Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-05-26

appropriate large amount OF public money ITO
purchase stock in the Chesapeake and Della
ware Canal Company" Here we find General
Jackson voting in the affirmative. Another
question was-Had Congress the power to make
improvements within the States without first
and obtaining the permission OF the
States? Here, again, we find General Jackson
voting in the affirmative. | might sir pursue
this subject still further as his votes went fur
Their; but have here enough to suffice my pur-
pose. And, before proceed to notice the as
surance which he gave us in the west, IN Inc
same letter-and in regard to the Tariff, must
bee the permission of the House to contrast
this first pledge with his course after ne was
elected.
He had voted large appropriation, to pur-
chase stock in a canal company, and ne had DIS
have before stated referred to this vote, as tes-
timony of his devotion to Internal improve
ments. Now, sir, could any one of his friends
have anticipated that, so soon as he got into Oh
flee he would turn about, and reverse the iunda- !
mental principle of that vote? Could any one
have supposed, that he would, at the very out
set of his Administration, refuse 10 saCuoh, ds
President, the very same thing, when ne lao
claimed so much credit and pubic consloefd-
ton. for having done as Senator! NO, SIT; no
one could have thought it. No one did think
If. unless forsooth it was some one to whom ne
had made the pledge which is asserted by MS
friend from North Carolina, that he would put
down Internal Improvements"
Will it be said that | perhaps understood ms
pledges differently from his other friends IN the
Western country; and that they did not sup
pose him under obligation to sanction appropra-
tons similar to these for which he had voted? If
so, one fact will prove to gentlemen, that, in 50
understanding him, was not alone, but that
such was the common understanding, and such
the common feeling, of the great body of his
friends in that quarter. Into the Legislature OF
Kentucky, certain resolutions were introduced
by one Of the most conspicuous friends that
General Jackson had in that body instruct
ing their Senators, and requesting their
Representatives in Congress OF which num-
Der had then the honor 70 be one, to exert
their influence to procure from Congress an ap-
preparation to aid in completing the road from
Maysvile to Lexington, which was designed as
lateral branch of the great National road
Those resolutions were adopted almost by una
nimity.
Well, sir, in obedience to those resolutions,
we did exert ourselves to procure the approprl-
alton; and Congress- under a sense OF justice,
made it. The sum Of one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars was appropriated to purchase
| stock in the Maysville and Lexington Turnpike
road Company; and what is more, that appro-
pration passed this House, according to my
present recollection, by more than two-thirds of
the members voting, and by about two-thlrds of
The news of its passage flew to Kentucky, as
though it had been borne on the wings OF the
wind; and the effect that it produced there,
among some of the leading friends OF General
Jackson, will further and more conclusively sus-
tain the position which have taken, in regard
to the construction placed on his electoneering
pledges made to his Western friends. So soon
as the news reached that the bill had passed
both Houses of Congress, the shout Of triumph
was raised. Two distinguished newspapers,
mean distinguished for their devotion to the
Chief, one at Frankfort, then under the control
of some of "the powers that now be;' and the
other at LOUISVILLE, were loudest, and most JOY
full in the train. What said they? They ex-
claimed Adams & Clay spent four years in talk
ing but Gen. Jackson has commenced acting.
He has done more for Kentuckey in one day,
than the others accomplished in four years!!"-
Why was this short of triumph raised? And
why this confidence, that the bill was the bant
ling, the offspring of the President? Sir, it was
because he stood pledged to encourage Internal
Improvements, and because he had voted for
a measure Identical in principle with that; and
moreover, because his friends believed he would
act out the part to which he was so pledged.
But how short-lived are the greatest raptures
of this world! His friends shouted confidently,
for few hours or days at most-when sudden
damper was thrown over them. Yes sir, as
suddenly as a thunder-clap, of a brilliant sun
Shlny day, ala the unexpected " veto" TALL on
their ears. They were astounded for the mo-
ment, but happy souls! they were not left with
out source of consolation. The conclusion was,
when they considered the bill as passed. that the
General had done more than four full gears la
Dor for Kentucky. But when they found he had
petoed' it, it was still better than ever He
had saved the State, and saved the country!-
His friends, at least many of them, have some
extraordinary sources of felicitation, under all
circumstances.
Let the President take what course he will,
they find either in the act itself or the motive,
when the act cannot be defended, grounds of
excuse or justification. Hence the passage of
the Maysville road bill was glorious triumph
of principle, on one day. On the next the eve
toing" of that bill was still more glorious and
brilliant. Happy is the'man who can be happy
under all circumstances; and so it was in this
matter. But enough sir on the subject of the
Presidents pledge to sustain internal improve
ments in the West-and enough as to the man
ner in which that pledge was redeemed. will
now pass to the pledge which he in substance
gave in regard to the Tariff, and for encourage
ment of his Western friends.
Ii was i'm the same letter from General Jack