Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-09-24
have much mere to say ON this subject.
" s. Tel.
LNTER.N:aL LWPROTE,fE.N-T,


One oil the strongest objections 10 the exercise, by
congress, oil the constructive power of carrying on
works OF Internal Improvement within the States the
compromising not to co,Tupfing effect which the
system is calculated 10 produce the National Lesis
aiure. To illustrate fully the force of the objection
we will relate an occurrence which transpred in the
Rouse oil Representatives at the close of the last session
oil Congress IL may be proper TO state, that the cir
cumsance did not occur within our personal know
LEDGE and cannot therefore, vouch for the truth of
It, but was spoken Of publicly and frequently and we
entertain not the slightest doubt of its having occurred
precisely as we are about to relate il. On SUNDAY
morning, while the Light House Bill. as il is called
was in progress through the House of
some OF the members, down with fatigue fell a.
sleep. When the final question about to be put
member from one of the Western State. found himself
reused from his sumbers by friend no informed him
asked the sleeping gentleman, "wheher there is an ap
preparation in the bill of dollars for a survey of
~ rivers In my state" "lf there is" he continued
WI" Vo.e i"r ue blliLl not, am against it," The
appropriation tods in the BILL and il secured the gentle
mans vote. This simple fact speaks volumes 1t put,
to flight and utterly demoishes all the arguments OF ex
pediency that can be urged by the advocates of the
system, as ii has been heretofore prosecuted What
indeed, be said in favor of course Of Legislation
dependent alone for its success upon the power il
possesses oil ministering TO own sefshness and
which, by combining and interests s.yiss each
and every one of that sober exercise of and dc
men', upon which wholesome Legislation should ever
rcpose! Well and truly did the venerable sage of Mon
uceio, more than thirty years ago, foresee and predict
the very state of things that exists In the post
script TO letter 10 Mr.. Madison, dated Monticello
March 9th, 1896, he thus writes:
"Hsve you considered all the consequences of your
proposition respecting post roads! view il as source
oil boundless patronage to the Executive, iobbinp TO
members oil Congress and their friends; and bottom
less abyss OF public money You will begin by only
appropriang the surplus of the post office revenues
out the other revenues will soon be-called their aid
and II will be source of eternal scramble among the
members who can get the most money wasted in their
state; and they will always get most who are meanes"
The foregoing prophecy has been literally fulfilled
This road-makng business has "become a source of
boundless patronage to the Executive, and this bound
less patronage was perverted TO the worst purposes
leiectioneerngl by the last administration lit is
source OF '.jobbng to the members of Congress-and
the "abyss OF public money! which il has opened is
certainly bottomiess If not another survey were made
sirty millions of dollars would be suffice TO com
plete the various works OF Internal Improvement in
different sections of the u. States snrveys of which
have already heen ordered and made!
fortunately for our untry, the present Executive
with that magnanimity and devotion TO its interests
which have characterized him, instead of seeking
TO nse for bis own advantage, the "boundless patron
age" before him, has actually cultivated it-He has at
tempted to close the abyss of public money! which at
each succeeding session of Congress is seen TO yawn
wider and deeper. Will the people stand by and sus-
tain him, in his patriotic eforts?We cannot doubt it,
[NdshuiHe Republican.