Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-05-28
GONrGeys s. STOYrNle,

n
In Committee OF the Who'll on the bill to construct
National Road from Buffalo, in the Safe of New
York, 10y he City Of Washington, to New Orlean,
MIR. CHAIRMAN 1 shouh play the hypocrt
were to attempt TO Disguise the inter feel m ,h
hill unier considera ion, Many OF the people whom
represent have deep and direct interest in the roa
which propn'es to estabh aud il, under existing cir
cuinstances, | did not give il my humble support
should feel conscious conviction Of msre, r.,e min,
their Interests aud OF betraying The tru. with which
thew have honored me-
The representative, according 10 nv p,,ical creeJ
is bound in all cases, except where tn, Con.ti,ut ion
in'erpo.e- barri"rs in this other body 10 reec
tie wishes aud interests OF his constituents ard not hi.
own individual views To DO this is happily felt by me
not to be less duty than pleasure.
Although am one OF these who construe the Con
su'n'on a" denying to congress general right make
roads, even though their eXt~nt them vi the
characteristics of nationality, yet the peculiar comb
nation Of circumstances which exists in relation TO hi.
subject at this time, rds my mind OF all scrupes upon
thi' point.
The consi'u,ionali,y OF the measure as | conceive
it'll Nc now involved. The question is not whether
congress possesses, under the Constitution, power TO
make this roa but il il, properly has congress.
right TO re-dstribute the surplus in m Trea.ury
beyond what NAV be necessary defray the ordinary
expenses OF the Government, and what may be applied
to the eX,inguishment of the national debt among the
people OF the Union
little reflection will satisfy you Sir. that the ap
preparation OF money involved in this bili is evil az
be an EVIL, some apprehe nd ii be) which has H.
root IN the exciting revenue system. So lorg "a the
present tariff OF duties is main aimed it is manies that
we shali ma IN our treasury large annual residtn
al or all ordinary appropriations have en- made And
who can doub', after wha' has occurred here i'm this
session OF congress, that il i. the fixed determination
oil majority OF this body and, by inference he de
termination OF m,jorty Of the people of the United
States, to persist in the existing tariff system The
question, then, unavolahly occurs, what di.po.on
ought 10 be made OF this surplus money, Surely no
one will contend that il ought to lie rusng i'm our cof
fersnone will contend, after it tas gotten there that
the Constitution VII require it to remain there And
TO whdtu shall we appropriate in C,n w. apnronr
an InOr " no thant
prOvebents?
would myself have preferred that this surplus of
revenue should have been apportioned among the
several states according TO their poru Ation for proo
ses oil internal improvements bat in this we who con
s"ue me Constitution Tgidiy, are opposed by a major
~ Congress now, as to all practical effects, pos,esses
the power 10 appropriate the money of the public Trea
sury to objects Of internal improvement as fully a,
Consttuton. in so many words, gave that power Nor
has this power been dormant Ii has been exerted in
variety OF instances.
The money collected into The public Trea.ury from
impots, &c belongs to the people in The mass and il
becomes duty TO return il 10 them nv that mode
that will most equally distribute il among them and at
the same time, effect for them the greatet general
goou' In no way, does 1t seem 10 me- this end be
more adVsntase9u'y attained than by expanding it up
on work Ike that proposed in the bill under consde
tion' The road will exter from the Northern TO the
Southern extremity Of the Union; and as 4 road will
accommodate vast proportion of its citizens: he side
the money expended IN making it, will be as generally
scattered among the people il could be by being an
popriatej TO any object of improvement whatever II
u'e'y imposSioIe alter havlPg collected by taxa
ton, sum OF money from the people ever TO return
II to them again, Individually, in the promotion in
whch II was taken ffom them. The nearest approach
mar can be made TO such distribution is he effect
ed by throwing 1t into general circulation and leaving
to the influence of individual enterprise TO control is
particular destination. 1t seems 10 me- then MIR
Chairman that we cannot adopt better Coicy at thi.
ume, than 10 put INTO general circulation "A few hum
dred thousand dollars annually of the Peope's moncv
by constructing with it, for their accommodations mi.
great nailon" road. You will then have the pleasure
n Teti hat ha
their money, but along with il great national improve
ment And here, Sir, the question il not unworthy
your most serious reflection row far this capital Tins
collected thus expended, will have suffered
when il again into its legitimate channels o
circulation among The people. Will have suffered
any dmihntion! As view the subject, it will not
Then II II will no, have suffered any dinnution il IL
not lar deduction that the road will be clear gain to
the people?
The policy of nation, in regard TO its pecuniary
iunds is very different in some mporant
from that Of an individual person. IL is the motley nj
nation to have on hand greater capital hn i, sutF
oent Tor the emergencies of the time- il the polio
OF ndiviluai persons TO augment their funds az much
az possible The wealth If an individual depends upon
himselt,--lhe wealth of nation depends upon the
wealth OF ITS citizens and whether capital he in the pri-
vae pockets Of the citizen or i'm The public Ty,,.,,rv
u ls alike the capital Of the nation. Now IT, without
oceasioning any sensible Inconvenience or distress 10
the people composing the body polite a sum of IN one
can ne drawn from them, in the Of few years
suhcirht 70 produce work Of great national benefit
"A work OF the advantages Of which thousands of
Your citizens will he highly sensbiewbat sound oh
lection upon the OF policy, can be urged against
tie execution Of such plan?
There have been, for many years past large animal
balances IN the Treasury, which have been TO the ma.
uon and the people, dead capital On The LIST day oil
January, ISIS, there wa in the Treasury an unex X.
pended balance OF S6,66S ,256 TO- on the I. dav of
January, 1929, there was balance OF 1912 1876 81.
on the let day Of January 1890 there was balance of
Si4lO,07l 60; aud, the LIST of January, 1881 sc.
codng 10 tie estimates of the Secretary of the Tres-
sufy, there will be balance Of Sl,igl5t5 OF Now
eIr rs IT strikes mind II congress bad CONNIE M led
m ROAD iour hve, or six years ago, IL might before
now, have been hn'shcd and yet portion If the peo
Pile would have been sensible OF the least pecrnis
lee of pressure. And now Sir if you proceed to iis
construction, what peeuniary embarrss.ments can YOU
expect 10 encounter The whole sum estimated a.
necessary 10 complete the road is considerably short nj
~ on the LIT Of January next, and which must be re.
gafhed ~ dead capital, Il not employed What mia
chill ark, will you do'What injury to the peopl.
or any portion OF ne people will you do by approp &.
ing part or even he whole OF this balance 10 The con.
s'rucon Of an Improvement valuable as thIt propos.
ed by this bill will be?
Bot, Sir I have not yet presented this iect in
lie most HaeTng gont OF view, in reference 10 the re-
sources Of The nation II should not escape reflection
That IN five six years from this time At most The an
nud balance IN the Treasury will rise from four five ot
Fix millions, 10 ten twelve; Or IL The tariff Of due.
should be reduced TO such standard a. that no ono
could complain Of II oppressive, steady balance
~ believe, Of from FIVE 10 eight millions When on,
revenue shall thus overflow, which will certainly be
TIE case, alter the exing1sb ut Of the national de h
Whist course NJ policy shall be pursued2 VIII il We
Constitutional CT erpc'ifnf Nat portion of Ce people
fHOIh f,t sfN aTi eH.'in5'ey refuse 10 plfCciptfa