Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-05-05
Tor ths Martinsburg Ga.etle.

generally prevails (and Of last, Virginia. on
the subject Of Internal Improvement, can
not fail 10 crafty every citizen who wishes
that the prosperity Of every part Of the u
nien should be established upon sure and
lasting foundations. While every Stale WORK.
whether effected by State funds, or BY pri-
yate subsc riptsns aided by the State Go
yernments, is gratifying evidence oil the
progress Of the country IN practical Improve
ment, il does not lessen the essential nece'-
sity to the General Welfare, OF those h'oic
extended and connecting works. mh'sh we
State Governments would not have the means,
and !, NAV he feared, would net have IN all
instances. the disposition to make. Ii is a
. claar percsption of these considerations,
which FIRST led to the exercise OF the power
Of the Federal Government to construct and
aid. works of a National character. This
power, though doubted aud attacked by
party of politicians, who assusie the charac-
Ter of guardians OF State Rights, has been
asserted and exercised from the first days of
State Government TO this moment. The
most deliberate and direct attack upon this
newer and attempt to arrest ITS exercise al
ready comforting such benefits on The whole
Union, has been made by General jackson.
Notwithstanding his bsasteo popularity u
may be safely even noto SAID, that ne anu
his ADVISERS. nave IdhtOy ouo bO W. ~ NO'''
peIled. either to desist from his efforts to ar
rest the legislation of Congress on the sub
iect of Internal Improvement, or to retire
10 private life.
These remarks have been made to bespeake
Tho attention of every one, who may bave an
opportunity Of reading the Report oil the
Committee of the late Congress, to winch,
was referred so much Of the Presidents late
Message, as related to the subject OF Inter
nal Imorevesaent-yu Judge Hemphill of Pa.
was the Chairman Of this COMMITTEE. lie
was friendly to the election oil zen jackson,
but il is now well understood, that he has
become convinced, that the Administration
has endangered the best interests oil the Ma
.ion-His able and excellent Report is one OF
the fruits Of this cohviction-ltis conplete
answer. both in reasoning and fact, to the
assertions and disquisitions OF the Message
II sustains the constitutionaity OF the power,
gives an authentic history Off exercise, and
contains stricking enumeration OF the many
and immense advantages which must result
from its continued application to National
purposes-lt shews how untenable were the
objections Of Gen. Jackson, in the cases,
where he interposed his Veto, and points out
the danger of Vetos in frequent and doubt
fol instances, where the question is that OF
s1pediency oaly, fer Gen Jackson did not
deny the power Of Congress over the subject.
trouble you, MIR. Editor, with these re.
marks, not only to urge on the attention OF
aur citizens the Report Of Judge Hcmphlll,
but to point out feature Of the Presidents
Message, to which this Report is an answer,
that deserves unqualified condemnation. -
Gen. jackson certainly had the right % state
his opinion upon national measures; but he
was under the moral obligation common to
all men to state truly the facts he undertakes
10 speak of, and as President of the u. >.
performing great official duty, this ebhsa
tion, if possible, was peculiarly solemn aud
imperative on him. In his last Message he
states, in order to strengthen his objections
30 aid being afforded by Congress TO sch mes
Of Internal Improvement, "that expenditures
heretofore made for Internal improvement a.
mounted TO upwards OF Five Millions oil Doi
iars;" and that the estimated expense OF
works of which surveys have been made, and
of others projected, amounts to more IMAM
Ninety-six Millions of Dollars" Now had
this oecn the truth Of things well might Con
srsss pause, lest il should, indeed, bring
bankruptcy on the Nation, But the achoic
statement IS perrersion Of The t'H&. The
Committee shew this beyond contradiction.
They state, ''that experimenting some mis-
take" in regard tn these statements OF the
President, they authorised their Chairman
10 move a resolution calling on him to trans
NIT to Congress, statement OF expenditures
actually made and intended to he made for
works of internal improvement. The resols-
ton was offered and adopted by the House
and the President gave the information re
CURED What was the true state OF things?
This sum Of upwards of five millions" m
cluded not only expenditures made for roads
and Canals, bat embraced expenditures SINCE
the commencement Of The Government, tor
building PIERS, improving and preserving
PORTS, Bays and H.3RBORS and re
nrOping distractions 10 The navigation Of R,rers
These latter objects, which never have been;
and cannot be considered works Of internal
improvement, relating TO ertc,1'at or foreign
commerce, ''made up Gas the Committee
say nearly one half Of The sum of GIVE mil,
liens" as stated by the President In regard
to the other item of ''ninety- six millions and
upwards" the Committee state, that all Tia
,rorks Of euery description commenced by the
Government amount To only three millions
seven hundred and thirty two thousand dol
lars. forty three Of which works are baiidina
fiers. ;n,proging Bags and HGbors, sc. i h,
others are Roads now under constI nctIon, ant
except the Cumberland Road, "@e IN th'
Territory Of Michigan" Works net com
msnced, but for which surveys have beer
made, are estimated by the President at IF
ty millions, but the Committee shew, that o
fifty four of these works thirty Seren are i'm