Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-11-07

mont on state rights. lie admits that the main power
'smAihiained by conStructon-why he stops halfway,
Hno excludes the incident, requires explanation
w h submission, it would to be a sticking the
'tUer and 4 surrender of the substaucc-an attempt
20 establish distinction without i difference winch
"'uNS total want OF confidence in the principle m
sisted on, and gives manifest advantage IFS adverse
RES power 70 construct roads and canals, necessa
NY implies power 10 repair and preserve them, and
INC ChV'e OF thu 4 necessary nciden--the
S'ca'e includes tie less, ami The acccasary follows the
principal.
The course pursued iy Col. Benton in relation 10
this subject. considered as n question OF eXpedency,
VIII be i1ind be strkiheiy AT variance with his
conte'npated reform ia the management of the Ma
tonal finances, and his pretended attachment TO econo
my IN The public expenditures. real econmist
would suppose, that, after road canal construc
tsd ~ t!:c common expense IF ALL those who ENJOY its
dement's should keep II in repair. Foreign commerce
pays, ~ Tie name Of tonnage duty, iRposts and Gus.
toi5, (which other t!,au tolls, not only
io Inc creation and preservation of its facIIies, but
ce'"ys all the expenses Of government; supports
cTs0i' and IS rapidly paying of the National debt
N1'y II IS nor too much to require, at internal COM
ercc should pay for the preservation Of its facilities
"''er Uley are provided At The Nations expense Even
"resPondence between Tie citizens is taxed, only
10 pay for the means afforded, but TO enable members
"i Congress TO transmit cart loads of pamphlets and
eiectoneering speeches. 20 suberve their private pur-
poses without private expense. The Post Office esta,
b'nent is made 10 support itself by taxing letters:
why should not roads be kept in repair by tolls, An ar
tempt has already been made by Col Benton to produce
oNciement against the Adinuisra ton, which, lie saws
r., &c
cTcumna' gaIing the globe, and yaulting against the
heavens to lind out objects ofeXpeniturc.n He even
SEXES on The amount of the National debt, topic
OF dcca'natioa and dcnunciation Yet he continually
advocates measures omutply demands on the trea-
EGFy and diminish its his plan of keeping the
pubhc roads IN repair is example of the one, and
hlS scheme for giving away the public lands of the
other.
No greater amount of public money can, with any
rr"Priey, be applied TO mpro venent than will
70 sGic'ent Tor the gradual advancement of the system
If 1t insisted that there shall be additional appropria
uons tor Keeping them in repair there is danger that
shall be forced TO abandon them altogether, resort to
iherhai taxation direct tax and eXCise TO pay off the
public debt The roads and nails now in contamination
- National works, will not only require large sums Of
money TO construct heH but the expenses their pre-
sSfVaton VIII increase with The progress OF the work,
aad INC whole when completed, will probably require
'H less thaH million OF dollars, annually, TO keep them
IL repair Ii those who t n for their own piea-
sure or rro we're required, Ike those who enjoy the
oeneht OF the Post Oicc establishment, to pay small
tax or toll repairs might be made without aid from the
Na!0nai treasury Ehus there might be saved in
rs short tune sum equal to the expenses of tie Pana-
ma tnissio2, nov mach complained of, by Opposition
orators aud editors; few years the annual saving
would cqnai the whole xpe,lsc of our foreign inter
course including coming enCies--and would, erentua
~ equal The expenses Of the legislature, executive
Judicial and diplomatic departments Surely it IS better
at once to resort TO practicable and such will
certainly be adopted by the states, if the National gov
CThiicat Is compelled 10 abandon the system. When
states, corporations, Construct roads or canals tolls
are cVed moi merely 10 keep up repairs but pur-
poses OF revcnueCunseQ ncnliv they oull be double
perhaps !oGfoId what ii woud be necessary 10! the &c
neral Government 10 act
we informed b, Colonel He;tol in IN, sDec,.i,
on Ire oil to gaiuate the price C public lands. that
ae National debt rs Increased instead Of diminished,
Tor II was seventy six millions at the end of the itevo-
iuii"n ana 81 Is eighty millions nor This statement,
ih The mere letter, Is true; but, ii taken is spirit,
and IN connection with tie whole tenor Of tie dis.
course 1T IS evidently designed impute the Admi-
nsraiIon gross mismanagement of tho public finances
has ed
without tae intervention of any to Justify it-an
art!iIce certainly unworthy the statesman, and unbe
coming any man having sinister designs: bat his
iect Is to persuade the people ofte cy,lence of disor-
dcfs IN tie Government, which cannot be corrected
without tue aid OF his hercuIeaD powers aud TO effect
Isis purpose nothing LEFT uncssaycd. no part of the
public Debt has been Contracted 10y the present admin.
istfat0n; Oh tie contrary, during the tee first guar
of the year 1873, upwards OF eleven millions OF dollars
were paid on account Of The principal and interest On
He fs day Oi October, l3S5 tio only portion remain
ing unpaid OF the Revolutionary debt thirteen mil
lions two hundred and ninety thousand two hundred
and lry ore dollars ana forty five cents The residue
OF the pubic debt contracted subsequent 60 the of
January, 1879, being the debt, and the loans made
to pay the Florida claims, under the treaty with Spain }
winch remained unpaid on the Isl Of October 1888,
was sixty millions six hundred ani eighty nine thou
sand three hundred and SIX dollars and tsentv-seven
cents So that sixty three millions of the Revolution
afy debt, the whole OF the public debt contracted be
tween tic years 53} AMI 1872, including the Louis-
ana stock and about half Of that contracted since
lGl2 have been pa! oil, besides the Onc hundred and
thirty six millions Of dollars paid in ntcroSt!n
ihat more has not been paid, =, perhaps, owing "a
thcr 70 The cyorioUs OF such politicians Mcssrs. Cal
noun end Benton, than any other Both have
contributed largely 10 ay isI pcudiuros of pubic mo
Ecy; c orc, by lis Contracts; tc other by his votes
and speeches, especially where iaYOrCs could be pro
fitted. The first Secretary at Var, made he cele-
bra'ed ZIP KaP contract by Which the u. States lost
many thousand do!ius. The economist coutrived
e. ALLOW hic-rs. johrsons OF Kentucky, upwards OF
t7O hundred thousand dollars legTl to five hundred dol
Iats, % upwards, man sor sc transportation OF troops
from Belle F"1taIuc tp Council Bluffs, distance Of
aboH' iTc hundred tncs.f Tie latter rs Serfalor al
vo'aIrs measures avowcdlY for the sole purpose Of
spending 'Torcm'rr"ft money aWopg tie people. II
may Judge i"H his public acts, lee holds, ,at the
hcGoufS OF measure atC always proportion the
sfuoru IT public money tbcy Will occasion 10 be circu
lated. lr treats thc General Govcrnrcut rs an alien
cucmr, and every appropriation, spcc'ny Il TO be ex-
pended 10 !c west, lawful Erlc hence the frequent
Ioyd-Ipu rf tic treasury. matter how fnptaCCabie