Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-02-06

al spirit to take possession of this House,
this happy scene will vanish. We will
divide, and in lis consequences viii follow
misery and d~espoiism. To legislate for
our country (said Mr.. c. requires not
only the mos, enlarged views, bu, a spe-
cies of ~selfdevotion not exacted in any
other. In a country so extensive, und SO
various ia its interests, arhaf is necessary
for The common good may apparently be op.
posed 10 The interest Of particular sections.
"It mus, be submittejto as the condition
Of our greatness"
g. Upon the consHtufionohiy Of rrrro-
priations Of money for purposes OF Inter
nal Improvement, Mr.. CALHOUN said:
The Constitution (said he) gives TO
Congress the power 10 est ablish post ofi-
ces and pos, roads. He knew thu inter.
probation which was usually given TO
these words confined our power 10 that OF
designating only the post roads; but y
seemed 10 him that the word establish
comprehenjed something more. But sup
pose the Constitution 10 be silent, why
should we be confined in the application
of muney to the enumerated powers T.
There is nothing in tho reason Of the
thing, that he could perceive, why II
should be so restricted and the hdbifn1i
and uniform practice Of the Government
conceded tcith his opinion. Our laws are
full Of instances OF money appropriated
without any reference 10 tho enutns rated
powers. We granted, by a unanimous
vote, or nearly so, $4,000 to the distress
sed Inhabitants Of Caracas, and n very
large sum-, at two different times, to the
Saint d mingo refugees. II we are re.
stricied in the use Of our money to the
enumerated powers, on what principle
(said he) can the purchase OF Louisiana
be justiied7 To pass over many other
instances, the identical power which is
now the subject Of discussion, has, IN Sc.
vcral instances, been exercised. To look
no further bnck, nj the last session n con-
siderable sum was granted ocomPletc
the Cumberland fond. In reply 10 this
uniform course of legislation, Mr.. c. ox-
pecicd II would be said that our ConstItu-
ton was founded on positive md written
principles, and not on presidents. lie
did not deny the position but he intro
duced these instances 10 prope tho uniform
sense of Congress and the country (or
they had been objected te) as TO our poe.
ers aud surely (said he) they furnish
better evidence Of the true Interpretation
Of the Constitution than The most refined
and subtle Arguments
We're we 10 consult our inclinstiops,
VIC could ill column after column with
quotations from this great Debate. We
will indulge in only one more extract from
il, as cm~bodying Tho opinion of one of the
soundest practical lawyers and one of the
most independent politicians that ever sat
in Congress. We mean DANIEL Snrr-
FEY, Of Virginia. Speaking Of the con-
stltutlonal question, he expressed himself
as follows
"Those who formed this Government,
acted like wise and practical statesmen.
They Designated tho objects Of your ju-
risdlction. The means whicl, you should
employ TO secure those objects, they did
not, because they could not, PRESCRIBE
They left the selection of the instruments
to those who should be appointed 10 use
them. They invested you with all the
means { necessary aud proper TO carry
into effect the delegated powers, and lett
you to determine what was necessary
and proper Hence | contend that if
the object itself is within your control, a
measure which tends 10 promote or etfeclu
ate it is not limited by any constitutional
...,.s.,, I,,t "a n sroffar nT ftGfrpftpn
for the abuse of which we are responsible
to our constituents, as in those cases where
the power is unquestionable."
As TO the policy OF The proposed mea-
sure (Which had been objected to by Mr..
SMITH, oil Maryland, IN account of tho
state of the Treasury Mr.. SnEyTEy sad
q would rather retrencl 10 other ex.
pendltures than permit this great object
10 be neglected. Reduce your army ; IN.
troduce a system Of rigid and well regu ,
lated economy (not parslmony) into the
administration of your finances, instead OF
the waste and disorder which now pre-
vail, and your means for efftcting tho
purpose contemplated BY this bill will be
ample. Indeed, so important Is this sub
iec, to the country, in my opinion, that,
rather than see it fail, | would consent 10
borrow money at eight per cent, or lay
a tax on the country. The capacity Of
the People to pay taxes would be iocres.
.sed in proportion as the price Of transport
alton OF their products to market would
be diminished; n result which must fol-
low a well-organized and liberal system
Of internal Improvement"
This bill finally passed both Houses Of
Congress, thus marking the sense OF both
Houses, in the most distinct manner pos
slbie, in favor Of both the constitutionaiity
and policv nj Internal Improycment. The