Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-11-23
J. CRITTENDEN.
From tie Ohio Sfrfe Journal
-, ADAMS ON INTERNAL lMPRoF +
vi" MENT.

,.,I;r gratitude is always due 10 tA bene-
oF human society he first founders
~ 49, scheme which adds 10 the PUBLIC gog,
:" @"' Lyavs teen held TO the publicseye as
l-' ~ oG merircd honors. No greater bene>
w.. w.. bccn conferred on the western country,
nsrh,ns on the Union al large, than the
. So, ! and muniiicent plan OF internal I'M
..oyrmca,s adopted by the General Govern
g.,, By roal and canals, the chain OF dis
is shortened betwecn the residence OF our
liens. and their eastern and southern ore-
", oar products, which were locked up
Nv natural barriers, find market on their
=. and mutual intercourse, and commerce,
E,rm an adamant basis torreciprocai friend
,hin What benefits has not the national road
,I.ssdv conferred on the West, and how many
"orc NAV il not confer when constructed To
.,o ,,nitaI of Missouri? Who can estimate
,br advantages that would result 10 the West
avn States from the construction Of tie ONO
and Chesapeake CanaR Our State has led
,bs vav Of her sisters of the West in magnl
srsn, work Of internal improvement, yet II is
onIv nv the powerful hand Of the General Gov"
,r,men, that all the improvements can be con-
,,rnrted. by which they may be directly or IN
rres,Iy benefited. The Western States are, at
his period, generally too poor to construct
,bpse works, which the necessity of their citi-
,ens REQUIRE, to find market for their pro-
he They can now look 10 the General
Corcrnment for assistance with confidence
yLoy hear without complain, due proportion
,r,Se bur,hens of government; and in the dis~
.,h,tion of The pub ic revenue, their citizens
IN iu,tlv claim a part. Internal improves
r,snts are the grand medium Of cqualzing The
n,,iona! exDendtsurcs over tn" Union. Before
CONGRESS- look them in hand, our citizens rare
Ivrll The weight Of public dollar.
The question NAV now be askcd-who was
,he bsncfrcior ofiae Hest, in planning the gem y
ral system Of internal improvements We
itw,sJ O. ADAMS. eve are aware
Ine a,temnts have been made to hide
The glory which this individual has hereby az,
ouired, bv denying the fac, but the Journals OF
The Senate viii speak for themselves. From
these, i, will appear that the first resolution to
finn a General system Of internal improves
mcnt Sas offered bv MIR Adams, In 1907; and 4
number Of subsequent ones BY our late lamentS
ed fellow ci,iz- n, Thomas Worthinston 10
,lscs ;he matter beyond the Indulgence OF a
doubt, we subjoin the following extract OF
letter Of Mr. Adams, 10 respectable gentle
man in Maryland:
SHINE, 1924,
"On the esd February, 1907 offered TO the
Senate Of the United States, OF which was
then member, the first resolution, as believe,
that ever was presented 10 Congress contem-
p'a,ine a general system OF internal improves
menr, I thought tina, Congress possessei the
power Of appropriating money to sueh I'M
pro,emen,, and of authorizing the works neces-
sary for making il; subject always 10 the terri,
,orial rights ofihe several States, in or through
which the svs,eu is to be made, to be secured
By the consent Of their Legislatures, and the
proprirrory rights ofindi,iduals 10 be purchas'
ed or Unidentified. still hold the same opin-
ions; and al hough highly respecting the purity
of the intention Of those who object on consti-
,ulional grounds, TO The exercise OF this power
il is With heartfelt satisfaction that perceive
those obcctoss gradually yielding To the par
amour, interest Of the general tcafnre: already
have approprIat ions of money To great objects
in internal improvement bren freely MADE, ana
lhOpc we both shall live 10 see the day. wheh
The only question Of our statesmen and patriots
concerning the authority Of Congress to I'M
prove, bv public works, essentially benehcent
and Scvond the means Of less than natural re-
snurCcs, the condition of our common country,
will he, how it could ever have been doubted.
From this Letter it will be seen that Mr.. Adj
ans was 10, only warm supporter oil inter-
nal Improvements, but the first proposer oil the
prrsen, system, and is Justly enutlcd TO the
name Of beastaelor of he West,
THOMAS Adds EMMETT, ESQ.
- -. V,.k