Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-02-26
SECOND SPEECH OF Mr.. WEBSTER,
nv MIR. POeIsS RESOLU7YOM-(Confinu

We approach, at length, sir, TO more i'm
por,ant par; Of the honorable gentleman's OBJ
s.rva,ions. Since il does not accord with my
views Of Justice and policy to give away me
nublic lands altogether, as mere matter OF gra-
,ui,y. am asked by the honorable gentleman
on what ground il is ,ha, l consent to vote them
awav in particular ins,ancest How, he in
ou;re,. do I reconcile with these protested sem
tinents, my support OF measures applsPra'-
ing portions OF the lands to particular roads,
particular canals, particular rivers. and 2arl-
cular insti utions of education in the VEST
This leads, sir, TO the real and wide diference
in political opinions between the honorable
gentleman and myself On my part, ! look
upon all these objects as connected with the
common good fairly embraced in us objects
ard its terms; he, on ,he contrary, deems them
all, if good at all, only local good. u his Is
our difference. The in'eIrogstory. which he
proceeded 20 put, al once explains this differ
encr. "What in, crest" asks he, has South
Carolina in canal in Ohio" Sir, this very
question is full Of signifc anee. I, devsloPes
the eentleman's whole political system; and IT'S
answer expounds mine. Here we differ, toto
ceIo. look upon road over the Allegheny,
a canal round the Falls of the Ohio, or canal
or railway from the Atlantic to the Western
waters, as being objects large and extensive
enough 10 be fairly said TO be for the common
benr6. The gentleman thinks otherwise: and
this is the key 20 open his construction oil the
mowers Of he Government. He may well ask
unon his system, what interest has South Caro-
lima in a canal in Ohio! On that system, 1t IS
true she has no Interest. Or that system,
Ohio ard Carolina are diff Governments
and different countries, connected here, u IS
,rue nv some slight and i'll defined bond OF
Union, bu' in all main Respects. separate and
diverse. On that system, Carolina has no
more interest In canal in Ohio than IN Next
CO. The gen lcman, therefore, only follows out
his own principles; he does no more than ar
rive at the natural conclusions OF his own doc
trinrs; he only announces tn, true results OF
tina, creed which he has adopted himself, and
would persuade others 70 adopt, when he thus
declares that South Caroline has no inter st in
publ, work In Ohio. Sir, We narrow mind
ed people Of New Eng land do moi reason thus
Our notion OF things Is entirely different. we
look upon the States not as separated, but uni
ted We love TO dwell on thai Union, and on
the mutual happiness which il has so much
promoted. and The common renown which u
HIS so greatly coNtrinued TO acquire. In our
contemplation, Carolina and Ohio are parts OF
the same country; States, united under The
same General Government, having interests,
coo.mon, associated, intermingled. In what
ever is within the proper sphere OF the con
s,i ioral power Of this Government, we look
upon the States as one. we do not impose
geog. aphical limits to our patriotic feeling or
regard; We do no, follow rivers and mounts aims,
and lines pf la itpde, 10 End boundaries beyond
which public improvements do not beneh' US.
We who comr here, as agents and representa-
tiyrs Of those narrow minded and selfish men
Of New England, consider ourselves as bound
TO regard, wi h an equal eye, the good OF the
whole ia wha' ever is within our power OF le
g,sta ion Si,. e rail road a canal, begin
ming in Sou,h Carolina and ending in South
Carolina. apr ared 10 me to be Of national i'm
por ance and national magnitude, believing, as
de. that the power Of Government extends TO
the encouragement Of works Of that descrip-
ton, If were TO stand up here, and ask, what
ip'eres, has Massac husetts in a rail road in
Sou h Carolina, should not be willing to face
nv cons ituen,s. These same narrow minded
msu would ,s'l me, that they had sent me 10
&C, for The whole country, and that one who
possessed too iiiile comprehension, either oil
intellect or feeling-oEe Who was not large en-
ough, in mind aud hearI, TO embrace the whole
was not h to be entrusted with the inierest.of
any par,. Sir, do no, desire to enlarge the
powers Of the Government, by unjustihaole
constructions; nor to exercise any no, within a
fair in expectation. But when il is believed
tha power does exist, hen 1t is, in my judg
men', 10 be exercised for the general benefit o!
the whole: so far as respects The exercise OF
such power. the States are one. l, was the
very OBJECT of the Constitution 10 create unity
OF Interests TO the extent OF the powers Of the
General Government. In war and peace, we
are one; IN commerce, one; because tn. autho.
ritv Of the Geaeral Government reaches 10 war
and peace; aud to the regulation OF commerce
] have never seen any more difficulty in ere CT
ing lighthouses on The Lakes, than on the
Ocean: in improving the harbors OF inland seas
than If they were within The ehb and how O
the tide; or OF removing obsructions in III,
vas, streams Of The Wss', more than in any
work to faoih,a commerce on The Atlantic
coast II there be power fnr one, there is power
s.So for the other; and they are all equally
tos 80 country
fce's are her obJee's, apparently more To-
eai, VI the benefit Of whish is less gener al, 10,