Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-02-06
NUMBER 50.

reserring to this subject, that produced
the memorable report made in the House
of Representatives early in the next SEES.
sion OF Congress, by HENRY Sr. GEoRGE
TrcKER, of Virginia, in which the sub.
jcct is deliberately discussed, and tho ar.
gumeni and conclusions OF which are sum.
med up in the following resolution with
which that report concludes:
Resolred, That, ia order to promote
and give security TO the internal commerce
among the several States TO facilitate
the safe and expeditions transportation Of
The mails by tho Improvement Of post
roads, with the assent Of the respective
States to render more easy and less ex-
~pensive the means and provisions neces.
sary for the common defence by the con.
siruction OF military roads, with the like
assent OF the respective States; and for
such other internal improvements az may
be within the constitutional powers OF tho
| General Government. it is expedient that
! the sum to be paid 10 the United States,
BY The twentieth section Of the act to in
corporate tho subscribers to the Bank Of
the United States, and the dividends which
| shall arise from their shares in its capital
stock, be constituted us u fund for inter.
nal Improvement"
Thoug~, in the form ofs general scheme
or system Of Internal Improvement, the
proposition never received the form OF
law, yet VIC have shown that in this most
questionable ofits forms the principle Of
Internal Improvements was recognised by
the ablcs, men OF the Republican party in
Congress. Il has since been acted upon.
as our readers know, in a number oil IN
stances /" TOO tedious to MENTION" among
which are the Cumberland Road, the Che.
sapeake and Delaware Canal, the Dismal
Swamp Canal, the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal, the Louisville and Portland Canal,
the Delaware Breakwatcr, removing OBJ
s,ruc,ions to the navigation Of the Hudson
river, clearing out the channel Of the Mis-.
s%issippi, and a hundred nnd one other n.
vcrs, ports. and harbofs.
We cannot omit here 10 bring to the
notice Of our readers, as authority for the
construction Of the Constitution for which
we contend, the name Of WM. II. CRAw.
FORD, Of Georgia, whose giant frame was,
in the prime Of his life, Inhabited byA
corresponding intellect and spirit. Ills
speech in the Senate upon the question
lin 1919 Of re-chariering the Bank OF
the United S,ates remains to postcsity y
monument Of tho power Of his mind, Of
his fearless independence, and OF his man-
ly eloquencc. To the memory OF the IL
lustrious dead the acknowledgment 10 duo
of these qualities which he possessed in
nm eminent degree. From that speech
we are proud to be able to lay before our
rcodcr, the following extract. confirming,
TO the full extent, tho views which We take
Of the same subject:
"Th- original powers granted 10 tho
Government by the Constitution can me-
vcr change with the varying circumstnn-
ces Of tho country, but the means by
which those powers are to be carried into
effect must necessarily vary with the va
ryiug state and circumstances u the ma.
ton. We are, When acting 70 day, not
to inquire what means were necessary
and proper twenty years ago not what
were necessary and proper at the organ
ixaiion Of the Government, but our inquI-
~ must be, what means are necessary
and proper this day The Consultation,
in relation to the means BY uhich its poo
ers are 10 be erccuied, 10 N ETERNAL
NOW. The state OF things now, the pre-.
cise point Of time when we are called up
on TO act, must determine our choice IN
the selection Of means 10 execute the de-
legnted powers"
Mr.. MONROE, it is well known, entered
upon tho discharge Of the duties Of tho
Presidency with opinions decidedly nd.
verse to the exercise of any power what.
ever in reference to Internal Improve.
men,s. Finding his views on this subject
in conflict with those Of Congress, he re.
examined, with that honesiy Of purpose
which was characteristic Of him. the whole
subject. lie set out cody and celebrate.
~ in quest Of Truth, and he found her.
To the two Houses he communicated the
result Of his inquiry, which was, that Con-
gress possessed the power to appropriate
money for purposes cfIoternnl Improve
ment.
We had proposed 10 ourselves, but time
fails, 10 continue our history Of the pro-
gress Of Internal Improvement throughout
Mr.. MonRoE's administration, and to
show, by quotations fiom official docu-
menis, that the power 10 appropriate mo-
ney for such purposes was recognised by
every member OF his Cabinet, and by eve
~ successive Congress.
We will only add. now, to the hasty re-
view which we hive made, that, at tho
election for a Presiden: Of the United
States 10 succeed Mr.. MONROE, every ono
OF the candidates, Mr.. ADAMS, Mr.. CLAY,
Mr.. CRAWFORD, and Gen JACKSON, was
decidedly and avowedly friendly to the
cause Of Internal Improvement.