Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-05-04


The western route will CT different tions of the
country which separated by natural obstacles
This is one ofhe great advantages Of internal improve
ments. IL will form communication between tho
w est and the Atlantic Ocean, and augment Internal
trade the people OF the West could bring their produce
TO IL and along it, in either direction. TO the most conve
nient avenue TO market.
There liz another consideration; il |. miraculous to
see, as we now do the rising country i'm the west
the Imagination of no man could have ioreseen it,
The enterprise Of the West has greatly enlarged tho
Importance and power OF the Nation; and, as the Wes
tern States have no lands to form public fund.- cam
not be expected, that they will make many leading
roads Tor long tirse, By direct taxation the peo
pie: the nett proceeds from the sale of the public
lands. will always he inadequate for the roads which
their rapidly increasing population will require. This
road would highly benefit portion OF the West; butt
IT should run to the east the mountains, the people
oi the west would reap no advantage from il.
will close this part OF the subject by reading an eI-
tract from the Report OF the Postmaster General, in
1924. II is as follows
"Phat the route on which the mail il carried from
the Seat OF Government 70 New Orleans, is estimated
at $50 miles, and requires travel OF "a days in the
winter and spring seasons Of the year The mail
this route IL sometimes entirely obstruced by high
waters; and, when this y not the case, it equeny
much Injured 6y the mai, horses swimming creeks
and through swamps by which newspapers are frs
qnently destroyed and letters obiiterated."
In this report il is further remarked, that--"The
route, by the way of arrenton, Abingdon, and Knox
vile, affords great facilities for the construction of
mail road. Through Virginia and Tennessee the ma
terals are abundant for the formation Of turnpike,
and through tile States OF Alabama and Mississippi il Is
believed, from Information which has been obtaineds
that in part OF the Union artificial road Of tho
same length be constructed at less expense; on his
part OF the the face OF the country is level and
the soil well adapted for the formation OF solid road
II substantial road were made in this dire ction to
New Orleans, the mail could be ranspo ted to that
place from this city, in eleven days, if the roads
pass through the capi'os OF Virginia, North Caroli
ma and Georgia, il could be conveyed in less than
twelve days. The Department pays at the rate
q a e n on of he I'M
three times in each week, 10 New-Orleans; when, on
good turnpike road, it could be conveyed ia STAGE
often, and i'm less than half the time the ex-
pensc, with the utmost security, and with considera-
BILE increase OF the receipts Of the Department"
The Committee have introduced this bill without
any reference to the consent of the States eemingis
to be entirely immatsral. Mr.. Madison, in his reiec.
ton of the bill t. set apart &c says THAT if the pow.
is not vested in Congress- the assent of tie states
cannot confer it, In the first session OF the if zenith
Congress- this House, by vote of 80 TO rs, asserted
the power TO make post road, military roads and
Their roads, without the consent OF the States BY Inc
act OF the 30th April, 1902 by which Ohio admit
mted INFO the Union certain conditions anne xed,
for the free acceptance rejection OF the Convention
among which the application Of part OF the nett
proceeds Of the lands lying within the State to the lay
ing and making of public roads, leading from the
nav igable waters emptying into the Atlantic TO the
Ohio, to the said State, and through the same-such
roads to be laid ont under the authority Of Congress
th the consent of the several States through which
pucn roads shall pa's. In compliance with this act
the law Of the 29th March 1906, for the construction
OF the Cumberland road requested the President to
obtain the consent OF the States through which the
road pass AZ this early period it does not APPEAR
that the subject had been much reflected on. Mr.
Nonroes views presented 10 Congr ss on the 4th Of
May 1922 contains this passage, "The States ndividu
ally, cannot transfer the power to the United State
can the United States receive II. The Constiu-
on forms equal and the sole relation between tho
General Government and the several States. and re.
cognizes no changes in il which should not, in like
manner, apply 10 ALL" In addition will read an ex.
tract from the Report Of the Committee Oh Roads and
Canals, in the first session of the 18th Congress- hfr,
Hemphill here read the following:
"The General Government cannot acquire exclusive
jurisdiction, except over all places purchased by ths
consent OF the legislature of the State in which the
may be for the erection of forts, aZnes arse
naia, dockyards, and other needul buildings. The
States can, in other instance. give jurisdiction TO
the United States The General Government derives
its whole power from the Constitution, and it nei-
Their be increased nor diminished in the slightest
ucular, by any other means than by amendment Of
the Constitution.
"The General Government and the Staes, are to act
in their own proper spheres, the powers they re-
spectiveIy possess; they exchange power, or
by any consent combination of power give or isxo
jurisdiction from each other"
Congress became 80 well convinced OF the inmility Of
obtaining the consent OF the States that bV the act Of
the 81 March, 1925. for the continuation of the Cum
berand Road to Zanesve, and TO lay out road from
therce, by the Seats Of the Governments Of the States
Of Ohio, indiana aud Illinois, to the Seat Of Govern.
ment in the State Of MssouriS omitted the el,use en-
tirey Indeed every one, the slightest reflection,
will see that power cannot he acquired in this way
and to exercise il in this modified form, might lead 10
delays and Inconvenience; States may assent AMI
others decline, and the consent may be given on con-
ditions concerning which disputes might afterwards
aIse.
am fully convinced that where either government
jurisdiction, had better act on is own aulor
ty where there is concurrent jurisdiction, there can
never be necessity for both TO ac for II one acts
both can enjoy the benefit Of til speaking Of In
ternal improvements; in such cases there can be no
danger "fany conlclior; fer il s unnatural suppose
that one would desire TO ezpend money on an object
which the other had commenced and was willing to &C
cOmplish Of s own accord | will here be allowed
Mr.. Chairman, TO make few general observations on
the subject Of Internal improvements; and will be.
gin with calling to the recollection Of the Committee
extracts from the Messages OF several Of the Pre-
sidents
Mr. Jefferson, in anticipation Of n surplus revenhe
made suggestions az 10 lie application. He asked, "shaii
lay unproduciive in the vaus2 shall the revenue be-
reduced or shall il not rather be appropriated 10 the
imWoVementof roads and canals rivers education and
other great foundations OF prosperity s. union under tho
powers which Congress may already possess by such
amendments OF the Constitution; may be approved Of
by the Sate2 While uncertain OF the course OF things
The time may be advantageOusy employed IN obtaining
the powers necessary for sysem of Improvement,
should that be thought best"
Mr.. Madison, in his Message Of 1915, refers 10 this
subject and 'ays that among the Of advancing
the public interests the occasion is proper one for re-
calling the attention Of Congress TO the great Importance
OF establishing throughout country, the roads and
canas which can best he executed under the National
authority No objects within the circle of political
economy, 90 richly repays The expenses bestowed on
ihemi here arc none, The utility Of which IL uni
versally ascertaned and acknowledged; none that do
more honor to the governments, whose wise and enarE