Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-06-23

x..,rocomen manufactures, &c. Whilst the doc
trnc of The unlimited power OF Congress 10 RAISE re-
venue, and Of unlimited discretion, rs 70 "2Jrcls aAo
amount. IN lis appropriation, was zealouSiy maintained
10 IN. old Federal party, il was warmly and indignant
ly repudialcd BY The Republican party. In TACT The eS-
tents and limits of the power to rG'Ss aha "PPFcPTt"fr
rcctuuc, constituted, IN a great degree, me qhrSlI"hs oi
DIFFERING constructions between the parties. The pow
arto r,s. and anoropriatc revenue, with no other limit
but the discretion Of Congress IS derived IRON that H.
bcral and ia,i,udinous construction OF Tue constitution
which characterized the political creed OF Hamilton
and Marshall, and the mass of their disciples. The
contrary doctrine was espouscd BY Jefferson, Madison,
John TAYLOR and their disciples. The Republicans did
not admit that Congress might make any appropriation
Of money ,rhirh Il might Mimk proper; and they nam
tanned and demonstrated that the Federal doctrine tend
cd TO substitute the discretion of Congress for the liml-
tations of the Constitution, and thereby gradually 10
convert the government into ono of unlimited powers.
Gen. Harrison holds, according to his resolutIon, Thai
ann appropriation of money may he made, which Con-
ereSS may MtnE ProPr 10 mare, lot t"e Improvement o'
The country by the construction Of roads and canals,
and for The encouragement OF American manufactures.
And It will hardly be- questioned, that the rule OF con,
s,ruction which authorizes nllmiicd appropriations OF
money to objects Of internal Improvement, and Tor me
nrotect;cn and encouragement OF manufacturers, Will
hv n,ri,, or reason and argument, also authorize appro-
nr;ations of money for the protection ofagriculture, and
for The promotion of all other objects which Congress
NAV selcct-in fine, for any thing winch may be DEEM
ed by Congress in It's unlimited DISCRETION, conducive
10 uthc general welfare olthe nation.
But the resolution includes the public lands also in
this sweeping claim to discretionary preparations
Can il be intended by an appropriation OF lands for the
announcement of manufactures, TO introduce the svS'
tenn of bes,owing land bountIcs upon manufacturing
companies: Isl part of the public domain, instead o.
brinr sold 1T Il moderate price to actual settlers, to be
rivcn gratui,ously 10 rich companicsof manufacturers
Is the already powerful influences of these associations
Of wealth, upon the population Of their picinittes, ana
uuon the LEGISLATION Of the country, TO he still more
LARGELY and alarlningly extended by the acquisition o!
VAST tracts Of territory: Are the manufacturing estab.
| lshmcn,S OF the country to become, by The bounty OF
Congress, extensive proprctors OF the rich SOL Of 'he
We.t. and he converted into non resident landlords:
The resolution must contemplate n specific approi'rta-
tion orland, because it So expressly declares, and be-
cansc the proceeds Of sale, $50 intended, would have
been so expressed, and because the term money would
also include them.
The proposal Ia appropriate lands TO IN" construction
Of roads and canals, is not conGn, d. in tn" resolution,
10 improvements through the public lands, or even
10 The State or Territory in which they are situated.
Tie proposition is as broad as the United States anu
all their Territories, aud as indrfn''" as the roads ana
canals which past time has accomplished, present time
is complelinr, and future time may bring into exist
rncc, sfur the Improvement OF the country. upon
the admission Of new States INFO the Union, 1t Is
usual to grant them Il portion ot the public lahdS, Tor
the purposes Of internal Improvement and education,
by express compact, and in consideration ot Their
f,rbcarance 10 tax The residue. Sometimes sections oi
land are granted in The States or TcrrIlorirs,o and IN the
prosecution of improvements passing tlirnH4h ihnSe
/ lands, as compensation for the enhanced value mus ne
s;ow"d on them. Whether these specific cases be de-
f-ns.ilr upon constitutional principles, or founded III
wise policy, or not, they hav" ever been regarded as
separate and distinct, not embraced III tie great qI"s.
lion Of the power Of Congress t. carry on a general Sys-
tenn ~! internal Improvement throughout the |. States,
and not constituting presidents for the settlement OF
that question or for The exercise Of that power. Inc re-
solution contains no limitation or restriction 10 tn" spr-
cial cases cited, but it covers the arho'c country, and
embraces all the roads and canals designed for lis i'm
p%rovemcnt
What then, briefly, are the doctrines Of Gen. Harrl-
son as developed in the resolutions which have been the
subject Of comnenlS
Congress may regulate the tariff OF duties on ioreign
merchandise, not for revenue only, but for prevention
or prohibition of importation, and for the purpose OF
protecting domestic manufactures.
Congress may not only protect manufactures by du-
Ties on foreign goods, bat may make direct aPpr"pr!a-
tons Of money and lands for Their encouragement.
a double protection is thus afforded. first, by the
imposition OF duties, and second, by the direct bounty
of lands aud money.
Congress may appropriate any amount OF money or
lands, it,hinks proper for the Improvement of the coun-
try by the construction Of roads and canals. The CON-
promise is on the eve Precipitation. The questions of
the Tariff and Internal Improvement are again to be
discussed. The issue of the pending presidential cleo
ton viii exert, in all probability great influence upon
their adjustment. Can any State south of Mason and
Dixon's line, support Gen. Harrison with the doctrines
contained in his Ohio resolutions unrcran'cd, without
a total abandonment of al! their lonn.chcrished pr'nci-
pies upon the subjects Of the Tariff and Internal In.
nrovrmrnt: VIII any Southern State aid IN revtvng
and fastening upon US a system Of policy, which will
moi be abandoned until Charleston and Norfolk be-
come green with grass. and the authors Of the system
be convinced that ii IS the cause OF such vcFdant desc
lation
We are very respectfully, sir,
Your friends and tplow-citi2pns,
FRANCIS F.. RINES,