Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1831-05-12
Nashville, April %, 1881.

Consistency IS jerct." took ocoa-
sion. some DAYS ago TO auimadycrt on The giar-
ing inconsistency displayed by the Prrsd mt
in refusing 10 approve the MaysvIlio Road bi3L
in 1880, alleging cons tilulonh scruples as the
reason of that refusal, aniin " little yea
afterwards approving several other bills pre-
cisely similar in character and involving es-
sent,ally The same constitutional question. HIS
friends have not attempted to explain this in-
consistency, and the fact itselfis unden,sd and
unde enable. What confidence, then, we ask,
can either party repose in a politician whose
pritcipIes are thus loose and variable
The truth Of the matter is this Gen. jack
sons own opinion WAS long ago made up WIN
regard to the right of the general gove'"me OF
to make appropriations for purposes OF internal
improycment, on the affirmative side Of the
que tion and his rejection of the haysVh'e
Road bill was sacrifice of his opinion to that
of some Of his advisers, -" a power behind
the throne, greater than the throne itself
aided by n feeling of hostility entertained by
the President himself towards the sec ion oil
country, the interests Of which this bill was de-
signed to promote. We can conceive of no
Other possible solution of his conduct for. II
the reasons urged by him, in his celebrated
Veto Message, were the true grounds OF objec-
ton 10 tina, bill, why were they forgotten or
disregarded when other laws OF a similar cha
racter were submitted TO his consideration
and actually received his signature I
That Gen. jackson is disposed to give lat
| ,udinarian construction to the constitution
we have the most satisfactory evidence, IN re
eorded facts The Nashville Herald has con-
suited The Journals Of the Senate OF the United
States, during the period for which Cen. j.
was a member, aud gathered several facts
| which prove il, heyond the reach OF doubt. In
| 1921, for example, he voted for bill " 10 pro-
of roads and canals, the germ Of an extern
siye and splendid system OF internal improve
meut, proposed by MIR. Calhoun. then Secre,a-
~ of War, in one of his prodigat Official Re
ports 10 Congress. VIII it be said tina, this vote
howeyer, is not definite and decisive enough
| 10 fix upon him tho charge of la,iiudinaI ian
ism3 A further search will then do so most
, conclusivrly. Judge Smith, OF 5. c. then, as
now, a warm advocate of limited consruc'
ton OF The constitution, when he saw that this
splendid scheme would receive the sanction oil
Congress proposed as an amendment to the bill,
a clause declaring that nothing herein contn-
ed shall be construed TO affirm or admit power in
Congress, on their own auihority,to make roads
sod canals within the States Of the Union"-
And Gen. Jackson p0ted against this amendment /;
thu. affirming tho existence OF this power in
Congress-which he denied Ia his Veto OF
1880. and, consistent man again affirmed
10 1891, by approving several bills making
sppropriatioos Of money for purposes OF inter
osI Improvement But, still farther MIR. Vad
Dyke, then Senator from Delaware, endea-
voreA 10 sare The rights ofMs STATES, by an a.
meodment less Objectionable to the lat'tudina'
r;aos. than thai which had been submitted by
Judge Smith ard rejected: RE mosed'o add
a proriso, " that previous 10 making any Of me
aforesaid surveys, the consent oil The states
through WINCH said surveys are 10 &c MADE