Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-07-20

following the doctrines maintained, and the opin
ions asserted by the President:-
Fret. That the general government does not pos
constitutional power ITO construct or promote
internal Improvements, without the assent of the
States if jurisdiction over the soil be necessary sor
their preservation and use."
Second. That Congress has power to appropriate
money to objects of Internal Improvement authorised
or undertaken by State, if that object be within
tho enumerated powers of Congress: that is if it be
of general not locnl utility, and calculated to
p romot" the general welfare.
Third. That the power to appropriate, thus restrc-
ted, TO objects authorised undertaken by State,
and coming within the general power to provide for
the general welfare, originally doubtful onc
but that has become settled or ddjudicata by
the practice of every Adminst ration and by the CON
tinuai acquiescence of the people.
Fourth. The President admits that this restric.
ton Of the power to appropriate, weakens it's ability
to effect It's ends because Of the difficulty of obtain
ing the necessary cooperation Of The States.
Fifth On that account, and because the national
debt is not wholly paid, the Presden. is of opinion
thnt TINS IL not an "anspcious time" for carrying
works OF internal Improvement And in order to
render doubtful power clear, well to
provide for its more Just and equitable execution, he
recommends amendment to the Constitution, and
even goes so fur rs to advise that the object, the
manner. and the amount of the appropriation. ought
be matter of constitutional regulation! A thing
plainly impossible.
Such are the Presidents opinions on the constitu
tlonal powers over internal Improvements and such
his opinions of the mpolcy of exercising all any
" tuoSe PoWEIS HOW huu ultst HOJ every TRUE
friend to the American systemic domestic manu-
features and the improvement of country, regret
that these opinions have been long withheld from
the people, by those who knew them, and
stauty mISrepreSenteG to the by the friends of
Gen. Jackson
We are yet in doubt what the President will, and
what he will not, decide t. be a national work; and
whether, until what he would consider an os,cious
period shall have arrived, he will approve any law
whatever. appropTia ing money to internal improve
ment. Again--if the present is not, what will be,
an suspicious time? The payment of the national
debt viii require four years after the present: and
oil works 10 be suspened until theI2-Nay morc--wc
are lett IN positive doubt whether he will ever sign
bull until the Constitution shall be amended in this
particular: and this too, notwiths' andng he admits
that the practice and acqnrscence of the
and people have settled the doubt If improvements
arc TO be postponed until the Constitution shall be
amended. they will be suspended forever; for
than one fourth of the States are against the whole
system of the tariff and improvements, and an
amendment requires the assent of three loirths
which the President and every body around him know
cannot be obtained. IF this be the s'auspcious
proven,cnts must be suspended long as Gen. Jack
son remains President of the United States
Towards the close OF the Veto message there is a
sentence OF somewhat extraordinary and doubtful
import silese are the words viz. ga supposed con-
l"nectlon between appropriations for internal i'm
"provcment, and the system of protecting duties,
growing out of the unxieties Of those more inme-
diatcy interested in their SUCCESS has given rise to
suggeslons which it is proper should notice on this
occasion. My opinions these subjects haze nerer
sheen concealed from those sOho had right TO 6,,oo
sEteiu."
large majority of the people of these States are
IN favour of internal improvements and think them
required by the public good. If these 1.-THE n,a,ry)
we're not wh'' orc they WHO WERE. entitled to know
General Jacksons opinions? The majority were nbu-
sed by the Generals friends all over The United
States They were assured of his attachment to in
terna improvement and gnve him their votes Those
who zero the majority at the election. then had no
rich IN Enntt
we to infer from this. that the enemies Of improve
ment knew that they, and not the friends of the
system to find him their friend in their strurrle
against the SYSTEM!
lowing, viz AS long the eucoura cement of do |
'mes,c manufactures is directed to national ends |
III shhii receive from me q temperate but steady !
support. there IL no necessary connection be-
tween 1t and tho system Of appropriations On the
"contrary it appears to mr that the supposion of
their dependence each other ia calculated to
excite the prejudces of the public against both -
''The former sustained on the grounds Of its con-
slstency with the letter and spirit of the Consttu-
''tlon of It's origin being traced the assent of all
''the parties to the original compact, and of it's hav
Ing the support and approb1tion of majority of the
"people; " hich it is entitled at least TO
fair experiment Phe suggestions to which have
"sluded refer to forced continuance of the alton
ai DEBT. oy means OF large appropriations, sub
sue which the system derives from the principles
ION which it has hitherto been supported"
Hero again, the Presden, audes the national debt II
cannot he intended 10 accuse the friends of improve
nent oil an Intention 10 delay the payment of They
might challenge the world 10 slew act u,terance OF
word in favor Of such injustice The truth is
mere certain sum appropriated annually, payment
OF this dent That sum will discharge in 1884 and there
cansot be statesman in the nation wish 10 disturb
tbs appropriation Tho desire and endeavonr tn paw 81
h's debt Is not new thing the property any admins
at'on has been the desire and the of all Nor would
the diversion OF the thus appropriated required for the
purpose OF internal impr The friends of improve
ment while 10 power executed their without invading
that fund The schedule Of bills depending before Congress
by the President to his ought no
We may rest assured Of that each Congress exercise sound
discretion as to each subject presented pass reject
according importance merit And this discretion vii;
be exercised by each Congress- with proper regard TO the dis
possible hand Wemav rec, as.n,ed a
each future Congress will acuaed as much as the ne.en
any that is past by of duty audae desire to
preserve their popularity no hardy euoah tn con-
inue augment the national debt legsa,e about in
eTnai improvements, to render the imposition of additional
taxes necessary He un, make laws to execute them
who 'upPoses that all prudence oil virtue patriotism will
the oh