Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-05-18
SPEECH OF MIR. ARCHER, OF VIRGINIA,
In THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.,
On the Bill proposing to construct National Road
from Buffalo TO New Orleans.

from Buffalo TO New Orleans.
(CoNCLuDED
I1e had been led MIR A. said into this course of
Incidental remark, in the way of Illustration Hav.
ing personal interest to injure, it
merit that he spoke with unreScrvr, and with entire
indifference to whom he might rive offence. The |
proposition he wished in ucate, his: that
a!ton among special interests, embraced by wide
extending system, TO obtain asccndancy at the ex
pnnse of others. the general Interest, inhe-
rent evil of the systcm'h he qualification its other
wise transccndent excellence. In the theory, the
strength and counscs of all to be combined for
tho safeguard ofeach but the opsra did not cores
pond to tho purity of The theory it this circum
stance that flu nishcd the key to incidents which had
given much occasion to surprise, in proceed
inSs here. The smallest of money would some
tunes be denied to the essential public service,
and the most prodlgal grants made the day. III
lands or money, to schemes having obviously only
doubtful or inconsiderabe claims to favor. The solu
nn secret persons familiar with the scene.
The disbursement in these cases furnished the mo-
tive--was he benefit contemplated not the nominal
ohjsct to be effected Let tho pension system be
example. This system, recorded the selection of
subjects, IN reference to indulgence merely, said
(he believed truly to have had its origin in a mista-
= Ken estimate OF the numbers it would comprehend
Uuceasing efforts made of late. notwithstanding
TINS TACT 10 enlarge lbs. comprehension. Had these
Efforts any conneXion as the aspect imported, ~ith
zeal to provide reward and relief for revolutionary
service! No one was imposed by prctence Of
this kind here The real iu!uccmcnt was known to
stand Ill contrast to any impulse of enthusiasm or
generosity 1t wasa simple principle of pecupiary
calculation. The purpose to transfer heavy
poor rate to this Government, from quarters in
which the bur,hen pressed uncGually, if each sus-
famed Its fair proportion; and then b. extension OF
the principle, to augment to the utmost the benefit
from the disbursement. There were of course cX-
cerlns, and mixture of motive, but this was the
leading one A bill had passed one branch of the
Legislature at this very session. enlarge the Inn
It OF ndigcncc, cnti'ng to relief, 1000 dollars
sum which would be regarded as Independence for
the BODY OF The population any where else, though
constituted tgdt Indulgence with III the extension
lIad been proposed larger sum. within any bonn
Diary that would not threaten conteractou from pub
lie indignation and shame, the success would have
been no less uncqnivocal.
The expenditures for Notifications Illustrated the
eamc course of remark. They had amounted to "a
large sum- say nine millions of dollars; yesterday a
very moderate addition TO the appropriation for
ing, that is to say rendering really effective and rea
ey for use, sucl had been complc ed had been re
fused by large There was no extensive in
terest engaged in the founding of cannon. The ben
ert from the disbursements for for6ca had been
widely difiused, and the ground therefore was ade-
quate for sustaining them.
What, them (inQurcd Mr. ARCHER was the real
evil principle of our General Government II was
that the National Treasury unavoidab!y to be
regarded N foreign, rather than domestic aspect
Us something different from the State Treasures; and
. that combinations would be in perpetual generation
or activity, to subject it to contribution His col
league MIR. Barbour) had opened this view He
would take occasion 10 give il expansion and deve,n
1t inevita BILE, that the Disbursements of
the Government should be distributed with GREAT in
equality The largest grew out eff the public debt.
pclln n tInr,e
of capital necessarily. that is to say in the recon OF
commerce-on the seaboard The naval exnendi-
lures, and those purely commercial, follow the
same course The from Ter presented the Guar
ter most demanding preparations of defence. The
disbursements of military character, therefore, whe
ther for Notifications the maintenance of troops
sannst large portion OF them, seek the direc-
ton The seaboard must be the scene of the Ianre,
expenditures of the Government; the region 10 pro
ht by their direct influences. Not the whole sea.
board however, IN equable proportions. To the
n Niruin
mote distances, and not IN circumstances favorable to
the attraction OF Government disbursements The
drect benefit of these disbursements, must, there
lore be realized uneGually low the seabua I'd
confined to the North. The interior and extre me
West were nearly excluded from participation OF it.
Ns he state thls In any way of censure or arracn-
mem! NOT at all! This course Of things was iney-
liable, The revenue however presented Il very DIFF
Ierent history, as regarded the source of its SUNNY
The great mass OF 1t was derived from the duties on
imports. The exports furnished the imports Az
riculture furnished the great mass of the eynor,s
was taxation on agriculture therefore that supned
nearly the entire amount of the revenue 1t was in
peculiar degree, too the character Of agriculture
to consume the whole of its produc,ion: and
the market for it being chiefly foreign with us the
great mass oi this production paid contribution to
troVe nment, IN the duties on the returns procrre5
ny its exportation much larper proportion If The
revenue OF agriculture sustained this burthen than
OF any other occupations. Much of that commerce
was maS uervea rom further charge agriculture
ana eXcnp'ed and manufactures hal not vet obtain,
ca external markets To considerable extent and
therefore, paid nothing in this way. Whilst tbcn
the commercial portion Of the Community constitu
tea chiefly by part only of the seaboard received
the larger proportion Of the revenue of the nation
the agricultural and interior paid nearly tho ,ybI
LIQUID this inequality fail to be felt with sensibjltv,
mat was not to be supposed, and this scnsibitv was
becoming the germ of the most rnenacino evils.
ne quarters which received most literally from the
PUBIC disbursements, had the appetite for them ro6it
tea not gratiiied The parts which received NOTHING
or the least, anxiousy sought indemnity. How was
ls 10 De obtalned' BY sw cling disbursements ntheir
own directions and neighboriood beyond occasion
or crea.long them when not required. Sympathies
OF arthcIal character tended in this manner to dis
tehn and multiply the expenditures of the Govern
Hent' Disbursement became thing good ia itself
per Sc Not one. but many interests were engen
oereo' INTO public prodgaliiy; and what was worse
tcse interests ran inevitably into combinations for
ntua susentation; that is TO say into that state in,