Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-01-02

investigation my official conduct while in the dis
charge of the duties of the Department of war, you
will please make known 10 the Senate that of
propriety forbids me from resuming my station till the
House has disposed of this subject
Very respectfully, am, yours, Sc.
J. C.. CALHOUN.
Wastingion, 2oii December, 1926.
Mr.. BENTON made notion that in order TO give
time for the investigation ALLUDED to in the letter. when
The Senate do adjourn, adjourn Until Tuesday, which
agreed to; and hen
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Llte,nat Improvement appropriations, SC.
Mr.. RsvEs moved the following resolutions:
Resolrcd, That the Committee of Ways and Means
be instructed TO inquire into the expediencv OF dscon
tnuing the annual appropriation heretofore made for
derayi he expense ofsuc surveys for roads
and canals may be directed by the Executive and OF
substituting therefore distinct and specific appIopra
tons for surveying such ONLY shall be auhori
zed by Congress.
The above resolution being read
Mr. Rivs said that in presenting the resolution just
read IT might be proper for him briefly to state the ge
neral reasons which led him TO believe that inquiry
proposed by it was such fit to be euter-
tanned by this House. 1t would be recuilected that
during the first session of the Eighteenth Congress- af
terra protacted and elaborate discussion OK the abstract
constitutional question: law passed authorizing
the PresideEt to cause surveys to be made of such
routes for roads and canals "he nigh! deem 10 be of
national Importance" and making an approximation OF
$4,000 dollars for the purpose of carrying the objects
that act into effect During the second session of the
same congress, an appropriation introduced
the General Military Appropriation Bill of another
If $4,000 dollars, for ma1us and carrying
The operations Of the Board OF Engineers, in relation to
internal improvements" and similar approprio ton
again inserted in the Military Appropriation Bill o.:
last year. OF 1000 dollars or cfrayiag the expenses
incidental to examinations and surveys, preparatory to
and in aid Of, the formation Of roads aud caDais /:
will be perceived from tue recital have given OF the
two last acts Of Congress, that they silent as To The
authority by which the subjects for these surveys we're
to be designated; but they were, probably intended at
tue time, and have been since acted upon by tie Exc
cutve, as continuing in the President the discre
onary authority which originally vested in him By
the act of lG2l Ii has 50 happened that the propIety
OF transferring to the Executive Department This large
discretionary power the public money, has never
received the separate consideration explicit sane
ton a. tLs .cuse. Ia 1872 ii merge in The con.
S''utiona! question respecting the power Of Congress
20 Hct uP9 lte subJeC CT internal improvement; which
nc Sole giound Iebae on that occasions and in
1925 an 1879 rom ne position il occupied in Tie Ge-
>1iof1 '.'' AZ ,'ropfiation Bill it oycrshadowed
and lost sst Of aHii the variety Of other objects with
which it surrounded. cannot help believing, said
NJ r that, when i,is subject shall engage the serious
deibera:5a of this House, 1t will be found that we have
fallen gross departure from the true genius of our
Government and the sound nsxims of republican poll
cy The conroul of the public money, and the desig-
nation OF the objects upon which il should be expended
seaFGr'' tie highest trusts conded the legislative
authority - the CnIon; and, to assign the performance
Of thee lists 10 other hands than our own is an
and dangerous delegation of our powers
TIN delegation in the present instance, is the less ex-
Its,
one to WINCH we entirely competent ourselves. II
IS adTn'tit all the friends of internal improvements
undor the spisies of the General Government that
le their L. iate scope they confined exclusively
- objects vi pcrvadlag naiiOn1t cturdciey These
oeci cai2i be very numerous, and, if they were So
z.cs ne Fno come from the various divisions of the
toneferacy and are presumed TO be acquainted with
ihe mutual conneXion and dependence of the several
Ftr5, arc veil qualified 10 determine what objects
n ii general interest 10 the whole, any individual
however elevated his station, justly entitled TO res
mic, Ho al
councils delivered by great political reformer II
aliude, said Mir. K. Mr. JeiersoD) there was none
more earnestly frequently 'nculcated by him than that
of "appropratiDg specific specific Dur
pose susceptible of definition The objects embraced
in nnIionnk stem Of Internal Irnproy cent are sure-
l. capable Of being defined; and trust go snail avail
ourselves of the OCCASION now presented by the
reRce of our annual appropriations to TO sound
principles, from which have Internationally gone as
tray. There is besides said Mr. II. an ohvious iBcon.
gTuty in present mode Of proceeding upon this
subject Tho power of SurUeyng rOutes for roads and
canals is assigned TO department Of the Govern
men while the power Of constructing them is retain.
ell by another. In consequence Of difference Of opi
mon between the two departments, il may, aud no
doubt vii happen that the President win routes
% be surveyed, which Congress may consider Of
S""r"t Importance TO justify application OF the ma
1na r.sources for their construction, and thus an
useless expenditure Of the public treasure, TO large
mount, nay be incurred, and at time too when W.
ale reminded, from the highest authority sof the ne
Ces7ii} d abiding by the maxims Of The most yieilab
SCo'y' Out hc iloo serious Objection to this
tenn rf legislation remains be noticed II is IFS
tendency destroy the true balance of tie CoDst,tu~
ton increase, dangerously to increase the influence
OF department Of the Government at the expense
% o70ine.-to strengthen that arm Of the public an
ti'8rtg which already sufficiently powerfu-and 10
maxi era;uoUs additions, by legislative concession
% ;At rnass % patronage secured 10 the Executive
by the provisions of ie Consultations and which the
Legislative authority has power 10 reduce. 1t was
not 0y object said MIR. r. to dwell on any of these
topics have barely adverfed TO them, for the pmr
pose Of showing that there considerations involved
in the inqury have ptJDo5cd Of The dccoesi puorf