Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-07-14

him every where, where these systems
we're themselves popular. Neither the
General himself, nor the Nashville com
r,,,,ee under his own eye, contradicleu
these assertions. The population Of Penn
syIvanja generally, and of The Valley o.
tSo Ohio. believed them. Yet there were
doubts: and it was anxlously expected thai
tho late session would solve them, and eA-
nose 70 the world the real constitutional
pn,nions. and all the political views OF the
President 10 relation TO the power OF. the
government over The long agtated que9-
5;ons of the Tariff and Internal Improve
mcnt. and the policy of both. The triendS
IS President Jackson, who were opposed
10 the American System, laboured zeaI'
ously they left TO stone unturned, to pre-.
vent the passage of any bill which might
test tbe Presidents opinions. Whether
thev knew his opinions, and desired Their
further concealment, l do not pretend to
saw. Their zeal was enough TO awaken
this suspicion, and did awaken It. -.
While the bill for enforcing the farm
Laws was under consideration, and until
rs final passage, it was evident to the most
common observer, that these laws aud IN
ternal Improvement were gaming gfounu.
The constitutional scruples OF some were
removed by argument; while experience
had tested their effects, so as to estaoiiSh
,beir policy. The friends Of the American
system viewed the Tariff as coming M O
OF Internal Improvement and therefore as
having some connection with Il. Inc en-
emres Of both affected to consider them as
distinct systems, aud as having 10 relation
90 each other. At length, and after the
most unuring opposition, the NaySviiie
Road Bill passed; aud as the adJournmen.
,f Couqress was fixed for day so distant
mat more than ten days must elapse, alter
the delivery Of the bill TO the President
lhe Presidents action on that bill was
waited for, by all parties, with the most
painful anxiety: bur. until the Indian bil.
vas passed, no. u whisper Of the Presl-
dents intentions as TO the Maysv!lle Road,
could be heard, although no question OF
secrecy or OF confidence was involved ~
lis aDDroval or rejection. The Indian bill
was the favourite measure of the Admin
strauon. The anxiety to pass 1t seemed
/ ID absorb all regard Tor other measures. II
was known that there were members who
would not vote .or that bill with a know
ledgc that Internal Improvements were tc
be Frustrated. This knowledge they could
oot aco,ura until the Indian bill passed
After that their eyes were very soon open
ed by the Veto Message, and they.learned
rom their opponents, that the Indian bh
would require the surplus revenue, anC
/ leave no fund for Internal improvement.
| have carefully examined the Veto mes
sage. The following are the doctrines
maintained, and the opinions asserted by
the President -
FIRST. ThatIho general government does
not possess constitutional power "to con
struct or promote Internal Improvements
without the assent of the states, If lurlsdlc
ton over the soil be necessary for thcu
( preservation and use"
Second. That Congress has power tC
appropriate moneyto objects Of lnterna
. improvement authorised or undertaken by
state, if that object be within the enume
rated powers of Congress: that is, fit b'
one of general, not local 1,illty, and calcu
lated to promote the general welfare.
Third, That the power TO appropriate
thus restricted, TO objects authorised or an
dertaken by a state, and coming within
the general power to provide for the gene
raj welfare, was originally doubtful one
bat that It has become settled, or res ad
| judicata, by the practice ofeyery Admin
stratIon. and by the continual acqulescencC
Of the people.
Fourth The President admits that tins
restriction of the power to appropriate
weakens its ability to effect its ends, be-
cause of the difficulty of obtaining the ne
cessary cooperation of the states.
Fifth. On that account, and because the
national debt Is not wholly paid, the Pre-
sident IS of opinion that this Is not an
''auspicious time" for carrying on works
Of Internal Improvement. And IN order
to render a doubtful power more clear, as
well as TO provide for It's more just and
equitable execution, he recommends an
amendment of the Constitution, and even
goes so far as 10 advise that the object, the
manner. and the amount Of the appropra-
ton, ought to be matter Of constitutional
regulation \ thing plainly impossible.
Such are the Presidents opinions on
the constitutional powers over Internal In
Provements; and such his opinions of the
lmPoLcy of exercising all Or any Of those
powers now. And must not every true
friend to the American systemic domes-
tic manufactures and the improvement Of
our country, regret that these opinions
have hncn 50 lnnn trifhhold crnr, IL 80