Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-03-10


lacked as 10 leave no room TO fear their detection.
then no use would be made of this power be-
cause II would be unnecessary, and a scaste of
I patronage. 80, on the other hand, ii they were
SO strongly opposed, as 10 preclude all hope of
making political conGuests, the power would
not De ,exertad, because 1t would be useless and
undratang. But If they happened To be in an
ambiguous md wagering STATE, Balancing between
adhesion, on The one hand, and opposition on
The other, then seasonable demonstration, with
party OF civil engineers, or topogra phical bril-
gaze, might be decisive in fixing the direction of
public sentiment, and would be promptly and
zeaiously made. The state, or county or neigh
oorhooo project, no matter which, would be a.
dopted as great national concern-surveys and
reconnoissances. ard even engraved maps Of il,
would be made at the expense of the United
states; and the good people would be besued
INTO the belief, that their fsyore road or canal
was about 10 be actually constructed for them
with the money of the United States
The inducements to such demonstration would
be much strengthened, if it happened that the
work had been undertaken BY the government OF
the state. in which it was found, and had tagged
ana iangrished IN its hands. The occasion would
then os an excellent one for impressng the iul-
portant lesson Of the nefficency of the State au,
thoFi'Ies, and that he general government only
was TO be relied upon tor these useful enterpri-
zes ii, too, !, happened that the DISTRICT inte-
rested In the work, was represented IN Congress
by soue faithful friend OF the Executive, whose
services 1t was desirable to retain, and that dis
| contents had arisen against him, in consequence
OF his supposed too great devotion TO the ruling
powers, then it nigh, have The happiest effect, in
Gaining these dsconten,s, TO dispatch brigqde
OF Typographical engineers TO his relief, and thus
oy surveying and seemingly adopting their nro-
Jects OF roads and canals, TO bring home TO the
people practical conviction OF the benefits re-
sultins % them from having representative in IA.
. rvfs H. -.
so unfortuua'e ss not 10 have found out any
PROJECT O. road or canal, which they believed
10 De entitled to tbe countenance OF the govern
fnent Itself, In is raternsl solicitude for the GOOD
OF the people, could easily devise come scheme,
quo u nationn', survey and teconnonre il, ami
Keep up he delusion long enough at least 10 pro-
nj by II IN pending eIecuon.
SiIs these observations have been made bvnothet-
icaiy; bur, II am no, greatly deceived, see a
melancholy veFEc3;lOn OF lem Tie document
winch was put into our possession two DAYS ago.
aiiads 20 the list OF The lminations and surveys
when i"v beea made under The act of 1924, fur
nshed by the Secreiar. OF War, at the instance
OF the chairman OF the committee of roads g. ca
nails know not VII hat view that document
was called Tor or furUished but if the object way
as suppose, 10 vndicaie the manner in which The
power vested III the Executive by the act of 1924
has been exercised, j. has sadly failed Of it's pur-
pose, ia MY estimation. OF the thirty five sur
Z
how many OF them, exclusive OF the six ordere,!
during The period OF the late admnstr alton are OF
objects really national? But, before proceed 10 a
review In detail OF this list, let me state what
consiieT theirue criterion for determining The ma
fi0nas character of Objects OF internal improve
ment, IN the language of gentleman who as he
may be regarded as the founder of the systen has
given us iuster conception of its legitimate OIL
cs, han any other person. I refer, Sir, 10 the
lac Secretary OF Waf, who in the first reDort
ron thai Department, after the passage of the act
OF 1924, speaking OF the plan Of ope raiions which,
had been adopted, TO carry The objects of that act
INTO efect, uses this language. g 1t became ner
eessary, In giving orders to the board, under the
act TO determine what routes for roads and canals
were oil -" national Importance" in the views
contemplated by the act, IS such only the Pre-
sdent might iesm 20 be of thar de. criptiop were
authorized 10 lie examined and SURVEYED IT, de-
cidng 'hlssPoini, 1t be anne necessary TO advert TO
our political system In It's distribution OF powers &
duties between the general Sc slate governments In
thus regarding our system it was conceived that all
OF those routes OF roads and canals, which might be
airy considered as falling within the province of
any particular State, however, useful they might
be in a commercial CT political view, or, to the
transportation OF the Tall, were excluded from
the provisions Of The act. The States have i'm
porant duties to perform in facilitating, by means
CT roads and canals, commercial and political in
| terconrse among their citizens; and within the
! spheres OF these duties. they more competent
to act, than the general government; and there can
be no rational doubt, but that, as the population
and capital Of the several States increase these
powerful means OF developing their resour-
ces, will receive from their respective Legislsa
lures due attention. But, as numerous as tbi.
class Of improvement is, and important as IL mar
be 20 the general government, in the discharge OF
the various duties confided by the constitution 20
1t, there are other improv ements, comprehend
ed in 1T, OF more general character, which are
more essentially connected wih the performance
of its duties, while hey are less intimately CON
nec'ed with those belonging to the state govern
ments and less within their power of execution.
Ii is believed that this class & this only was com,
pretended in the provisions OF he act In proiec,.
ing the surveys in this view of the subiect, IN.
tohofe union must be cons dered as one & tbe atten
ton directed. not 10 those roads and canals viii
may facilitate Intercourse between parts of rbe
same state, but o hose y, hicb Blay bi4ld all of
The parts together, and the Uhoie.tcffh the CEN.
ire, thereby facilitating commerce and intercourse
among The states, and enabling the government 50
Disseminate promptly. through The m ii inforna-
ton 10 every part, aDd to extend protection to the
whcis. By extending those principles, the Inc
Of communication Uy roads and canals, through
The states, the general government instead oil in
terieriag with Tie safe governments within their
proper spheres OF action, will afIOrd (partteu-
larly 10 those states situated in the interior the
; only means Of pedectng Improvements Of sn-
liar description, which properly belong TO them
: Now Sir, bringing the list Of surveys which
has been funi-hs Us, TO the test f these princi-
Piles. which, II the general government can act at