Litchfield enquirer., 1830-03-11

as 10 WlScr and more experienced men, that the policy of the Government would necessarily take start, in a new tirec- tion ; because new directions would neces- sarily be given to the pursuits and occu- pations of the people. We had pushed our commerce far and fast, under the ad- vantage of a neutral flag. But there were now no longer flags. either neutral or beI- ligercnt. The harvest of neutrality had been great, but we had gathered it all. With the peace of Europe, it was obvious there would spring up in her circle of na- tions, revived and invigorated spirit of trade, and new activity in all the bu- siness and objects of civilized life. Here after, our commercial gains were to be ear ned only by success in close and intense competition. Other nations would pro- duce for thcmselvess and carry fer thom- selves, and manufacture for themselves, to the full extent of their abilities. The icEops of our plains would no longer sustain European armies, nor our ships longer sup- ply those, whom war had rendered una ble to supply themselves. It was obvious, that, under these circumstances, the coun- try would begin to survey itself, and to es- inmate its own capacity of improvement. And this improvement, how was it to be accomplished, and who was to accomplish 1t! We were ten or twelve millions of people, spread over almost half world. We were twenty-four States, some stretch- ing along the same seaboard, some along the same line of inland frontier, and otll- CTS on the opposite banks of the same vast rivers. Two considerations at once presented themselves, in looking at this state of things, with great force. One was, that that great branch of improvement, which consisted in furnishing new facilities
 ot intercourse, necessarily ran into differ
 ent States, in every leading instance, and
 would benefit the citizens of all such
 States. No one State, therefore, in such cases, would assume the whole expense, nor was the cooperation of several States to be expected. Take the instance of the Delaware Break-water. IL will cost sev- eral millions of money. Would Pennsyl- vania alone have ever rcoEs'ructedit? Ger tainly never, while this Union lasts, be- cause it is not for her sole benefit. Would Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, have united 10 accomplish it, at their joint expense1 Certainly not. for the same req son. 1t could not be done, therefore, but by the General Government. The same may be said of the large inland undertak- ings, except that, in them,the Government, instead of bearing the whole expense, CO., operates with others who bear part. The other consideration is, that the U. s. have the means. They enjoy the revenues de- rived from commerce, and the States have no abundant and easy sources of public income. The custom houses fill the gen. eral treasury, while the States have scan- ty resources, except by resort to heavy direct taxes. Under this view of things,
 l thought it necessary to settle, at least for
 myself, some definite notions, with respect
 to the powers of Government, in regard
 to internal affairs. It may not savor too much of self commendation to remark, that with this object, considered the con- stitution, its judicial construction. it's CO., temporaneous exposition, and the whole history of the legislation of Congress un- der it and | arrived at the conclusion, that Government had power to accomplish sundry objects, or aid in their accomplish. ment, which are now commonly spoker of as INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. That con clusion, sir, may have been right, or it may have been wrong. am not about to ar, que the grounds of it at large. 1 say on ly, that it was adopted, and acted on, ever so early as in 1916. Yes, Mir. President
 I made mp my opinion. and determined or my intended course of political conduct or these subjects, in the 14th Congress, ir 1916. And now, Mr. President, have further to say, that made up these opin- ions, and entered on this course of politi- cal conduct, 7eucro Duee. Yes, sir, pursued, in all this, a South Carolina track. On the doctrines of Internal Inn provement, South Carolina, as she was then represented in the other House, set forth, in 1916, under fresh and leading breeze and was among the followers.
 But if my leader sees new lights, and turns
 a sharp corner, unless see new lights also
 Ikeep straight on, in the same path. I re-
 peat, that leading men from South Caro- ina were first and foremost in behalf O
 he doctrines of Internal Improvements
 when those doctrines first came to be con
 sidered and acted upon in Congress. The debate on the Bank question, on the Tariff
 of 1916, and on the Direct Tax, will show
 who was who, and what was what, at tha
 time. The Tariff of 1916, one ofthe plail
 cases of oppression and usurpation, iron