" in the language of Wash
ington, "much greater disbursements, to re-
pelit." We confidently ask Mr.. McDufie
then, if it would not be better even to increase
our debt, than by postponing works essential
to our defence, risk the necessity Of hereafter
mourning debts, ten times the amount, OF what
would now insure the execution ofevery thing
demanded by the interests Of the country
But, in reality, no increase of debt is necessary
The utmost that can be asked, is the delay Of
q year or two, in the discharge Of our present
debt. And even this, perhaps, is more than
viii be required. 1t is, by no means certain,
that the resources, at the command Of the 60
vernment, viii not be amply sufficient Mr..
Crawford estimates surplus, for the next ten
years, of 5000, 900 of dollars and it is fair to
infer, that had proper allowance been made
for the probable increase of population, and
the consequent increase of production and
consumption, his estimated surplus would have
been swollen to three or four times its present
amount.
There is nothing, therefore, in the character
ofthe national debt, tc alarm the friends of in
ternal mprovement-there is nothing in it.
that ought to delay them, for a single moment,
in the commencement of their operations
And we cannot helm hoping that Mr.. McDuffie