Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-03-08
VIRGINIA LEGIsLArUnr.
HOUSE OF DELEGA TES
FRIDAY, March 2.
CEN TfFLOR'S SUBSTITUTES


Upon the question, whether the several laws
passed By the General Government for IN. mr.,
pose OF internal improy ements, do not assert or
involve jurisdiction over the territory f this
Commonwealth. beyond the grants to that Co.
vernment, specified in the Constitution of the II
States your committee have bestowed the mos,
respectful consI!era,i n. They find that the first
exercise 1T such power by the General Govern
inent, took place in The year 1902 du.iue the
administration of Mr. Jeff-rsou, and grew on, of
report made TO tie Fl use of Representatives of
The United States, by a Committee, upon the sub
Ject of admitting new State into the Union In
that report, II was recommended, az one of the
conditions upon which the Territory, North West
OF the Ohio, (now the State of OHIO sbo,IJ h..
admitted into the Union, that one ten,h mar, of
the proceeds OF The lands lying in he said State.
thereafter sold by Congress, CATER all expenses in
cioehi 10 the same,) should be applied 10 the lay
ing out, and making turnpike, or other roads.
from the navlgable waters emptying into the At
lantc 10 'he Ohio. and continued afterwards ,hro,
The State OF Ohio-such roads to be LAID out by
me au'horty OF Congress, with he consent of the
States, through which the roads should pass ~,
ms condition was supported by most OF The mem
bers 81 Congress f'om this State; and the sc, CON
tainirg 1t, which finally passed both Houses {
Congress, and received the sanction of the P,ss,-
dent, was probably The foundation of The system
quently attempted. The assertion, al that period
OF this power in the General Government. bv The
ilins'rious man who had been recently elevated IN
the Presidency, and by the distinguished eli liens.
who constituted the msorties of both Houses OF
Congress- could not fail to attract the particular OH
servatIon OF The Committee No such power had
been at empied to be exercised during the preceding
administrations Of the Government, and the chan,s
OF the last OF them had been effected mainly by
those politicians, who advocate the s,ric,est con-
srue'ion oil all The grants OF federal power. After
me passage OF this ac', and in pursuance of the
provision before specified, the act for the establish
men, OF the Cumberland Road passed; and the
General Assembly of Virginia, at the session OF
1910, only seven years after il bsd been engaged
In most profound and luminous investigation OF
the proper construction and true extent of the
powers OF he Federal Government. passed an 40,
giving the most explicit sanction of this State 10
the extension OF The road through part of its
limits. During the same administration. various
other Instances OF The assertion and exercise OF
TINS power occurred, such as l, the opening of q
road from Georgia in the route to New Orleans:
Z, road through The Indian Territory, from the
Mississippi to the Ohio; B, road from Nashville
10 Natchez; (al under an act of lSO6;) A. q
road from New Orleans 10 the Balize; 5, one 10
Rapids; b, one In the route from Athens TO New
oheans; (under an act oil 1907 aud Z, the exten.
sion OF the Canal Of Cs,ondelet to the river Mis-
slssippi, by The act Of February 10, Is09.-In the
administrations OF MIR. Madison and Mr.. Monroe.
The power was also asserted on several occasions
and The former, in bis last Message 10 Congress,
says, J" particularly invite again their attention
TO the expediency of exercising their existing
powers, and where necessary, of resorling TO the
prescribed mode of enlsrging them, in oder
10 e1ectaste comprehensive system of roads
ana canals; such will have the effect al
drawing more closely together every part Of our
country by promoting intercourse and improve
ments, and by Increasing the share Of every rart.
IN the common stock Of national prosperity
AT the session OF 1916, the General Assembly
passed resolutions, Recommended by the Board OF
Public Works, OF which, some Of CUR mos, dis
linguished citizens, aud most jealous supporters of
The rights OF the States, were members,l request.
ing The aid of the General Government in making
further extension Of the Cumbe land road through
THIS State, aud also in opening communication
oetw cen the waters of Jackson and Kanawbs
rivers.
II does not appear that on the adoption of thess
measures, the constitutional question was dis.
cussed; but more recently, it hiss been frequentl,
debated IN botn Houses OF Congress. Upon ever,
such occasion, where that question was alone in
volved, decided majorities, composed Of men from
every quarter OF our extensive country, among
whom are 10 be found the names of Iowndes
jackson and Calhoun, have affirmed the grant o
this power by the Constitution Of the ~ STATES
The Legislature Of Virginia has recently and so
ismniy maIntsinsd The contrary opinion. II sp