Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-05-12

called the attention of the Committee to
an attempt made few years ago, as he
says,to exact transit duty from the boats
on the New York Canal. But | ask,
did this Government ever make such a.
demand? | know, indeed, there was
some correspondence between the Comp
troller and the Canal Commissioners, but
both the late President and the Sccre-
tary of the Treasury ofthe United States
disavowed all intention to enforce such
demand yet we have had this old
worn out story, brought forward, on the
present occasion, to influence the New
York delegation. Sir, it may be very
good policy-thirty four votes-this n.
York regiment, as the delegation from
that State were once called by the pre-
dcccssor ofmy friend, now near me, (NIr.
Irvine, Of Penn are not to be winked
out of sight when an important point is
to be gained. The gentleman has sup
posed the cause Of collision between the
State authorities and those of the United
States which must be settled by the Su-
preme Court, which that tribunal, he has
graciously told us, would instantly settle
in favor Of the Government ofthe United
States. Why, sir, this thrust at that
Court ? Can no question be discussed
without implic cating that institution p,
That Court it seems can never show the
least regard to a claim, however just,
of state against the General Govern
ment Now, sir, / ask, has there been
any thing in the decision of that Court
heretofore, to authorize this stab at its
reputation : / repel the charge, l was
going to add with Indignation. l
will say, however, the remark is
gratuitous and unfounded. That gen.
tleman knows as well as l do, that the
members of that Court, whether collect
lively or individually, have too much self
respect to make any decision that will
justify this insinuation. But to return to
the road provided for in the bill. Is it not
such as the present circumstances of the
country will fully warrant! Is it not calcu-
lated to improve the condition of the coun-
/ try' To strengthen the bonds of Union
and brighten the chain ofmutual inter-
course' Will it not confer benefit on
the people at large Surely the nation
is in as good situation for undertakings
of this kind now, as it ever has been
| heretofore. What, then, is the cause of
this hue and cry' Is not our national debt
nearly paid' And when paid, are not
apprehensions expire sscd that the surplus
revenue will be divided among the sew
eral States In that event what is to be-
come of internal improvements, or works
of national character? Gentlemen tell
us that the Stale es must be left to accom-
plish these works themselves; that is,
when they agree among themselves that
a certain work is eXpcdient and proper.
i And who does not see that the will of
single State is sufficient to defeat every
undertaking ofthe kind As an illustra-
ton of this truth, gentlemen have only to
look at this very road. 1t passes through
seven of the States farther South, but all
their contributions arc to be rendered
void because Virginia, perchance, is un-
willing to engage in the undertaking, and
because New-York will not pay for
about one hundred miles fthc road that
may pass through her territory. So it
, will happen with respect to every nation
al design. The recusancy, not to say
the obstinacy, of one or two States will
defeat the whole. The case, therefore,
resolves itself into this question: shall the
system of internal improvements continue
or shall it not If yea, they must be done
by the nation in its collective capacity
1.-THE States will never combine in
any such scheme. In still further
prosecution of that appeal to sectional
views, which has characterized this de-
bate, it has been said by gentlemen from
\ Tennessee, upper Virginia, and a por-
ton of PENNSYLVANIA, that not one cent
has yet been granted from theTrcasury for
their benefit This argument is surely
not good one, and would not be entitled
to much consideration if it stood alone ;
but it is an useful one, it comes home to
their feelings. Did those gentlemen
withhold their aid to works of internal
improvement, because they were in 9th
er Statcs' No, sir, we are told they did
not. Has upper Pennsylvania ever act
ed on this principle Is there one gen
tleman from that or any other part of that
State, who can withhold his vote from
this bill Did they withhold their votes
(thc gentlemen from the interior Of that
State) from the Delaware Break-water
So far from it, that an honourable gentle
man through whose direct this road Will
pass (Mr. Ramsey,) as he now tells me,
offered the resolution which first directed
the attention of the House to consider
alton of that work then as to the Della
ware and Chesapeake canal, when the
question of subscription of stock to that
canal was under consideration, where Is
the evidence of the hostile feelings from
the sectional interest ofWestcrn Pennsyi-
vania, Tennessee or Kentucky. The