Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-03-02
SPEECH OF MR.. WEBSTER
On Mr.. Foofs Resolution.
IN SENATE--JAN. &c, 1880.
(coNTrHuED.)

is the point.
The real question between me and linn, is where
has the doctrine been advanced, Mt the South or the
East that the population of the Yves; should be re-
tarded, or at least need not he fastened account
of its effect to drain off the people from the Atlantic
States! Is this doctrine, as has been alleged, OF Eas-
tern orig;n' This is the question. Has the gentle
found any thing by which, he can make good his
accusation? submit to tho Senate, that he has en-
tirey faed and as far as this debate has shown
the only person who has advanced such sentiments, is
n gentleman from South Carolina, and friend TO the
honorable member himself The honorable gen
tleman has given no to this there is none
which ran be givcn. The simple fact, while IT. re |
uurcs no comment to enforce il, defies all argument
~ refute it, could refer TO the speeches of another
: Southern gcntlcman, in years before, OF the same
general character and to the effect, Us that
which has been quoted but will not consume the
time of the Senate by tho reading Of them.
SO then sir, New England is guil,lcss of the po-
ley of rctardmg Western population. and of NIL en-
w and jealousy Of the growth of tho New States
Whatever there be Of that policy in the country, no
part of it is hers. II it has local habitatinn, the
honorable mcmbc, has probably seen by this time,
where he is look for It: and it it has received
u name, he hos himself c,rstcncl it. /
We approach, atlengfh, sir, 10 more Important
part of the honorable nilemar's observations
Snce it docs not accord with my views of Justice q
policy to give away the public lands altogether, as
mere matter of gratulty, am asked by the hon
orabls gentleman on what ground it is, that con-
TO vote them away III particular nstances?-
How, he inquiries, do reconcile with these profess
scd sentiments, my support Of measures uppropra-
ting PORTIONS Of the lands to particular rivers, and
particular institutions in the West? This leads sir,
to the real and wide difference IT. polit cal opinions
between the honorable gentleman and myself On
my part, look upon all these objects connected
with the good. airy embraced in lis Objects
only local good. This is difference. The in
tcrroga,ory, which he proceeded to putt once tx
plains iiic difference '.Wlat interest. asks he, has
South Carolina i'll q Canal i'll Ohio'" Sir, this very
fall Iylrnp fhn<
teman's whole political system; and its answer c1-
pounds mine. ii re VIC d. fer, toto epio look up
On road the Allegheny, Canal round the
Falls Of the Ohio, or q Canal or Railway from the
Atlantic to the Western waters, as being objects
large and extensive enough to be fairly said to be
for the common benefit. The gentleman thinks 9TH
crwise and Tins is the key 10 open his constitution of
the powers the Government. He may ask upon
his system, what interest has South Carolina in a
Canal in Ohio9 On that system, il is true she has,
no interest. On that system, Ohio and Carolina
different Goverpments and difcrcnt countries, con-
nected here, IS true, by some slight and ill defined
bond of Union but in all main respects, separate and
diverse. On that SYSTEM Carolina has no more in
terest i'll Canal in Ohio than in Mexico The gen
tleman, therefore, only follows out his own prncI-
pies; he does no more than arrivc at the natural
illusions OF his own doctrines; he only announces the
true results Of that creed which be has adopted him
self, and would persuade others to adopt. when he
thus declares that South Carolina has no interest in
public work in Ohio. Sir, We narrow minded peo-
pie OF New England do reason thus. Our no.
tion of things is entirely different. We look upon
the States not as separated but united We love
to dwell on that Union, and on the mutual happiness
which it hos much promo ed and the common re-
nown which it has greatly contributed TO acquire
In our contemplation, Carolina and Ohio are parts
of the same country States, unrcd under the same
General Government, having interests, common,
sociatei, interminglcd. In whatever is within the
proper sphere Of the constitutional power of this
Government, we look upon the States as one. We
do not impose geographical limits, to patriotic
lN
taias aud lines Of latitude, 10 find boundaries be-
yond which public improvements do not benefit us.
We who come here, as agents and representa-
tlyes Of those narrow minded and selfish men of New
England, consider ourselves bound to regard, with
equal eye. the good of the whole, in whatever is
within power of legislation SIR, if rail road
or canal, beg ianing in South Carolina, and ending in
South Carolina, appeared to me To be of national
magnitude, believing, | do, that tie power OF
Government extends to the encouragement of works
of that description, If were to stand up here, and
ask, what interest has Massachusetts i'll rail road
in South Carolina, should not be willing to face nv
constituents. These same narrow minded mon would
tell ME, that they had sent for the whole
country, and that one who had possessed too little
comprehension, either of intellect or feeling, one
who was not large enough in mind and heart TO
embrace the whole, not fit to be entrusted with
the interest fany part. Sir do not desire to en-
urge the powers of the Government, by unustifia-
BILE construction; nor TO exercise any not within q
fair interpretations But when it is believed TINT n
exercised for the general benefit Of the whole so far
respects the exercise ofsuch power the States
one. 1t was the very object of the constitution
to create unity of interests the extent of the now
crs of the General Government. In war and peace,
are one; IN commerce, one because the author
ity OF the General Qovernaent reaches to war and
peace, and to the regulation of commerce. l have
never seen any difficulty in erecting lipbt hon.
gcs on the Lakes, than the Ocean: In inproyine
the har5ors of inland seas, than if they were with,
in the ebb and flow of the tide; or of removing Oh
strucions in the vast straem Of the West more than
in any work TO facilitate commerce, on the Atlantic
coast If there be power for one, here is pow
or also for the other; and they all equally for the
country. a
There are other objects parently more local, or
nevertheless, have concurred With others to rive
aid by donations of land. IT is proposed to construct
Il road in through of the new States in which
this government possesses large quantities of land
lave the United States no right, great and un
fnvPn q 70 flnv undo ~ -.