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

iuen,s, aod al hope of success, therefore w. q
ban6ohed Tor the ensuing term Of eight cate. %
occurred in he spring o: 1917, and New.York !
'hencetorwaId, discariing all dependence On tAe |
general government, resolutely threw herse upo.
her own resources; aud the 4'h day Of July q.
the ssre ye.r, which thus became. in - pew s.rst
tue ara OF independence la her, commenced WIZ
her own uesDs, ,ha; " ork which, now completed,
Is ihe Froudest ,uonument of the age. ! sincerely
trust that this instructive eNsmple vii not be los
upon the other Stse- o. this Unicn-iha, they VIII
lave sGSdcuy 10 penetrate the decisions which are
now prac,ced upon them, AID energy proudly, &c
pursue their own objects with their own means. \
Sir, the obvious AMI most efec.ual means OF
guarding against Ihese mi>chievous decisions is
to retain in our own hands, this power Of order.
ing surveys, and TO c0ufne hem To objects, which
are, at the same time, national in their character,
! and within the ability of our resources to accom-.
plIsh. But il is said, that we are inconipotent
20 exercise this powei--thai Congress csnno,
tempt to designate the route. OF roads and GOALS
to be surveyed, without endless waste time
and treasure oil the nation la interm'nable DISCUS
sions. SIR this objection proceeds upon the
sumption that we are to exercise this power =
the executive have exercised il that we 10
push oui surveys into every nook and corner of
the land without regard TO the character or impor
lance of the Object. Ii il be intended 20 survey
such o6jec,s only as were contemplated by he
az vi io~f, lten no dlIncuIty cen attend tue tN
e. else oil this power here Objects, which are re-
dHY national, cannot be very numerous. None
OF the various reports, which we have had
natiorai system OF Internal Improvements, have
presented more than six or eight of such Objects
In making our selection, Should be aided by
all the lights derived i,om these cupiou- and IN
s'ruc''ve documents, and by the patient and en-
| llSh'ened Investigations of the Committee, on
Roads and Canals, whose reports, take i, for
I he IN ~ su.,r H.,
House But, Sir, we haze had some experience
on thu subject, which gives no sanction TO the
ousbeaTs conjured up ID ffighten us out Of he
exercise oil our legitimate powers. hive already
had oc'asion 10 advert to the general acques
cence. with which The law, for surveying the
rcd'e OF the Florida canal passed, during cur
last session That wss really . uaio.al object
the understandings all a,-en,rd o its character
IN that respect, and no law, believe, has ever
passed the congress Of the United States, with
Tess Obstruction from unnecessary debate. When
ever similar Objects are presented, we have =
right to expect simir result But Sir have
high authority for the assertion, nor merely tba
we are competent, bnt that we only are compe-
tent, 10 the exercise OF this power Mr. GELATIN
IN his celebrated report national system f
Internal improvements, ssys-I repeat his very
words" The national Legislature alone. cmbr.
eng every ioca! interest, and superior 10 every
local consideration, Is compe to the selection
OF such national Objects
The argument OF gentlemen proves too much
and therefore, proves nothing. II we are incom-
Peten' TO designate national ohj-cls of I.tefnaI
Improvement tor the purpo-e of having hem sur
veyed, we are alike incompetent 10 designate
them, with view to their execution: and he TIL.
process OF stuHJying ourselves, we must transfer
to TIE President the authority to determine MOI,
only where surveys shall be made, bat where
roads and canals shall be constructed with the re-
sources of the nation. Sir this il the inevitable
consequence OF the argument, and gentlemen
""hou' seeming t. be conscious of it, hav. al
ready been conduc ed by The necessary operation
OF The principle they assume, 10 this Illuminating
result. During the last session of Congress- a
Dill was reported, from the Committee of Roads
and Canals, Tor locating The road from here 10
New Orleans. Ii provided for the appointmen,
OF Commissioners, who were to make their renor,
10 the PRESIDENT and upon hat report, the Pre-
siaeht was empowered 10 determine along what
route the road should be made, and t. take ,,ea-
suTe@, accordingly, for its constructions Sir this
hlii Is nov upon your table, and i. better com
mentafy than any can offer upon the character
oil The argument have been noticing
But, sir, lofty and high-mInded contem,, b,s
oeeh invoked In relation to the amount OF this
appropriation, "a being sltrge,her undeservinp of
attention irom tie representatives of great ma
''on' II has been called paltry sam, pitifal
r.. 1 4
ready endeayored TO remove the delu,ion. which
TINS expression seems to imply as 10 the real one
'aion OF the powerin question:; but looking a, the
SUBJECT no'v merely a. financial matter ia !, an
contemplate, as gentlemen would have us bejievs;
Ihir'y thousand dollars, il is true may be pal,rv
sum In The estimation of gentlemen, who's. HAHN,
al contemplatlons render th-m familiar win
schemes, which will demand millions instead NJ
thousands Tor Their accomplishment; bu, TO ne
who have been nj .iafa i ;.,t
eepions, IhT> thousand dollars is not SO very nal
try sum- Nor do believe si, that il !. ri
try sum in the EYcheques OF a nation ,yhosa
means have fallen short OF liz usual and ordinary
expenses Or, we have been already ioI1 nv
gentleman, Mr.. NJ Lane. } whom ,ye have Nae,
accustomed TO regard an oracle in all oues,ions
oil finance, and who has indicated his t,ie IN ,I.,
commence, alike by his accuracy AID his canJour.
that there is an actual deficit n the Treasury
MS, 'he"' IS moi the time, if it were ever rroper
Tor the guardians OF the public purse TO sneak oo
lemptuously OF thirty thousand dollars Is, !, H..
remembered, too, that this seems now 10 no 70.
gaded as regular annual expenditure, 10 he re-
he"eu rom year 10 year, In never ending success
SION "heh me hrst sum OF thirty thousand dol
lars was appropriated, il was, believe The con
efal impression, that II was all which would be
required Tor The particular object In vteyv Rn,
me next year. another sum IF twenty -eIght thou.
sand dollars was called for The year after ,be nr
sent administration having come into powet. and
seeing 10 what useful purposes this appronristinn
might be con verted. increased the demand IN 81,
thousand dollars, and we are 10 give then,
thlrty thousand more Where, then il thi- svs
TEN to terminate, not merely in regard tn the f.
nanees OF the nation, but in regard to its HJeyt;Ss
u We are thus, permanently, TO inves, one de
par mem OF the government with power. which
en'Oss ~ al 'he same tine and with equal success.
~. call IL