Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-06-29
2s6c1sassoesD GgavetH
Tuesday Eces,sasg, .Eesase &c.
JAMES RIVER.
From the Richmond Enquirer of this day.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.

friend of State Rights for the stand he has taken
IN the Senate of the u. ST. against the petition
from tins CITY 'praying an appropriation for the
removal of distractions in James Rirer" We
perfectly agree with him ''that it would be an ab
surd proposition to say, that Congress had n right
to exPcnd money in the improvement of the bed
OF river by which a circuitous navigation could
De obtained, and had no right to make an expcndi.
ture on canal running lateray. He considered
would be an odous discrimination which enti.
tied town situated below the Falls to the priv.
Icge of an appropriation, and excluded one which
gas situated above the Falls. He considered such
dissemination as founded principle of justice
land therefore odious."-It is odious to make such
discrimination; and it is odous because it is con-
trary to the Constitution of our country We
trust that no representative from Virginia will sane.
Won any such petition. let it come from Richmond
or from any other quarter of Virgmia.-Mr. Clay
anxious to father tho proposition and to promote
its object. He has moved appropriation of
$l20O00. Iimeo Danaos ct dona Jerentes. If
the Citizens of Virginia are to be seduced from
pher principles by doueeurs themselves what be.
comes of their disinterested character and the mo.
raj force which it carries with it? No. no; Mr.. Clay.
Is not every Cerbcrus, who is to be put to sleep by
the street sop.
This is intended to be very disinterested and
magnanimous! The Editor plainly says, "look
and admire my disinterestedness, my devotion to
principle This $4,000 is for the benefit of the
city inhabt, yet call upon Congress to refuse it.
claim your admiration for my heroic self.denial
and defence of the Constitutions" Yet after ALL it
is but miserable I'D captandum stuff carrying the
appearance of Observation-Disclosures, where in truth no
interest was felt, and penned in cold blooded calcu
iation upon Virginia gullibty. This same Editor
although SO transported with Indignation at Mr.
Gays advocacy of the Richmond application, i,
mighty admirer OF Benton and all the Jackson Sc
majors who voted for the Harbor BILL appropriatng
much more than q million to improvements, and
would not consent to attack any of them for that
IsS y,r,,,a
viency to his party personal interests. I'll
they interfere with these, they are incontinentlv
clapped into his pocket, to be more heard of un
til he can bring them into play with the hope not
SO much Establishing them, of making through
them, successful diversion in favor of his party
favorites of the hour Thus it is obvious that the a.
bove article written, not sustain State Rights
butto subject Mr. Clay to the injury which the
picion OF othcious intermeddng in the Richmond
application with the view of currying favor is we'll
calculated to entail upon him. Thus while he is
abused for advocating the improvement OF lower
James River, over which Congress has maritime
jurisdiction, the little pettifogger of Undertook is
vndicated and excused for his vote in favor of toll
gates on the Cumberland Road--a proposition
which claimed Federal jurisdiction over the soil of
the Staes Thus while the Convention was popu-
lar Mr.. Richie was a staunch and loud advocate
produced reaction in Lower and Middle Virginia |
than he found conoenisnt to thrust his principles
in his breeches pocket, to be no more drawn forth
until the people had decided the question! Thus al
so, when Abolition last winter was floating on the
tide of legislative favor and legislative majority
the fenerable worthy decided, clamorous and
Pefemptory, iii its favor exclaimiDg in patriotic |
AGENCY, ooh! my God what is TO be lonesome |
thing must DO done" but the resolutions Of the |
people OF Mecklenburg and the loss of subscri
bers, wrought most magcay upon his patriotism!
From that day to this, he has shut himself up like
oyster, suffering voice to escape him! Adolf |
tion-the something THAT must be done-is post |
poned indefinitely at least until by its own in |
trnsic merits and the exertions Of others it has
secured public favor unequivocaily. When that
shall be the case, it may count nfalhbly upon the
services of Tho Richie.
Such is the who abuses Henry Clay! Such
is the selfish thing who Pretends to feel mighty So
lictude for abstract principle and constitutional in
tegrity Such is the calculating time server, who
sets up the Cerberus to guard the sacred bounda
ries of the Constitution! Such the person, who,
witty gentleman Said, has been walking with
his head off, since the days of Judge Roane-who
offers himself as guide to Virginia.
We do not blame Mr.. Tyler, for opposing the
hsichhiohu Petiion, II ne thought IT'S prayer fell
within the class of cases which he, we and nearly
all Virginia think unconstitutional on the contra
ry we respect him for it, and the more that his OPP
position was accompanied by no meretrcious slang
about his principles. But differ with him in tho
cases he has put. A canal like a road must neces
sarily pass over tho soil, and thus trespass mon
State sovereignty. Not so of the bed of naviga
BILE river, over which Congress has jurisdiction The
question of Jurisdiction, of sovereignty, cannot
arise In that case, and is reduced merely to one of
the appropriation of money.
The Virginia Senators were both opposcd TO the
Richmond application, and in this strait, we I'M
derstand, Oor we knew not of the petition until
1T had gone to Washington Mr. Clay was solicit
ted by of its active friends to take charge IF
it in the Senate. He could do no less than com
ply with the request For this he is represented as
attempting to beguile Cerber.s with SOP, and as
being anxious 10 father the proposition in order
TO obtain grace and favor with the People heren
bout! Had Marcy, Benton, or, above an, the
gentleman from Kinderhook been similarly cir
cumstanced, should have heard the thanks of
Richmond rendered, accompanied by hypocriti
cal lament peradvcnturc, for the Constitution
This $I20, 900 is in the Treasury, not wanted
and to be returned to the people who paid it, in
some such appropriation as this. IL Richmond
does not get it, other place assuredly will
Is she less entitled than another7 Does Virginia
pay less than others7 These arguments con-
iess ought to avail nothing if by the sclf.denial,
tne FeoPIe of Virginia could arrest the power over
improvement, which thoy believe Congress to have
usurPcd' We need not observe, how entirely out
OF the question. bovy ,go,.o IT,. = - 80. = .