Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-06-09

INT, and thus was aYoWeu 10 De me gov
.rning principle through the residue of his
administration. The views of the last ad
are of such recent date as to
ender particular reference to them unne
,essary. 1t is we'll known that the ap-
power, TO the utmost extent
which had been claimed for 1t, in relation
o internal improvements, was fully rccog-
lized and exercised by 1t.
THIS brief reference to known facts, will
,e sufficient to show the difficulty, if not
mprachcablty, of bringing back the ope.
-ations Of the Government to the construc-.
ION Of the Constitution set up in 1898,
assuming that to be IFS true reading, in re-
alton TO the power under consideration:
hus giving an admonitory proof Of the
force Of implication, and the necessity Of
guarding the Constitution with seepless
vigilance, against the authority Of Precc-
dents which have not the sanction of its
most plainly defined powers. For, altho'
it Is the duty of all to look at that sacred
instrument, instead ofthe statute book to
repudiate, at all times, IncrOachments up
ON ITS shirt. which are too opt to he ef-
ected by the coniuncture of peculiar aud
facilitating circumstances; It Is tot less
tru, that the public good and the nature Of
our I0htIcal institutions require, mat md
yidundiffsrences should yield Il well
settled ,cqu,cscenco ofthe PeoPIeind con-
federated authorities, IN particular con-
structionS OF the Constitution, on doubtful
points. Not TO conccde this muCl to the
spirit Of oVr institutions, would IMPAIR
their stability, and defeat the Objectof the
Constitution itself.
The bill before me does not cal for a
more definite opinion upon the particular
circumstances which will warrant ppro
priations of money by Congress, o aid
works of internal Improvement, pr al
though the extension Of the power tolpply
money beyond that of carrying into effect
the object for which it is appropriated, has,
as we have seen, been long clalmd and
exercised by the Federal Government, yet
such grants have always been Profesedly
under the control of the general principle,
that the works WHICH might be thus aided,
should be ''of general, not ocal--nitiou-
al, not State" Character A disregard OF
this distinction would of necessity lead to
the subvcrsion If the federal system. That
even this is an unsafe one, arbitrary It's
nature, and heble, consequently, 10 great
abuses IS too obvious to require the con-
irmation of experience. 1t is, however,
sufficiently definite and imperative to my
mind to forbid my appreciation Of any bill
having the character of the one under con-
eideratIon. / have given TO its provisions
all the reflection demanded by Just re-
gard for the interests Of those of our fell
low citizens who have desired its passage.
and by the respect which is due to a co.
ordinate branch OF the Government, bu, ]
am not able to view It in any other light
than as a measure Of purely local char;c-
ter; or If It can be considered nationd,
hat no further distinction between the jp-
Droprlate duties of the General and State
need be attempted; for there
can be no local interest that may not with
equal propriety be denominated national.
Il has no connection with any established
system of improvements; is exclusively
within the limits of a State, starting at a
loint on the Ohio river, and running out
sixty miles TO an interior town; and even
Is far as the State is interested, confer
ing partial, instead Of general advanta
res.
Considering the magnitude and impOr-
ance of the power, and the embarrass
nents to which, from the very nature of the
hing, its exercise must, necessarily, be
the real friends of internal inn
ought not to be willing to con-
ide 10 to accident and chance. What is
properly national in its character, or 9th.
rwise, is an inquiry which is often difficult
f solution. The appropriations of one
ear, for an object which is considered
ational, may be rendered nugatory by the
efusal Of a succeeding Congress to con
niue the work, on the ground that it's To-
al. No aid can be derived from the M.
9rvention of corporations. The question
egards the character of the work, not that
f those by whom it is to be accomplish
d. Notwithstanding the union Of the
government with the corporation, by
,hose immediate agency, any work Of IN
9rnal Improvement Is carried on, the IN.
airy will still remain, is II ahonal and
to the benefit of the whole, or
'cal aud operating only to the advantage
{ a portion of the Union!
But, although, might not feel it to be
ny official duty to interPose the executive
etc, to the passage of bill aPProPrlating
money for the construction OF such works
S are authorized by the Statesland are
in their character, | do not wish
o be understood as expressing an opinion