Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-11-29

he may offer to it, dictates tho philippcs
which pcrcnnially stream against Mr.. Clay in the |
columns Of certain organ2 Can he inspire SO
much dread, such irrepressiblc appre henson. such
tormcnting anxiety for the safety of the constitu.
ton, and Jackson and Van Buren, who as all men |
know, besides that they participate IN has lattudin-
Gus opinions, have developed this project of sur
passing ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS they should no,
only not inspire tho least nquetudc, but should even
be viewed as tho Palladia of State Rights and the
Constitution Is this feeling of danger from the
one and this hope of salvation from the ethers
we ask, bona fde genuine and sncere-or are they
alike false, hypoortical and prccndedl Let proba-
bilities, determine public opinion. Is it asked phy
this anxious, this sleePess solicitudc should be felt
by certain people, to keep Henry Clay from tho
station for which Heaven designed him, in Citing
him with unrivalled abilities7 The answer in de-
tail would take us too far out Of our road-Let i,
suffice. that Henry Clay is not man to be moulded
not man either to dread tho hostility of the
Richmond Cotere, to ask their advice or to
submit his inteRtions in advance TO their inspcc-
ton, for their approval rejection, to proprato
their favorable consideration, or deprecatu their
displcasure-as some other Presidents hare done.
Patronage, dispensed by him, would flow in chan
ncls which ho approved, not which certain regula.
est might lose something the substantial benefits
which power anter on favorites; vanity ,rould
lose the qualification of being thought not always
without foundation, the power behind tho Throne
Can stronger motives than the onopoly of favors,
and the direction if not the direct possession of
power, sway the selfish and the ambitious? Need
look farther to discover the true secret Of the
furious and implacabe crusade aga inst Henry Claw
is 1t at all necessary to attempt the impossbilty of
reconciling the support of the Tariff and Improve
ments i'll the person Of ia ckson, to opposition to
those in the person of Clay to account for
the preference given the former? Where is tho man
so SIMPLE so silly, so diotic, so inefftbly and con-
summatcly stupid, if he will reflects to believe of
verify, that opposition to Clay coupled it is with
| support of Jackson, in the nature of things
| be from unalloyed love of the Constitution and
State Rights7 No. There lies at the bottom of
tho opposition to Clay in the quarter llludo to,
principle of action far more potential than the
love Ut abstractions-we mean the love of pa,cer.
and the good things which power commands. All
the rest-atfected generation for principle and the
Constitutions but interested and calculating slang
for 1T is incredible that any in his senses, can
fear TO entrusL the Constitution with Henry Clay
after cntrusting it with Andrew Jackson. If the
lamb has survived tho custody of the wolf, we need
not fear 20 commit it's safety to the tender mcrcies
| OF any less ferociOus ami NAL
But we shall hasten to complete the task which
we proposed by developing Mr.. Clay's opinions
upon other prominet topics of National concern
ROADS & CANALS.
| Mr.. Clay has doubted the legitimacy of
the power to construct Internal Improvements;
ut the same time he has commended that reyc
nue. ought to be raised for that express purpose,
either by direct taxes, by imposts. But in pro-
viding for the expenses ofthe Government prudence
ought to guard against any deficit in the Reve.
nue.; SURPRISES will sometimes remain in the treasu
it is productive of more good that these SURPRISES
should be expended than for them TO lie idle in the
Treasury. These occasional SURPRISES he has been
and is, ia favor of applying to the Improvement of
the Country. 1t is unfounded charge against
MIR. Clay, that he has contendcd for the right
or the proPrety, of raising money in order to con-
siruct Roads and Canals. 1t is equally ia lse that
he wishes to exercise single power, not as he be-
ieves fairly conferred, that The Federal Govern
ment should WELD an influence, or exhibit splop
doE-("splendid" and "overshadowng" are the
cuckoo terms) not designed by the plain intent of
the Constitution. The hydra of consolidation, he
has too much saglcty to fear; were there or
should there he, any for serious alarm he will
long and vainly terrified at the contemplation of
that awful gulph, to steer the ship of state into
smoother, and Cf we may say SOY more fluid waters
Disposed to limit the amount of Revenue to the mr.
| cessities merely Of the Government and to applv
accidental excuses only to Internal Improve
ments, it is obvious that the most timid and ner.
Gus advocate" Of State Rights and foes Of Federal
encroachment, have nothing to fear from the
principles policy of Henry Clay on this point
THE PUBLIC LANDS
The public lands have already excited much at
tention as to the best mode of disposing of them
and are undoubtedly destined TO excite yet moro
Many wise and patriotic have brought them
selves to the conclusion that the best and safest
disposition which can be made of them is 20 relin
qush the tito held by the nation the respect
i've States in which they are situated under such
conditions and stpulations tho policy of Con- |
gross might suggest 1t may be observed in ia |
vor of this proposton--1. That the sales have in |
point of fact, produced but pittance if any pro- |
ut TO the U. States, the purchase money being of |
ten lost, and the charges, in the form of salaries
mite number besides, absorbing nearly the entire
price at which the lands are sold. g. The accu
mutation of great debt on the part of the people
OF the West to the Government, may become an
and inducement to the debtor tn over.
throw the Union, in order to get rid of what he
owes. }. The Public Debt will soon be cxtinouisb
ed, and the public lands will no longer be needed