The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-12-10

to that the conflicting Jurisdictions oil the
resnectiye governments. Federal juris-
diction. at least to the exteut i have sta
ted, has been Justly regarded by Its ad-
yocates as necessarily appurtenant to the
power in question, if that exists by the
constitution. That the most injurious
conflicts would unavoidably arise between
the respective jurisdiction Ofthc state and
federal governments in the absence OF
constitutional provision marking out their
respective boundaries, cannot be doubted.
The local advantages to be obtained
would induce the states to overlook IN
the beginning the dangers and difficult
ties to which they night ultimately be eI-
posed. The powers exercised by the
federal government would soon be regar-
dcd with jealousy by the state authori-
ties, and originating, as they must from
implication or assumption, it would be
impossible to affix them certain and safe
safe limits. Opportunities and tempta-
tons the assumption Of power incompat-
ible with state sovereignty would be IN
creased. and those barriers which resist
the tendency of our system towards con-
solidation greatly weakened. The Off
GERS and agents of the general govern
ment might not always have the discreet
ion to abstain from intermeddling with
state concerns and ifthey did, they would
not always escape the suspicion OF hav-
ing done so. Collisions, and consequent
irritations would spring up--the harmo-
nv which should ever exist between the
general government and each member
of the confederacy, would be frequently
interrupted-a spirit of contention would
be engendcrcd-and ihe dangers OF d.
vision greatly multiplied.
Yet we all know that notwithstanding
these grave objections, this dangerous
doctrine was at one time apparently pro-
ceeding to its final establishment with
fearful rapidity. The desire to embark
the federal government in works ofinter-
nal Improvement, prevailed in the high
est degree, during the first session OF the
first congress that l had the honor to
meet in my present situation. when
the bill authorising a subscription on the
part of the United States for stock in the
Maysvillc and Lexington Turnpike Com
panies passed the two houses, there had
been reported, by the committee of In
tcrnal Improvement, bills containing ap-
preparations for such objects, exclusive
of those for the Cumberland road, ana
for harbours and light houses, to the a
mount of about one hundred and SIX mil
lions of dollars. In this amount was in
cludcd authority to the Secretary of the
Treasury to subscribe for stock of differ
ent companies 10 a great extent, and the
residue was principally for the direct
of roads by this government.
In addition to these projects, which had
been presented to the two Houses, under
the sanction and recommendation of their
rcspcctiye committees on Internal I'M
proyements, there were then still pending
before the committees, and IN memorials
to Congress, presented, but not referred,
different projects for works of similar
character, the expense of which cannot
be estimated with certainty, but must
have exceeded one hundred millions of
dollars.
Regarding the bill authorizing a sub
scription to the stock of the Maysville
and Lexington Turnpike company as
the entering wedge of system which,
however weak at first, might soon be-
come strong enough to rive the bands of
the Union assunder, and believing that
if its passage was acquiesced in by the
Executive and the People, there would
no longer be any limitation upon the au-
Ihority of the General Government in
to the Appropriation of money
for such objects, deemed it an impera-
tive duty to withhold from it the Execu-
tive approval. Althoug h, from the obvl-
ously local character of that work, might
well have contented myself a refusal to
approve the bill upon that ground, yet,
sensible of the vital importance of the
subject, and anxious that my views and
opinions in regard to the whole matter
should be fully understood by Congress,
and my constituents, ] felt it my duty to
90 further. therefore embraced that
early occasion to apprize Congress, that,
in my opinion, the Constitution did not
confer upon it the power to authorize the
of ordinary roads and ca
nails within the limits of state, and to
say, respectfully, that no bill admitting
such power could receive my official
sanction. did so in the confident ex-
pectation that the speedy settlement of
the public mind upon the whole subject
would be greatly facilitated by the differ
cnce between the two Houses and my
self, and the harmonious action Of the
several departments of the Federal Gov
ernment in regard to it, would be ulti-
mately secured.
So far at least as it regards this branch