Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-02-05
KENTUCKY LEGISLATURE

From the Frankfort (ky.) Con1menfctor Inn 10
TIE AMERICAN SYSTEM.-Phe first bust
ness inthe House of Representatives, on Saturday
Jan. Is, was motion to GO into Committee of the
Whole IN order to consider the report published in
the last Commentator,) from the committee on In
tcrnal improvements, to which was referred those
parts Of the message of the Governor relating TO the
Tariff and Internal Improvements, and commupica.
ting the proceedings of certain States of the Union
against particular measures of the General Govern
ment, which they consider unauthorized and contra
ry to the Constitution of the United States
The motion prevailed. md the subject occupied the
attention of the House, in committee or otherwise
until the adjournment, at an unusually late hour.
Tine resolutions were, of course, considered &C.
verally and successfully, before the preamble The
first was in these words
That it s constitutional exercise of the power on
tue part OF Congress, to encourage and protect the
manufactures sof the United ST atee by imposts and
restrictions on the goods, wares and merchandise of
foreign nations-and that the acts of Congress- usu-
ally known by the name of Tariff laws are moi only
constitutional but demanded by the best interests Of
the people of these States
M. Crittenden moved to strike out the latter
clause, and insert the following:-
And that the acts of Congress usnaIly known NV
the name of the Tariff laws are not only copstitu
tional, but are founded upon principles of policy de-
manded by the best interest of the people of these
States.
! This was agreed to in Committee of the Whole.
and afterwards i'll the House, by yeas and nays:-E2
members voting in the affirmative and twelve
1iessrs- Baseman, Boyd, Bruce, Chambers, Durham,
] - 6H.A
W. G. Wilson, in the negative.
Mr.. Bruce proposed substitute for this FIRST re-
solution, in those words
| Phc power OF Congress to lay and collect taxes
duties, mposts and excuses, 10 nav the debta pro
vide for the common defence and general wclfre of
Inc y. States, IS uniLnltc and unrestrained, for
those specific purposes; but the Legislature deny
that Congress derive any power from the consttu-
ton to lay duties or imposts with view 10 prohibit
iInportatons, either partially generally thereby
destroyin both trade and revenue, only intended to
hp s,lntn "A. or,lf ,oks
not general but special, not ornnpotent but limited
and defined by the Constitution of the U. States
Por tins substitute, there we're 12 votes namely
MeFsrs. Baseman, Boyd Bruce Cassidy Chamber.
Dougherty, Durham, Forrest, Penn, sisk Wilcox
en- and w. G. Wilson. Against it $3.50 1t was
rejected.
The second resolution then read as copied be-
low; for which Mr.. Guthrie proposed substitute
in these words: THAT Congress huve no mower TO es
tablish roads and canals in the several States other
than post and military roads; and on those roads have
| no power to erect toll gates.
| 20 which Mr.. Hardy proposed to add-"withou,
the consent of the StatesBut this proposition fail
ed by vote of 40 to 54 and the quest ion was taken
on adopting Mr. Guthres substitute, las above) and
i The second resolution beng still subject TO amend
ment, Mr. Hardy proposed to add--.'but not cree,
toll gates" which Sas rejected.
Mr. Jse moved to add to the resolution this pro-
viso, which Vas also rejected.
Prouided, rhat the Congress of the United States
nave no poWerto construct roads and canals in the
States Tor other than military purposes and post roads
and no power to exercise urisdictona contro oye
sald roads and canals without the consent of the
states IN which they may be constructed
HE second resolution vas then adopted by the
, following vote Ayes 81, Noes4l.
The remaining resolutions we're not contested ant
the whole as amended and passed, are as f0oys:
!. ResolUed by The General assembly Of the Con,
non'oeafth Of Kentucky That it is constitutions
exercise OF the power on the part of Congress,
encourage and protect the manufactures of the Uni
ted States by imposts and restrictions on the goods
wares, and merchandise of foreign nations and tina
the acts of Congress, Usually known by the name %
tariff laws, not only constitutional bnt are foun
ded upon principles of policy demanded by the bes
D interest of the people of these States.
!, z. Hesotoed. That Congress does possess the pow
er unocr the Constitution, to adopt general system
of Internal improvements as national measure fo
national purposes.
Resofced, That this report and the accompany
ing resolutions be forwarded by the Governor of thi
Commonwealth, to the respective Governors of III,
r States OF South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia. AM
e. MISSISSIPPI as the expression of the views of th
General Assembly of Kentucky, the constitutions
power OF Congress over the subjects of domestic
D manufactures S internal improvements: And for the
purpose of ascertainng the views and opinions of thu
several States of the United Suites on the subjects
A. Hesotred, also, Fiat the Governor Of the Com
rnonweath be requested to forward them to the Gov
errors Of the other States of the Union respectfIy
to be laid before the Legislatures of those States fol
their consideration.
. Upon the resolutions and proposed amendment
. there was, of course, some discussion But tn,
chei debate was upon the question of concurrinr II
the preamble, and particularly in reference to one pa
$ ragraph, namely: And the General Assembly. O
Kentucky cannot omit to avail itself of an occasion
SO appropriate to call to its aid the oft repeated sen
tImehts of their most distinguished fellow citizen
Henry Clay, whose Jealous and able exertions and
whose eminent services in support of both of those
measures have been equalled only by his ardent pat
riotism and by his unbending integrity.
Mr.. Guthrie discussed and opposed the REASONING
of the preamble and principles of the resolutions
with his usual ingenuity and at ilty, and combatted
very earnestly, the clause above quoted and Mr.
Cay's title to this mark of respect from the Legis.
Iature lie was replied to by Mr. James r. Morhead
and DR. CrtendeD in a manner very satisfactory {,
Fl their political friends r Hise also spoke at some
length, regretting and disappearing The introduction
OF this paragraph into tho report account of its
supposed tendency to produce division in the House
STRIFE and party luminosity, without necessity Sow
era attempts were made TO modify this clause, and