Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-06-11
To ,5. Edilor of ihs Mohiis comnsrciaI Rsgi..er.

Dear Sir: In your paper of the 18th ut. I find the following inouiries made of me, as being a candidate to represent ths dlstrict m the Congress of the United States, viz: "Do ycu believe in the constitutionalty of approprl- ations by the federal government tor purposes of national internal improvement, and are yon in favor especially of an approprlation oi portion of the public lands by Congress for the purpose of opening the communication oe- tween the Tennessee and Alabama rivers, whether by Rail Road or Canal, as may ai- ter a full investigation be deemed most @ aoVl- sable? Are you opposed to the nulification doctrine, advocated by the leading politicians of South Carolina? Are you in favor ot the leading measures of the present adminlstra- tion of the general government, and are you in favor of the reelection of the presentChiet Magistrate of the nation, &c!"
 In giving due attention to these inquiries cannot deny myself the pleasure to premise, that l considerit my duty, as it will always af- ford me high satisfaction, to answer fully eve ry inquiry which may be made ot me, m re gard to my political sentiments, by any por- ton of my fellow-citzens. The people are concerned to understand the opinions, as well as to know the characters ofthosc whom they may choose to employ in their service; it may even be expedient frequently to make close and strict investigation; and 1t must always De incumbent upon those who offer to represent the people to impart the fullest information in their power answer all the foregoing qucs- tions decidedly in the affirmative. It may not be improper to state, without violation of the bresity which is proper ill a communlca- tion of this kind, some of the general reasons upon which these opinions are formed. It will be seen, on a careful and diligent examin- ation of the Federal Constitution, that its main and leading design was to provide more enectually for the defence of the members of the confederation, and that all the other ob- iects enumerated in the instrument itself, as the causes of its adoption, are auxiliary to this great design, or incidental to it as na- turai consequence. The more perfect union to be formed, the domestic tranquility to be insured, the blessings nf liberty to be secured, the general welfare to be promoted, the Jus- tice to be established between the parties to this great compact, could only be attained by the common defence of the whole against ln- testine broils, or foreign aggresson-For this grand object the combined wisdom, the phy- sical force, the resources snd capabilities of the country were formed into a more perfect union. I cannot therefore hesitate to believe, that Congress has power not only expressly delegated by the constitution, but also in strict pursuance of its leadng.and incontestible ob- iects, to accomplish national improvements intimately connected with the common de- fence. And here it cannot fa'l to be under stood, that the defence of any state of the union; and the means necessary to facilitate and secure it, must be included in the com mon defence intended by the constitution, and involving in fact its very essence and vitality. Congress, therefore, as l conceive, not only has the power, under the constitution, but it is made the most bounden duty of Congress to exercise this power, at all convenient times, and to all expedient and necessary lengths.
 This will lead us to the second point of the inquiry, whether l am in favor of connecting the waters of the Tennessee and Alabama rivers-I consider this connexion highly es- sential to the defence and security of the state, by affording facilities for the conveyance of troops from the interior, the transportation of the artillery and munitions of war in general, provisions for the support of armies on the sea coast, and in those parts of the state where provisions could not be obtained in sufficient quantities, or with that certainty which the operations of defence might require. It ought not to pass unnoticed that cur local situation is peculiar, and in times of war fraught with danger and difficulty. Our extended shore is washed by landlocked sea. Our brethren of the union would have but few and narrow
 
 terrier parts of the union adjacent to us, would be rich and abundant in resources, more than ten fold sufficient for our supply, we would be excluded from the benefit of them. A few ships of war stationed at New Orleans, or off Lakes Borgue and Ponchartrain, would rem der unavailing to us the overfowing granaries of the valley ofthe Mississippi, as well as the arms and munitions of war manufactured in the west; and few more stationed near the Island of Cuba, which from the narrowness oI the sea, scarcely single ship of supply could pass uncaptured, would deprive us of the aid of cur southern and eastern friends. What situation more deplorable, than to per- ish in the pillows near the land, with numerous and powerful friends on the shore, in the agony of unavailing grief but without shall lop or skif to come to our rescue. This IS not high colored picture of our actual sltua- tion. But open communication between the Tennessee and the steam navigation of the Alabama, and the resources of the whole western country would flow to cur relief, through safe and quiet channels, which the fo, ,ee of an invading fee could never prevent or disturb.
 The surface of the Globe has rarely pre- sented the opportunity of performing so bene- hcial work at so small an expense. If this work be necessary tor the security of cur l
 berties, as it undeniably is, under every safe and prudent consideration of the subject, Can we or can the United States hesitate what course ought to be pursued. A connexion with the interior of the country, more perfect than nature has furnished, is absolutely ne- cessary to afford to this state one of the first and greatest benefits which the confederation is bound to provide for us. While we contem- plate this improvement as essential to the se- curity of the State, it's commercial advanta- ges ought not to be entirely overlooked. It would open great commercial communica. ton, the more beneficial as passing through