Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-02-22

= Inyuaqe from his colleague. Inc noefties
en .notry nut up to sale: How put up to sale,
MI b.? Il is an imputation on the House
o,lv on this House, but on every Congress
n. Enndationof the Government, and eve
r-ac,tiye from the commencement to the pre-
TS;, bill Mr.. b. said, presented no ques-
e Internal Improvement, as that question
.Jors,ooJ by Southern gentlemen generally.
ia rad voted with his colleague on these APP
a.r;,t;ops heretofore; they were for objects an
liz nroyided for BY Congress, his colleague
ro,sd for them, and this was the FIRST time that
had found out that they put up to sale the liber-
oCb;s country. This was strange declaration
~ hill of the most usual and customary cha
TO Dromote the commerce ard revenue of
rountry-which had been regularly provided
sysry wear. without any body dreaming that
n,.a violation of the Constitution-to hear it
-orI,imed now that il was selling the liberties
ge country! n that is the case, where, he
led, was the vigilance of his colleague on for
Nor occasions, when similar appropriations had
.rsi,ed his vote? The principle, MIR. B. said,
Id never been denied, that where the commerce
Ol the country could be facilitated or increased,
s,l the revenue derived therefrom was received
Exclusively BY the General Government, that it
,as within the province of the Government 10
make the Improvement; and this was strictly and
ryculiarly the case with harbors. & the mouths of
,rers. where distractions impeded or endangered
The navigation. This was a species of improve
npnt which it had never been coEtended devOlv-
al on the States themselves-they had been exc
;ued By the General Government FROM the be-
INNING Of the Government; ~ least such had been
he action of Congress ever since he had been here
/ and the action. he believed, Of those who had
,one before Us. II was for his colleague TO exer-
.ise lis own Judgment for himself on This subject
and all others: but in mercy, Mr.. b. said, he
hoped his colleague would permit him to exercise
ne same right without the imputaiiOn Of selling
me liberties of his country.
The Speaker checked Mr.. H. He did not un-
lerstand Mr.. {. as imputing such design to
members, but only as speaking of the effect of the
bin.
Mr.: Carson hoped the Speaker would permit
: colleague to proceed. and cast every thing OF
I'M that he desired. He knew his motive.
VIZ. Barringer resumed. He wished only to
adcate himself; not to cast any thing an his COL
eagle. North Carolina had petitioned for the i'm
provement Of Roauoake inlet. This object was
n no way different from the objects in this bill.
nproyement of Ocracock and Cape Fear.
md all her delegation had supported the applica-
llon 1t hal been frequently before the House
and none of them had discovered that it was un-
constitutional; and now because these objects are
embraced in tins bill. are we who vote for it to be
'aarged with being bought up: he had voted for
such ablll every year, when these objects were
not included. and he should have voted for it now,
). l..,k LII 4. n A tn
what was right, because he could not obtain what
Nc conceived just, or vote against the bill because
he objects which hisOwD state had at heart were
included. lest he might be charged with being
bought upf he protested against such injurious
lnputations.
MIR. Carson said that he was very glad that his
c0Ueasu had let OF some matter which he had been
pregnant wlthfor some time; The Speaker here in
ierpOsed, and said that the gentleman's colleague
had dlsclamed any reflection upon the gentle.
mans motives. understood him to do so, said
Mr, L. and too disclaim any intention to reflect
upon the motives of other gentleman. NV col.
.sasue SAYS that charged MIN with being bought:
mat was the purpOrt of his speech. Sir, l made
10 such charge. | am willing to say that every
member who votes for this bill believes that he is
0sht But believe that they are wrong, and
mat those who dow for it. whatever is their mo-
1'eare selling the liberties of their country In
ancient times the Roman leaders bought up the
liberties OF the people with the spoils OF the con-
P'ered provinces; and this policy of Inter-
AT Improvement and our high-handed tariff are
'&e means with which the liberties of this People
lre'0 be bought up. My colleague says he will
a'' 'eend the constitutionality of the approrria-
.'iS proposed BY this bill and well he may say
~ Tor he cannot defend il. The constitution has
zen paced M the hands of empirics-of pollti-
H qnacSS, who have given it construction
whereby 1t is swallowing up the liberties of the
COUNTRY: and when they are gone. where are we
. o@S Tor liberty. Where Sir. repeat are we to
y"" ,Cr II; Almighty God may have ordained
"" hOerty shall exist only in one hemisphere at
u'"e' u so The Genius of Liberty may have ia
I m' Ier hight from among us-she may have fol-
LAFAYETTE across the waters-and whilst
lucy nave liberty in France, we may have tyran-
=, mere, | must believe, sir -four liberties are
S'eO' that 1t can be only BY the iuterposition of
we individual states: & Sir. look to old Virginia.
~ I've nucleus around which the States are to raj
= "reslSt the usurpations Of the General Gov
-."',eh'; look to her sons-to her Patrick Hen
-. !>uch men as he, who dared to declare that
- s",.e OF oppression was not treason)-I look
- "V' Madison, to her Munroe, to YOU Sir. (the
- p AXE may laugh Sir. but look