The central gazette. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1820-1827, 1825-01-29

ilS0 post foaUs-
These pretences were so discordant. SO
manifcstly strained and 20 ced into the service,
and one might say without much danger OF de-
parting from truth, so absurd, that the speech
.2r MIR Holmes Of Name, and Mr.. Barbour,
Of Virginia. in the Senate, were Triumphant in
point of gument.
On the 10th Feb. the bill to obtain the eces.
ssrv plans and estimates in relation to roads &
canals, was carried into the House of Repre-,
Sc tatives. ) 10 sc --l6 member absent Sew
en- out OF "a from y York, vo:ci against ii ::
South Caro!na, voted fou, and four. one mem
her absent. Among the minor objections to
this bill, were. LIST. That it contemplated no
equitable p, inrple Of cxpcnding the public
money neither in any ratio OF taxation. or OF
rcprt sentation Cd That the states which had
already meritorio,sly expended their domestic
rev cnmes in public improvements. Ike New
York and South Carolina. were 70, that very
reason to be lett out, and their taxes approp,i
ated to supply and make good the parsimoni
Gus or negligent de ficienccs of the states who
had done nothing for themselves
The prctenccs of deriving this assumed an
thority, on which the bill in question was bas-
cd from the military clause, or the regulating
commerce clause. or the post road clause,
were seen to be not merely weak, but ;arcical
Which of them. for instance. will apply to
MIR. Calhouns froIic To Deep Creek. on the
top of the Allegheny. Who can read the ac-
count of his urney for this purpose with any
gravity, In the House or Representatives a
broader position was taken, viz That Con-
eress had night to pass any measure condu-
Gre to the General iveifa,e."; This is the true
and only ground which furnishes any thing
like defence of the bin in question, or that
can be argued with due seriousness
Nlr MDufie's speech on this occasion. in
favor Of the bill, comprises every thing that
Gao he urged in its defence, and was, bey ond
all donht the most able and eloquent support
Of that measure which had been heard in Ell
ther house.
We now come to the broad and ancient line
OF discrimination between the ederal and the
republican parties; between the advocates for
consolidated, national Cover nment. and the
defenders of state rights and limited powers.
From the very opening OF the debates in the
convention of 1877, through every period Of
political discussion, to the present day. the po
silion taken by the friends Of the internal i'm
p, ov emcnt hill in the last con gress. has been
the distinctive, the characteristic. the exclu-
slvcly approp' late doctrine o. the consoIilat-
ing or federal party For If congress may
dopt anv measure or pass any act, which. to
A majority Of that body may seem conducive
to the General Welfare, what can they not do?
" h0 is to limit them, or lrhere is the limita-
ton? Nj the barriers of the on-titntion are
thrown down; all state rights are Frustrated
as of minor consideration: al the powers
which the convention refused to grant, are
claimed over again as OF ri mt; all the conclu.
sons that are dclmcible rom this constitution,
being compact for mutual benefit between
coniedcrated states, conceding 80 much power
| ard no more, rs was necessary 20 the purpose
Of the con!rd Grafton, are at one breath annul-
led and annih i.ated
This was the position taken nv Col Alex
andcr Hamilton, in the debates in convention:
this was the position taken by him in his re-
port ON manufactures: this was the position
| assumed BY the ultra federal committee Of the
| House Of Representatives OF 1907: no other
position is necessary to convert these United
States into one national government, under
one national chief. & one hereditary senate, as
Mr. John Adams urged on Messrs TAYLOR
| and Giles No; not one The warmest friend
| Of the Holy Alliance, would not desire SAFER or
broader ground to stand upon. II congress
NAV enact whatever it may deem expedicnt
| or the general wei are, its power is unlimited
| absolute and despotic.
| Mr. John q Adams, Mr. j. c Calhoun
and his par,izans, assumed this ground. The
| former gentleman has boasted OF being the
| first person to urge it, hut he was mistaken
| The honor belongs to Col, Alexander Bamil.
/ ton. The following letter, however. Of MIR J
! O Adams, will serve as proof Of his zeal in
| the cause and furnish some elcgancics Of ex
preston and samples of moderation in stile,
| that NAV be inserted among the beauties o! his
| diplomatic correspondence.
| Tile 0yiniHR # ohnQaiRcy .+ddns. on tile sub
| jec IF Internal improvement
| sThe question of the power Of congress Ia
| authorize the making OF Internal Improve.
nents. is. III other words. question whether
! the people Of this Union, in forming their com
mon social compact. as avowedlv for the pur.
! pose of promoting their general welfare have
| performed their work in a manner so ine Gdhis
| si,,pd az to denv tbcnsri,c -, the means of bet
| tcring their own condition have two much
| respect for the intellect Of nv country 10 be-
| }cve l. The first object of human association
| is the improvement of the condition OF the as
| sociated Roads and Canals are among the
| most essential means Of improving the condi
| ton Of nations. and people, which should
| deliberately. by the organization Of it's au-
| thoriscd power, deprive itself OF the faculty. OF
| multiplying its own blessings, would be as
| wise as creator who should undertake TO con
s,ilu,e human hcing without heart 70.
| mn National CRISIS.
| The following are the remarks Of the Rich.
mond Enquirer. ON the above quotations.
These doctrines may he calculated for the
| meridian Of Ohio--but surely not Of Virginia
'tFe shall not examine the opinion OF Mr.
| Adams as TO Ioads and canals on'v-but we
would throw out few suggestions as TO the
main principle itself. Can Mr. Adams he a
Friend to limited construction, when he rocs
thus fer tie tvhoicP Can one. who takes such
| broad grornh he considered as OF the old re.
/ publican school Of 93 and 90? Whatever pro
| notes 'thcir general accifnre'- whatever bet