Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1830-06-09

be- ev;s,encs after haGing passed through
two nrotracted wars: the one fer the az
ouisition and the other fol the maintenance
of liberty-free from debt, and with all liel
immense resources unfettered. VIVA,
salutary influence would not such an eA''
bition exercise upon the cause OF ilnera.
principles and free government Throughout
the world? Would We notourselVes INV,
in its effect, an additional guarantee uia'
our political institutions will be traIlSu"'
ted to the most remote posterlty, witnou'
decay? A course of policy destined 10
witness events like these, cannot be beneh'-
ted by legislation which tolerates scratn-
bic for appropriations that have no relation
TO any general system Of improvement
and whose good effects must OF necessity
be very limited. In the best view OF these
appropriations, the abuses to which ihey
lead. far exceed the good which they are
capable of promoting. They may be re-
sorted TO as artful expedients, to shit up
on tho Government the losses OF unsuc-
cessfl private speculation, and thus by
ministering to personal ambition and self
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, tend to sap the tounda-
tons Of public virtue, and faint the admin
,sirot;on Of the Government with a demon
! alizing influence.
j In the other view of the subject, and the
] only remaining one, which It IS my lnien-
ton 10 present at this time, IS involved me
. Ieyncdency of embarklng 70 system oil
, internal improvement, without previous
amendment of the Constitution, explaining
and defining the precise powers THE Fed
eral Government over =. assuming inc
right to appropriate money, to aid IA Inc
f construction of national works. TO be war
anted by the cotemporaneous and contn-
f timed exposition ofthe Constitution, ITS IN
J snfFicjencv tor the successful prosecution
Of them, must be admitted by all candid
81 minds. five look TO usage to define the
e extent Of the right that will be found So
T. variant, and embracing so much that has
been oyerruled. as 10 involve the whole
81 subject in great uncertainty, and 10 rem
. der the execution Of our respective duties
o IN relation to it, replete with difficulty and
q embarrassment. Il is IN regard 10 such
e works, and the acquisition of additional
G territory, that the practice obtained ITS hrst
6otlng. In most. if not all other disputed
1 questions of appropriation, the construc
G fon of Constitution may be regarded
= As unsettled, if the right 10 apply money,
nm tho enumerated cases, IS placed on the
= ground Of usage.
This subject has been one Of much, and
? II may add, painful reflection to me- II
t has bearings that are well calculated TO ex-
ert powerful influence upon our hitherto
d prosperous system of government, and
r which, on some accounts, may even excite
f Idespoudency in the breast Of an american
D ictizen. will not detain you with pro-
4 llessions of zeal in the cause of internal
improvements If to be their friend Is Il
d. virtue which deserves commentator, our
n country is blessed with an abundance of ~;
:, for do not suppose that there is an intelh
gent citizen who does not wish TO see
I them flourish. But though all are their
y friend, but few, trust, are unmindful Of
the means by which they should be promo
ted. none certainly are so degenerate "a
TO desire their success at the cost Of that
sacred instrument, with the preserV ion OF
which is ndlssolubly boand our countryS
hopes Indifferent Impressions are enter
tanned in any quarter; If 1t Is expected that
the people of this country, reckless OF then
constitutional Obligations, will prefer their
local interest to the principles of the u
Mon, such expectations will IN the end BE-
disappointed; or, if it be not so, then. ca
deed, has the world but little TO hope from
the example of free government. Wher
aH honest observance of constitutional
compacts cannot be obtained from commu-
mites like ours, il need not be anticipated
elsewhere; and the cause in which there
has been so much martyrdom, and from
which so much was expected by the friends
Of liberty, may be abandoned; and the de
| grading truth, that man is unfit for self
government admitted. Ard this Wlll be
the case if erpediency be made a rule Of
construction in interpreting the Constitu-
ton. Power, in no government. could de
sire a better shield for the inslduous ad
vances, which it is ever ready to make, up
on the checks that are designed 10 restrain
its action,
But do not entertain such gloomy apprehon-
,ions If it be the wish of the people, that the
| construction of roads and canals should be con-
Quoted by the Federal Government, It Is not only
highly exPedent, but indispensably necessary that
/ . previous amendment Of the constitution, dele
! eating the necessary power, and defining and re-
srrcting its exercise with reference 10 the sove
rciguty Of the states, should be mlde Without
| II, nothing extensively useful can be effected The
right to exercise as much jul diction as is ne
ccs5ary to preserve the works, and to raise funds
by the collection Of tolls to keep them in repair
cannot be dispensed with The Cumberland load